California inferno: Fires claim 28 lives, prompt evacuations
More tragic news from California. The fires that have been devastating the southern part of the state for over two weeks have claimed 28 lives so far. Unfortunately, the threat is not diminishing, and California authorities have decided to evacuate residents near San Diego.
The fires in southern California have led to the deaths of 28 people. State authorities have announced the need to evacuate residents near San Diego due to new fires.
The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, known as Cal Fire, reported that 11 people died in Pacific Palisades in the Los Angeles area, and 17 near Pasadena and Altadena in the Eaton fire. Both fires broke out on January 7 and covered a total of over 15,140 hectares by Tuesday evening.
"Firefighters are making steady progress, and authorities are reassessing evacuation orders to ensure safe returns," Cal Fire stated.
Progress in fighting the fire
UPI reported that the Palisades fire was 65 percent contained but still threatens nearly 12,500 buildings, even though it has already destroyed over 6,500. The Eaton fire was 89 percent contained, destroyed 9,410 buildings, and threatens another 6,775. Evacuated residents are gradually returning to their homes.
The National Weather Service of Los Angeles has announced that despite weaker winds, the high-risk warning has been extended until Thursday. The red flag warning indicates an elevated risk of fire damage due to high temperatures, very low humidity, and strong winds.
On Tuesday, three smaller fires broke out near San Diego, one of which was not contained by Tuesday evening.
Problems with identifying fire victims
A few days ago—on Sunday—officials from the Los Angeles County Department of the Medical Examiner (DME) reported that the number of fatalities from the recent fires had risen to 24, emphasizing that there are serious problems with identifying the victims.
So far, the only identified person was 66-year-old Victor Shaw, who tried until the last moment to save the family home. When his body was found, it turned out that the man was holding a garden hose in his hand.
