At least 25 people have died in the Los Angeles area fires so far. The death toll includes 17 fatalities from the Eaton Fire in Altadena and eight from the Palisades Fire.
The identities of the victims of California official’s failure to engage in water infrastructure development and maintenance and initiate fire safety actions are slowly being released.
Victor Shaw, 66, died from smoke inhalation and burn injuries at his Altadena home, according to the medical examiner. Charles Mortimer, 84, of Pacific Palisades died in a hospital from a heart attack, smoke inhalation and burns, according to the medical examiner.Additional Palisades fire victims include avid hang-glider Arthur Simoneau, 69; Australian child actor Rory Sykes, 32; Malibu surfer Randall Miod, 55; and Annette Rossilli, who was in her 80s.Additional Eaton fire victims include Erliene Kelley, 83; father and son Anthony Mitchell Sr. and Justin Mitchell; Dalyce Curry, 95; Kim Winiecki, 77; Rodney Kent Nickerson, 82; and Evelyn McClendon.
Officials warn that this number will likely rise as search and recovery operations continue in both fire zones. Here is the current status of the two main blazes in the Greater Los Angeles area:
Palisades Fire
The Palisades Fire in Los Angeles has burned 23,713 acres and is 17% contained. The fire has destroyed 1,280 structures and damaged 204 others. Over 5000 firefighters continue battling the flames, and over 12,000 structures remain threatened.
A “particularly dangerous situation” warning is in effect until noon Wednesday for parts of Los Angeles and Ventura counties, as wind gusts between 25-55 mph are forecasted for the evening, creating critical fire weather conditions
Evacuation orders are in place for many areas, including parts of Pacific Palisades, Malibu, Calabasas, Brentwood, and Encino.
Report: Palisades Fire Had Human Origins
Yesterday, CNN analysts were upset that the “climate crisis” wasn’t given the attention they felt it deserved by the American public in the wake of the Great Los Angeles Fire.
That’s because the public now realizes that the “climate crisis” is not real, and the only climate involved in this disaster is the California political climate…which is not healthy for humans or other living things.
And the Palisades mega-fire may be a “man-caused” disaster.
Authorities investigating the cause of the fire told the Los Angeles Times that they believe it was started by someone — possibly as an accident, sources told the Times.Officials noted the trail is popular with hikers and is often used as a hangout by local teens and the fire may have “human origins,” according to the Times.The area’s an overlook known as Skull Rock on the Temescal Ridge trail in Pacific Palisades. The blaze has consumed nearly 30,000 acres (47 square miles) and destroyed 5,000 structures since it was sparked nearly a week ago.A small fire burned there on New Year’s Eve after apparently being started by fireworks, but was put out shortly after.
Rekindling of this fire is a real possibility, as well as ignition from discarded cigarettes, unattended fires from homeless people, or other careless behavior.
Eaton Fire
The Eaton Fire in Los Angeles County remains active and poses a significant threat. It has burned 14,117 acres and is 35% contained, claiming 2,722 structures, damaging 329 others, and threatening 39,428 more.
In addition to killing 17 civilians, five firefighters have been injured.
Mugshots of the Looters Released
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department has arrested 39 people in areas impacted by the Palisades and Eaton fires. Sheriff Robert Luna indicated that most of those arrests were made near the Eaton Fire.
The newly elected and competent Los Angeles County District Attorney has been very busy dealing with these creeps.
Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman has spoken at several news conferences since the start of the fires. Monday, he announced charges against 10 people, nine of those people were charged with burglarizing homes in the Eaton and Palisades fire areas. Filing charging documents against three alleged suspects list $200,000 worth of goods stolen from an evacuated home in Mandeville Canyon. Hochman showed Ring camera footage of the suspects in the home.In an Altadena burglary investigation of an evacuated home, police recovered an Emmy award, among other items, as part of stolen property. Three suspects in this case are charged with one count each of residential burglary.Two other suspects are charged with burglary for looting two evacuated homes on Jan. 8 in Altadena.”It’s not a question of if, but when you will be caught when you engage in these crimes,” Hochman said.
Some of the mugshots have been released.
Ten burglary suspects were discovered within the Palisades fire evacuation zones. Police said six of the ten suspects were carrying “burglary tools.”All suspects had traveled to the disaster area from outside Santa Monica, police added.
It’s slowly dawning on people that this is not a one-day disaster that a few dollars and stirring speeches will fix. The region and the state may never heal due to all the poor policy choices made over the past 3 decades.
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