At least 5 dead as wildfires devastate upscale Los Angeles enclaves

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More than 100,000 residents of Southern California were ordered to evacuate and five people were confirmed dead as wildfires raged across the Los Angeles region for a second day.

Wildfires ripped through the Hollywood Hills on Wednesday, forcing the evacuation of densely populated hillside areas overlooking iconic attractions including the Hollywood Bowl and the Walk of Fame.

The Hollywood fire has put more pressure on firefighters who are struggling to contain multiple fires fiery Pacific Palisades, one of the most exclusive neighborhoods in the United States, has been sweeping the city and its suburbs since Tuesday.

Insurers expect what could be one of the costliest natural disasters in California history.

High winds spread the blaze to at least four different locations across more than 25,000 acres, sending thick plumes of smoke and black ash across the city. Winds of 50 to 80 miles per hour were gusting across the region, the National Weather Service said, frustrating efforts to contain the fire.

Most of Los Angeles’ air quality was deemed “very unhealthy,” with parts of the city smelling of smoke far from the fires. At a news conference on Wednesday, authorities admitted they were struggling to catch up with the rapidly unfolding events.

Little was known about how the fires started, but the windy conditions that allowed them to spread were expected to continue. Low humidity and dry conditions are expected to continue in Los Angeles and Ventura counties through at least Friday.

California Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency, prompting the deployment of the National Guard. President Joe Biden on Wednesday released federal funding for temporary housing, home repairs and loan repayments to cover uninsured property damage. Los Angeles County said schools will be closed Thursday.

Demolition began Tuesday in Pacific Palisades, home to high-profile Hollywood stars including comedians Billy Crystal and Paris Hilton, who were among more than 1,000 buildings destroyed.

The fire quickly spread north to Malibu and threatened buildings in Santa Monica to the south, as high winds swept across the street. That fire has since spread to more than 15,800 acres.

Areas north and east of Los Angeles also burned, including the San Fernando Valley, Santa Clarita, Altadena, and Pasadena.

Efforts to contain the blaze were hampered on Wednesday as so-called super scooper planes, which scoop water from the sea, were grounded by strong winds. But by evening, helicopters were dropping water on the Hollywood fire.

Residents of Pacific Palisades, some of whom fled on foot Tuesday, are calling friends and family to find out whose homes are still standing. Many evacuated in nearby Santa Monica were told they would have to evacuate again as the flames followed.

“This is a sad time in our history in Los Angeles,” said Los Angeles Police Department Chief Jim McDonnell. “It’s important that we stay patient, come together and focus on saving lives.”

The fire halted work in Hollywood and forced the postponement of pre-Oscar screenings and celebrations. Warner Bros. shut down production on its lot in Burbank because of the fire, and Paramount postponed the premiere of its new film, better man Universal on Friday canceled a party hosted by Donna Langley, chair of NBCUniversal Studios and Entertainment.

As early predictions of financial devastation began to roll in, AccuWeather estimated the total damage and economic loss could be $57bn.

In the Palisades area, home prices average around $3.5 million, meaning billions of dollars could be claimed for that neighborhood.