Daijiworld Media Network – Los Angeles

Los Angeles, Jan 13: The death toll from the devastating wildfires sweeping through Los Angeles County has risen to 24, marking a grim chapter in the history of the US' most populous county.
Wildfires, described as a catastrophic 'Black Swan' event, continue to wreak havoc. Among the most destructive are the Palisades fire, which has engulfed 19,978 acres (80.85 square km) with only 6% containment as of Thursday night, and the Eaton fire, which has scorched 13,690 acres (55.4 square km) and remains completely uncontained, according to reports from Xinhua news agency.

Michael, an accountant from Altadena, recounted his harrowing ordeal after being evacuated just before his home was consumed by flames. "It's like living through Armageddon," he said, tears welling up. "We've lost everything."

Los Angeles fire chief Kristin Crowley called the wildfires one of the county’s most destructive natural disasters, with over 10,000 structures destroyed across the region.

In Malibu, officials confirmed the first fatality linked to the Palisades Fire. The victim’s identity remains undisclosed as authorities investigate the cause of death. Expressing grief, Malibu Mayor Doug Stewart said, "This tragedy weighs heavily on our hearts."

Firefighters are currently battling four major blazes: the Palisades fire, Eaton fire, Sunset fire in the Hollywood hills, and Hurst fire in Sylmar. While some progress has been made in controlling the Eaton Fire, fierce winds clocking 100 km per hour have hampered containment efforts on other fronts.

Evacuations continue across the county, with more than 70,000 homes under threat and thousands already lost. Reports of looting in evacuation zones have led to multiple arrests, compounding the crisis.

For Dorothy, a retired school administrator who lived in Pacific Palisades for 40 years, the losses are personal. "Everything is gone," she said, standing in front of the charred remains of her home.

With critical fire weather expected to persist through Friday night, officials hope improved conditions in the coming days will aid containment efforts.