Los Angeles area has been struck by a series of wildfires since Tuesday (7th), leading to multiple deaths, destruction of thousands of homes, and over 100,000 people being evacuated. Currently, the outdoor air quality in the greater Los Angeles area is extremely poor, with widespread mandatory evacuation orders still in effect.
The Los Angeles region is facing an unprecedented disaster: multiple wildfires rapidly spreading with the assistance of hurricane-force winds, proving uncontrollable and resulting in at least 5 fatalities. The two most severe wildfires are the Palisades Fire and the Eaton Fire.
The Palisades Fire erupted in the affluent Pacific Palisades area of Los Angeles on Tuesday morning. As of Thursday afternoon around 4 p.m., the fire had consumed 19,059 acres (7,712 hectares) of land, threatening 13,306 structures, with containment at 0% so far.
The Eaton Fire has primarily impacted the cities of Pasadena, Duarte, and nearby Chinese-populated cities in the San Gabriel Valley. Several cities have issued mandatory evacuation orders that are still in effect.
Mr. Wang, a Chinese resident of Pasadena, stated that he received an evacuation warning: “It feels like doomsday, experiencing such a terrifying, close-range wildfire for the first time.”
Apart from the menacing fire, the thick smoke has made breathing almost unbearable. Mr. Wang mentioned, “We dare not open our doors at home. Stepping outside, the air is difficult to breathe.”
As of 3:53 p.m. on Thursday, the Eaton Fire had scorched 13,690 acres (5,540 hectares) of land, destroyed 4,000 homes, with containment at 0%.
Cities like Pasadena and Arcadia have issued mandatory evacuation orders for certain neighborhoods. Law enforcement officers also cautioned about the potential for mandatory evacuations in some communities of Duarte.
Many municipalities have set up temporary shelters and evacuation centers within the cities, or activated emergency operation centers to provide necessary supplies and assistance to the public.
As the fires remain out of control, the government urges the public to stay informed about the wildfire situation and be prepared for emergency evacuations. In case of receiving a mandatory evacuation order, immediate evacuation is necessary.
However, some residents not in evacuation zones have also received evacuation alerts from the Los Angeles County Fire Department, causing confusion. For instance, the El Monte government reminded residents via social media that, despite many neighboring cities issuing evacuation orders, El Monte had not released any evacuation alerts as of then. Residents with confusion can contact the city hall, police department, or other relevant departments for inquiries.
The water and power supply systems in Pasadena may be affected due to increased turbidity and wildfire debris, prompting the local water company to warn residents not to drink water from evacuation areas until further notice and to only use bottled water.
The water company further stated, “Do not attempt to treat the water yourself. Methods like boiling, freezing, filtering, adding chlorine, or other disinfectants won’t make the water safe.” Residents experiencing issues can call the Pasadena water and power company’s 24-hour emergency hotline.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department alerted the public that until at least 6 p.m. on Friday, the air quality in the entire San Gabriel Valley remains extremely poor, necessitating protective measures.
Starting from noon on Thursday, the Rosemead Public Safety Department is providing free N95 and KN95 masks to the public at a new location in the Rosemead Chamber of Commerce until supplies last. The mask distribution schedule for the next three days is 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on January 10, and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on January 11 and 12.
To facilitate residents, the city of San Gabriel announced the suspension of nighttime parking enforcement until 2 a.m. on January 12, effective immediately.
Additionally, utility officials reported that around 95,000 customers in the Los Angeles area were still without power on Thursday.