The County of Los Angeles Department of Medical Examiner reported the tragic notification of 10 fire-related deaths as wildfires ravage the region. Multiple fires erupted, destroying over 10,000 homes, businesses, vehicles, and other structures by Friday. Despite strenuous efforts, firefighters contained only a small percentage of the blazes, with the Kenneth Fire spreading rapidly in the Woodland Hills neighborhood. The disaster prompted swift governmental responses, including a major disaster declaration by President Joe Biden and a state of emergency declared by California Governor Gavin Newsom.
Early Friday morning, Cal Fire reported varying containment levels across different fires. The Eaton Fire was 3% contained, the Palisades Fire 8%, the Hurst Fire 37%, and the Lidia Fire 75%. Although significant progress had been made, the fires continued to burn thousands of acres due to dry conditions and humidity. The initial fires, including the Palisades, Eaton, Hurst, Lidia, and Sunset Fires, put the region on high alert. The National Weather Service had previously issued its highest warning for extreme fire conditions in Los Angeles and Ventura counties.
In a related incident, residents detained a suspect in Woodland Hills for allegedly attempting to ignite a fire.
"A male was heard stating a suspect was attempting to light a fire." – Los Angeles Police Department's X account
The suspect was taken into custody at Topanga Station but was later released due to insufficient probable cause. Nevertheless, this marked the first acknowledgment of suspected arson in connection to the ongoing wildfires.
The Kenneth Fire, which began Thursday afternoon, expanded swiftly to nearly 1,000 acres within hours. By Friday morning, firefighters managed to contain 35% of it. Authorities lifted mandatory evacuation orders for affected areas in Los Angeles and Ventura counties. However, Sheriff Robert Luna cautioned that the death toll might change once it becomes safe for search teams to conduct thorough house-to-house searches for human remains.
The escalating crisis forced more than 100,000 residents to evacuate their homes. Governor Newsom’s state of emergency declaration aims to mobilize additional resources and support for affected communities. Meanwhile, President Biden's disaster declaration will facilitate federal aid to bolster local efforts in managing the catastrophe.
The official cause of these devastating wildfires remains under investigation. However, the Los Angeles Police Department's recent announcement about suspected arson has introduced a new dimension to the inquiry.
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