Firefighters battle growing LA blazes as death toll rises to 16

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Firefighters were racing against time to contain a massive wildfire around Los Angeles on Saturday as winds picked up and pushed the blaze into previously untouched neighborhoods.

At least 16 people have now been confirmed dead in the blaze that has swept through the city, left communities in ruins and tested the skills of thousands of firefighters and millions of Californians.

Despite valiant efforts, including the precision of air crews, the Palisades Fire continued to grow Saturday, pushing east into the Getty Center Art Museum’s priceless collection and north into the densely populated San Fernando Valley.

“We’re a nervous wreck,” Sarah Cohen told the Los Angeles Times of the threat to her Tarzana home.

“Every time they dump the water, it gets better. But then it gets worse.”

Footage from the Mandeville Canyon area shows a house consumed, with a wall of flame licking up a hillside to threaten others.

A brief lull in the air quickly gave way to gusts that forecasters warned would fuel the fire for days to come.

“Severe fire weather conditions will unfortunately re-emerge for Southern California today and last through at least early next week,” the National Weather Service said.

“This can lead to the spread of ongoing fires as well as the development of new fires.”

Survivors were warned not to spend time outside or wear masks to avoid inhaling toxic particles from the thick smog that enveloped the city.

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The Palisades Fire was 11% contained Saturday but had grown to 23,600 acres (9,500 hectares), while the Eaton Fire was at 14,000 acres and 15% contained.

Official figures show more than 12,000 structures burned, but Cal Fire’s Todd Hopkins said not all were homes, and that number would include outbuildings, RVs, vehicles and sheds.

With reports of looting and nighttime curfews in place, police and the National Guard have set up checkpoints to prevent people from going into disaster areas.

But it has left residents frustrated as they queue up to 10 hours to try to get back in and see what, if anything, is left of their homes.

One woman, who gave her name as Janelle, told broadcaster KTLA that she knew her home was gone, but needed “closure.”

“I see the pictures, I see the videos, and I want to see it with my own eyes,” she said, her voice breaking.

“I know it’s gone, but… I just want to see it for myself.”

The long lines left some angry about poor management, the latest gripe from a population already angry over hydrants that ran dry in the initial firefight.

City officials launched the united front Saturday after reports of behind-the-scenes infighting and suggestions that Mayor Karen Bass should fire her fire chief.

“As you see here, the chief and I are on our number one mission, and that mission is to get us out of this emergency,” the boss told reporters.

A tense joint press conference followed Chief Kristen Crowley’s complaint from time to time that her fire department was short on cash.

“My message is that the fire department needs to be properly funded,” Crowley told the local Fox television network. “It isn’t.”

Body search

Among those killed in the tragedy was former Australian child star Rory Sykes, who appeared in the British TV show “Kiddy Kapers” in the 1990s.

His mother Shelley Sykes wrote on social media, “It is with great sadness that I have to announce the death of my beautiful son @Rorysykes in the Malibu fire yesterday. My heart is completely broken.”

Teams with missing dogs were combing through the debris, with several people still missing and the death toll expected to rise.

Investigation

Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said a major investigation is underway to determine the cause of the fire, involving the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives ( ATF) and local authorities are involved.

“We will not leave any stone unturned,” he said.

“If this is a criminal act — I’m not saying it’s going to happen — if it is, we need to hold someone, or groups, responsible,” added Luna, who has If there is any information, they appeal to come forward.

Although wildfires can be started intentionally, they are often natural, and are an important part of the ecosystem’s life cycle.

But urban sprawl puts people in harm’s way more often, and a changing climate—charged more by humanity’s unchecked use of fossil fuels—is exacerbating conditions that are catastrophic. Give birth to flames.