At least 5 dead as wildfires devastate upscale Los Angeles enclaves

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

The fire spread into the Hollywood Hills on Wednesday, forcing the evacuation of densely populated hillside neighborhoods overlooking iconic landmarks including the Hollywood Bowl and the Walk of Fame.

The Hollywood fire put extra pressure on firefighters who struggled to contain several flares across the city and its suburbs as it launched on Tuesday in Pacific Palisades, one of the most exclusive neighborhoods in the US.

Insurers are bracing for what could be one of the costliest natural disasters in California history.

Strong winds fanned flames in at least four different locations on more than 25,000 acres, sending plumes of acrid smoke and ash across the city.Wind gusts ranged from 50 to 80 miles per hour across the region, the National Weather Service said. fire suppression efforts.

Air quality in much of Los Angeles was deemed “very unhealthy” and parts of the city far from the fires smelled strongly of smoke, officials said at a news conference on Wednesday that they were struggling to keep up with the fast-moving events.

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

California Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency, which made it possible to deploy the National Guard. President Joe Biden on Wednesday released federal funds to pay for temporary housing, home repairs and uninsured property losses.Los Angeles County said schools would be closed Thursday.

Destruction began on Tuesday in the Pacific Ocean, home to high-profile Hollywood stars including comedian Billy Crystal and Paris Hilton, whose homes 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 wildfires engulfed the streets, covering more than 15,800 acres.

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

Efforts to contain the fires were hampered on Wednesday as so-called super scooper planes, which fetch water from the ocean, were grounded by strong winds, but helicopters were dropping water on the Hollywood fire in the evening.

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 who evacuated to nearby Santa Monica were told they would have to relocate as the fire followed. :

“This is a tragic time in our history here 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 fires have halted work in Hollywood and forced the postponement of pre-Oscar screenings and celebrations. A better person. Universal canceled the party hosted by NBCUniversal Studios & Entertainment President Donna Langley.

Early predictions of the financial devastation are starting to trickle in, with AccuWeather estimating that the total damage and economic loss could reach $57 billion.

Home prices in the Palisades area average around $3.5 million, meaning billions of dollars in claims could be filed for the neighborhood.

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