LA area wildfire death toll rises to 25, ‘dangerous situation warning’ issued

[craig nigrelli]

BACK HERE IN THE U-S — THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IS WARNING THE LOS ANGELES AREA is ‘NOT OUT OF THE WOODS YET” EVEN THOUGH WINDS WERE NOT AS STRONG AS EXPECTED YESTERDAY.

THEY **ARE** FORECAST TO PICK UP today, WITH A **DANGEROUS SITUATION WARNING** IN EFFECT FROM 3 A-M TO 3 P-M LOCAL TIME FOR PARTS OF LOS ANGELES AND VENTURA COUNTIES.

EVACUATION ORDERS ARE IN-PLACE FOR 88-THOUSAND LOS ANGELES RESIDENTS.   ABOUT 90-THOUSAND OTHERS ARE IN EVACUATION WARNING ZONES, WHICH MEANS THEY MIGHT NEED TO LEAVE AT A MOMENT’S NOTICE.   A TOTAL OF 6-MILLION PEOPLE ARE UNDER WHAT IS CALLED ** A CRITICAL FIRE THREAT**

THIS AS THE DEATH TOLL FROM THE FIRES HAS RISEN TO 25.

THE EATON AND PALISADES FIRES — WHICH HAVE NOW BEEN BURNING FOR A FULL WEEK  — ARE NOW THE MOST DESTRUCTIVE AND SECOND-MOST DESTRUCTIVE WILDFIRES IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA HISTORY, RESPECTIVELY.

THE PALISADES FIRE REMAINS THE LARGEST — SCORCHING NEARLY 24-THOUSAND ACRES OF LAND. IT IS ONLY  18 PERCENT CONTAINED.  BUT THAT DOES MARK A SMALL IMPROVEMENT FROM YESTERDAY’S 14 PERCENT.

THE EATON FIRE SPANS ABOUT 14-THOUSAND ACRES AND IS NOW 35 PERCENT CONTAINED.

AND THE AUTO FIRE IN VENTURA COUNTY HAS GROWN SLIGHTLY FROM 56 TO 60 ACRES.

THAT FIRE IS 47 PERCENT CONTAINED, ACCORDING TO CAL FIRE’S LATEST UPDATE.

CNN IS REPORTING THIS MORNING THERE ARE TOTAL OF FIVE FIRES CURRENTLY BURNING IN THE REGION, WITH WINDS FORECAST TO HIT 70 MILES AN HOUR LATER TODAY AND OVERNIGHT.