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What we know about the California wildfires
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Southern California is facing “extremely critical fire conditions” caused by
Santa Ana winds
today as the fight to contain the enormous Palisades Fire and four smaller blazes continues.
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Winds were weaker than expected yesterday but could pick up again today. The wildfires have so far
killed at least 24 people
and
swept through 40,000 acres
in the Greater Los Angeles area, destroying entire communities and more than 12,300 structures.
- The Palisades Fire, has burned more than 23,000 acres and was only 18% contained early today as it threatened Brentwood, Encino and Westwood.
-
Evacuation orders are in effect for 88,000 residents of Los Angeles, and 89,000 are in evacuation warning zones, which means they may need to leave at a moment s notice.
See a map of the evacuation zones here
.
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Los Angeles County has declared a public health emergency, warning that smoke and particulate matter could pose immediate and long-term threats. The
full warning and a list of recommendations can be found here
.