Five wildfires fueled by intense winds have killed at least 11 people, scorched more than 37,000 acres and destroyed more than 12,000 structures in the Los Angeles metropolitan area, NBC News reported. Local authorities called the series of fires one of the most destructive in California history.
The largest fire, known as the Palisades Fire, has consumed 21,000 acres (8,740 hectares) since it began last Tuesday. It is currently only 8% contained, according to the California Department of Fire (Cal Fire). The fire advanced early Saturday morning toward residential areas, prompting new mandatory evacuation orders in areas such as Brentwood, Encino and the Getty Center, a major cultural center in the region.
In addition to the Palisades fire, the Eaton Fire, located near Altadena and Pasadena, has burned 14,000 acres (5,665 hectares), with only 3% containment. Together, the fires have caused the evacuation of at least 153,000 residents in Los Angeles and the imposition of a curfew in the affected areas from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m.
