MASSIVE EXPLOSION Ash County in the know: few minutes ago in 3 teenagers found dead in Ash County in the know after fire breaks out in farm land police identified
An emergency vehicle drives through a neighbourhood devastated by the Eaton Fire in Altadena, California (John Locher/AP)
To the west in Pacific Palisades, the largest of the fires burning in the LA area has destroyed more than 5,300 structures and firefighters had no containment.
All of the major fires that have broken out this week are located in a roughly 25-mile band north of central Los Angeles, spreading a sense of fear and sadness across the nation’s second-largest city.
No cause has been identified for the largest fires.
The level of devastation is jarring even in a state that has grown used to massive wildfires.
A large portion of scenic Pacific Palisades has been obliterated.
Dozens of streets in the seaside neighbourhood were flattened to smouldering rubble.
In neighbouring Malibu, blackened palm strands were all that was left above debris where oceanfront homes once stood.
At least five churches, a synagogue, seven schools, two libraries, boutiques, bars, restaurants, banks and groceries were burned.
So too were the Will Rogers’ Western Ranch House and Topanga Ranch Motel, local landmarks dating to the 1920s.
The government has not yet released figures on the cost of the damage or specifics about how many structures burned.
AccuWeather, a private company that provides data on weather and its impact, on Thursday increased its estimate of the damage and economic loss to 135-150 billion dollars.
Firefighters made significant gains on Thursday at slowing the spread of the major fires, but containment remained far out of reach.
A large portion of scenic Pacific Palisades has been obliterated.
Dozens of streets in the seaside neighbourhood were flattened to smouldering rubble.
In neighbouring Malibu, blackened palm strands were all that was left above debris where oceanfront homes once stood.
At least five churches, a synagogue, seven schools, two libraries, boutiques, bars, restaurants, banks and groceries were burned.
So too were the Will Rogers’ Western Ranch House and Topanga Ranch Motel, local landmarks dating to the 1920s.
The government has not yet released figures on the cost of the damage or specifics about how many structures burned.
AccuWeather, a private company that provides data on weather and its impact, on Thursday increased its estimate of the damage and economic loss to 135-150 billion dollars.
Firefighters made significant gains on Thursday at slowing the spread of the major fires, but containment remained far out of reach.
