Los Angeles: The two largest wildfires sweeping the Los Angeles area have destroyed at least 10,000 houses, buildings, and other structures, officials said Thursday, as they encouraged more residents to follow evacuation orders after a third inferno erupted and quickly spread.
The rapidly moving Kenneth Fire began in the late afternoon in the San Fernando Valley, only 2 miles (3.2 km) from a school that served as a shelter for fire evacuees and spread to nearby Ventura County by the evening.
Only hours ago, officials voiced optimism as firefighters, aided by calmer winds and teams from outside the state, saw the first signs of effectively battling the region's horrific wildfires, which have taken the lives of seven people so far, AP reported.
"We are expecting this fire to rapidly spread due to high winds," Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said, echoing the forecast for stronger winds Thursday evening into Friday early.
The orders came as Los Angeles County officials stated that the Eaton Fire near Pasadena, which began Tuesday night, had destroyed more than 5,000 structures, including homes, apartment complexes, businesses, outbuildings and vehicles.
To the west, near Pacific Palisades, the largest of the fires raging in the Los Angeles area has destroyed approximately 5,300 structures. All of the huge flames that have broken out in the Los Angeles area this week are concentrated in a roughly 25-mile radius north of downtown, spreading dread and despair throughout the country's second-largest city.
Dozens of blocks were reduced to smoking debris in the scenic Pacific Palisades. Only the outlines of dwellings and chimneys remained. In Malibu, just burned palm strands remained above the debris where oceanfront houses had stood.
At least five churches, a synagogue, seven schools, two libraries, boutiques, bars, restaurants, banks, and supermarkets were destroyed. Local landmarks from the 1920s include Will Rogers' Western Ranch House and Topanga Ranch Motel. The administration has yet to give data on the cost of the destruction or how many structures burned.
AccuWeather, a private organisation that offers Weather data and effect estimates, raised its damage and economic loss estimate to $135-$150 billion on Thursday. Firefighters achieved substantial gains.
The cause of the fire is not yet known but officials are actively investigating.