The wildfires that have ravaged southern California are in turmoil as Los Angeles County has taken the worst of the destruction.
The Palisades Fire, Eaton Fire and Kenneth Fire have displaced thousands and wreaked havoc on lives and property.
The largest blaze is the Palisades Fire, between Santa Monica and Malibu, which has burned more than 19,000 acres.
More than 5,300 structures have been burned in this area alone, where more than 30,000 residents have been evacuated.
The Eaton Fire in the northern portion of the state has burned more than 13,000 acres, killing five people and leaving widespread destruction.
At least ten people have died in these fires, the county coroner’s office says.
The Kenneth fire is one of the latest to add to this chaos, starting near Victory Boulevard in the West Hills neighborhood.
First reported on Jan. 9, it quickly spread to 960 acres, forcing evacuations in suburban areas near Calabasas and Hidden Hills.
The blaze was being fueled by high winds and dry conditions across a region parched after years of drought, and mandatory evacuations were swiftly ordered as the fire advanced.
The Kenneth Fire also came alarmingly close to a school that had become an evacuation shelter for people running from the neighbouring Palisades Fire.
Evacuation orders have given residents across Los Angeles County little time to pack and they’ve been scrambling to escape.
Major roads became clogged with cars, many of which their drivers fled on foot to safety.
To clear the gridlock and to allow for access for firefighting efforts, emergency responders used bulldozers.
The relentless flames also led to off-duty firefighters being called in to join the battle.
The community has been incredibly resilient considering the ongoing chaos, but people have been helping one another.
In evacuated areas, looting has added to the problems authorities face amid the destruction.
At least 20 people have been arrested for theft, sparking talk of curfews and National Guard deployment.
The scale of the disaster was already underlined as more than 10,000 buildings had already been destroyed.
The fires are likely to have a staggering economic impact, with losses estimated between $135 billion and $150 billion.
Federal aid to help recover will be provided by President Joe Biden after he declared a state of emergency.
But the fires have affected high-profile individuals, too, as actor Mel Gibson is one of those to have lost their home.
It’s a reminder that the region is still just as vulnerable to such disasters as it was back then.
One fire’s origins were dramatically resolved by local residents.
A man on a bicycle was spotted trying to light up bins and Christmas trees with a blowtorch around the same area as the Kenneth fire’s origin, witnesses said.
The suspect was detained by a group of vigilant residents until police arrived and made an arrest.
The homeless man in his 30s is now under investigation for arson.
Law enforcement is investigating possible intentional causes of the Kenneth Fire, and the arrest has added another dimension.
Containment efforts continue, and efforts are made to support those displaced and to minimize further risk.
The widespread destruction amid this arrest brings at least a glimmer of closure.
This disaster will no doubt leave scars in Southern California and is a stark warning for the future.
