Los Angeles Wildfires: 25 Dead, 92,000 Evacuated, Academy Award Nominations Delayed

The Los Angeles wildfires have killed at least 25 people, with more than a dozen still missing. Around 92,000 people remain under mandatory evacuation orders, while 89,000 others are under evacuation warnings. The fires, fueled by drought conditions and strong winds, have scorched over 40,500 acres and destroyed more than 12,300 structures in Los Angeles County.

As of Monday, the largest fire, the Palisades Fire, is 14 percent contained. The Eaton Fire, the second-largest, is 33 percent contained. Thousands of firefighters are battling the flames, which have been ravaging the city since last Tuesday.

Over 80,000 customers in California are without power. Southern California Edison is shutting off power in parts of the region ahead of the next wind event. Winds are forecast to pick up on Monday through Wednesday, with gusts reaching up to 70 miles per hour. This will create “extremely dangerous” fire weather conditions, according to the National Weather Service (NWS).

The NWS has issued a “particularly dangerous situation red flag warning” for parts of Los Angeles, Ventura, and Santa Barbara counties. The warning signals a high risk of rapidly spreading fires and extreme fire behavior. These dangerous conditions are expected to last through Wednesday.

Law enforcement authorities have arrested 34 people in wildfire-affected areas. Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna confirmed that the arrests were for burglary, looting, illegal drone operations, and curfew violations. Officers also arrested people entering restricted areas with firearms and narcotics.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has delayed the 2025 Academy Award nominations due to the wildfires. The Academy extended the voting period and postponed the nominations announcement to January 23, 2025. Academy CEO Bill Kramer and President Janet Yang said in a statement that the delay was necessary to allow members more time to vote due to the ongoing crisis.

Governor Newsom Highlights The Scale Of Disaster

California Governor Gavin Newsom warned that these wildfires could become the worst natural disaster in U.S. history. He pointed out that the fires would likely exceed previous disasters in terms of costs and scale. “I’ve got search-and-rescue teams out. We’ve got cadaver dogs out. And there’s likely to be a lot more,” Newsom said.

As the fires continue, authorities are working around the clock to contain them. Search-and-rescue teams continue to search for missing people, and damage assessments are ongoing. The fires show no signs of slowing down, and officials urge residents to stay vigilant and adhere to evacuation orders.

The state faces an ongoing crisis, with significant efforts required to contain the fires and protect lives and property. The damage from these wildfires is immense, and the effects will continue to unfold in the days ahead.

Also Read: Los Angeles Wildfires Continue To Surge, Death Toll Rises To 24