California wildfires live updates: LA fires cause extensive damage as some communities look ‘like a bomb was dropped’

There are currently 118 crews deployed to restore power in Los Angeles County.

“If you see a wire down, please call 911 and we will send crews immediately to make the area safe,” Janisse Quiñones, CEO and chief engineer of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, said Thursday.

“Some customers may experience some longer outages because some power equipment has been damaged or “compromised” by the fires,” she added.

Cadaver dogs and search crews are beginning to search the rubble, Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said Thursday.

“Right now, frankly, we don’t know yet,” he said.

Months before the devastating Palisades Fire swept the Los Angeles neighborhood of Pacific Palisades, the city reportedly cut $17.5 million from the fire department’s budget this fiscal year, according to ABC 7.

The station said the total budget for the Los Angeles County Fire Department was $819.64 million. In the previous year, it was $837.2 million.

“If you go back and look at reductions, none would have impacted the situation they were dealing with over the last few days,” Mayor Karen Bass told reporters on Thursday.

The Los Angeles Zoo says its animals and campus have not been impacted by the local wildfires and that animal care teams have been working to ensure their care and wellbeing.

“There are some down trees and branches from the wind storm but no damage to buildings, exhibits or critical infrastructure, and there have been no injuries to staff or animals,” the zoo said in an email to The Independent. “The LA Zoo will remain closed today as staff continues to work to clean up from the storm.”

• The Lidia Fire has been 40 percent contained at 348 acres and the fire’s progress has been stopped.
• While the Palisades Fire is not contained, it remains at 17,234 acres and “extreme fire behavior” and wind gusts up to 60mph are continuing to challenge firefighting efforts.
• The Hurst Fire has spread over 671 acres. Crews got a handle on flare-ups overnight and have established a perimeter. It is 10 percent contained.
• The Woodley Fire has burned 30 acres and is fully contained. There are no current threats from the fire.
• The Sunset Fire is 42.8 acres and forward progress has been stopped, with firefighting crews working to put out spot fires within the perimeters. All related evacuation orders have been lifted.
• The progress of Studio City’s Sunswept Fire was stopped at just under an acre.

Officials said that firefighters have a “much better posture” than on Tuesday and Wednesday. However, forecasters say a red flag warning will remain in effect for Los Angeles and Ventura Counties through Friday.

While damage assessments are ongoing, preliminary reports of damaged or destroyed structures are in the thousands, Los Angeles City Fire Chief Kristin Crowley reported.

She said this is one of the most destructive natural disasters in the history of Los Angeles.

All incidents are under active investigation.

Los Angeles County Public Works Director Mark Pestrella told reporters Thursday that the county’s utility systems have been “significantly damaged” by the wildfires.

He said that there’s a “tremendous amount of debris” that needs to be processed and moved out of the area, some of which may be hazardous or toxic.

While the reservoirs are full and continue to be ready, Pestrella warned that the municipal water system continues to suffer poor quality due to ash from the blazes.

He noted that specific areas, like Malibu, require water to be boiled, and that those in areas burned to the ground should boil their water.

“The air is not healthy for people who are challenged from a respiratory standpoint,” Los Angeles Police Department Chief Jim Mcdonnell told reporters on Thursday.

He said that evacuations will probably still continue as the winds pick up.