Laila Kirkpatrick, Staff Writer
California is enduring one of the most devastating wildfires in its history. The fires, which began on Tuesday, have scorched thousands of acres and destroyed at least 1,300 structures, according to officials. Communities in Palisades have been hit hardest, forcing many residents to flee their homes with little hope of recovering their belongings.
The fire started as an explosive brush fire fueled by strong winds sweeping through the region. Early evacuation warnings were issued on Tuesday, and by Thursday morning, evacuation orders affected 179,000 people in Los Angeles. As of Thursday, the fire had grown to over 17,000 acres with zero containment, according to Cal Fire. The fire continues to threaten at least 13,000 structures. In addition to extensive property damage, the Los Angeles Fire Department reported multiple burn victims within 24 hours of the fire’s outbreak, with more injuries occurring as it spread rapidly.