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The deadly wildfires have so far claimed at least 11 lives and destroyed thousands of businesses and homes since they erupted on Tuesday. The authorities are exploring multiple sources of ignition.
California wildfires (AP Image)
At least 11 people have died in the destructive fires in the Los Angeles area of the US state of California. The blaze has also turned thousands of homes and businesses into ashes as the firefighters continue to attempt to take control of it and investigators look into the possible source of ignition.
The forest fires, which broke out on Tuesday, have spread rapidly as they engulfed over 16,000 acres and more than 1,000 structures on their way. Rapidly advancing flames have devastated homes and businesses, forcing residents to flee smoke-choked canyons and neighborhoods, including those housing numerous celebrities.
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Authorities Exploring Multiple Causes
The investigators are exploring various possible ignition sources for the massive blaze.
In the hilly, high-end area of Pacific Palisades, where Hollywood stars like Jamie Lee Curtis and Billy Crystal lost their homes in the blaze, according to officials, the wind-driven fire started behind a house on Piedra Morada Drive, situated above a heavily wooded valley.
The investigators ruled out lightning as the cause of the fire even as it is the most common source of fires in the US, according to the National Fire Protection Association. According to the officials, there were no reports of lightning in the Palisades area or the terrain around the Eaton Fire, which originated in east Los Angeles County and engulfed hundreds of homes.
Next Two Common Causes
According to the authorities, there could be next two most common causes – a fire set intentionally, and one sparked by utility lines.
John Lentini, who owns Scientific Fire Analysis in Florida and also investigated massive fires in California including the Oakland Hills Fire in 1991, said that size and scope of the fire do not change the approach to investigating into what caused it.
So far, the authorities have got no official indication of arson in either blaze. The utility lines have yet not been identified as a cause of fire either.
Utilities must report any “electric incidents potentially linked to a wildfire” to the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), which investigates for state law violations. The 2017 Thomas Fire, caused by Southern California Edison power lines, killed two people and scorched over 440 square miles.
On Friday, Edison filed a report with CPUC regarding the Eaton Fire near Pasadena, stating it found no evidence its equipment started the fire but filed the report out of “an abundance of caution” after receiving preservation notices from insurance lawyers.
While lightning, arson and utility lines are the most common causes of fire in the area, debris burning and fireworks are also common reasons. However, officials said that fires are incited by myriad sources, including accidents.
In 2021, a couple’s gender reveal stunt ignited a large fire that charred nearly 36 square miles (about 90 square kilometers) of terrain and engulfed five homes and 15 other buildings. A firefighter was killed in the incident.
(With AP inputs)
- Location :
Los Angeles, United States of America (USA)
- First Published:
January 11, 2025, 08:23 IST
News world Los Angeles Wildfires: What Ignited Deadly Blaze? Investigators Explore Array Of Possibilities