Los Angeles wildfire toll rises to 13 as flames spread, ‘firenado’ caught on camera

Ferocious winds have turned wildfires into devastating infernos across Los Angeles, leaving at least 13 people dead and levelling more than 12,000 structures, authorities said on Sunday.

Firefighters are engaged in a gruelling battle against the flames, with officials warning that strong winds forecast overnight and early next week could jeopardize their progress.

The Palisades Fire, the largest of four active blazes in Los Angeles County, has expanded by an additional 1,000 acres, consuming more homes and prompting urgent evacuations. More than 100,000 residents remain displaced, as the Eaton Fire in Altadena and other fires continue to rage.

The Palisades Fire alone has burned more than 22,000 acres and destroyed over 5,000 structures, including 426 homes, according to CAL Fire official Todd Hopkins.

Video footage captured a dramatic fire tornado near the Palisades Fire, showcasing a vortex of flames spinning out of control. Also known as fire whirls or fire devils, a “firenado” occurs when hot air and gases rise from a fire, forming a spinning column that lifts smoke, debris, and flames into the air.

Officials said the Palisades Fire is 11 per cent contained, but firefighting teams are hampered by steep terrain and erratic winds. David Ortiz of the Los Angeles Fire Department, speaking to NBC News, described the fire as “a monster with a lot of different heads.”

Besides the 13 dead, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department reported that 13 people are still missing, and the grim task of searching for victims continues with systematic grid searches using cadaver dogs.

The fire has reached the Mandeville Canyon neighbourhood and threatens the San Fernando Valley and Brentwood, an upscale locality populated by celebrities like Arnold Schwarzenegger. Flames are also approaching the arterial 405 freeway.

The fires have been exacerbated by hurricane-force Santa Ana winds, which in some areas have reached 100 miles per hour (mph). These dry winds, with gusts up to 70 mph, are expected to return, and “combined with dry air and dry vegetation will keep the fire threat in Los Angeles County high,” said Fire Chief Anthony Marrone.

Over 153,000 residents are under mandatory evacuation orders, with 57,000 structures at immediate risk. Another 166,000 are under evacuation warnings.

Since the fires began on January 7, they have scorched approximately 39,000 acres, an area larger than San Francisco, and have left entire communities in ruins. Early estimates peg damages and economic losses at $135 billion to $150 billion, potentially making these wildfires the costliest in US history.

President Joe Biden has declared a major disaster in the region, unlocking federal aid through FEMA. He was briefed on the situation again on Saturday and spoke with state and local officials to coordinate federal assistance.

Meanwhile, neighbouring states, as well as Canada and Mexico have dispatched firefighters and equipment to assist California, while aerial teams continue dropping water and fire retardant to contain the multiple raging fires.