Fueled by powerful winds and dry conditions, a series of ferocious wildfires erupted last week and roared across the Los Angeles area, killing at least 27 people, including some who died trying to prevent the fires from engulfing their homes, and destroying thousands of structures.
A Los Angeles County fire official said an untold number of significant injuries were linked to two of the fires, and a city official in Los Angeles described the night of Jan. 7 as “one of the most devastating and terrifying” that she had seen in her corner of the city.
Here’s what we know about the fires.
Where are the fires?
The Palisades Fire erupted the morning of Jan. 7 in Pacific Palisades, a Los Angeles neighborhood east of Malibu, as a brush fire. The blaze, which had grown to 23,713 acres, was 39% contained by Friday night, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, known as Cal Fire. Cal Fire said the fire likely damaged or destroyed 5,316 structures…