Los Angeles firefighters race as blazes spread

Firefighters were slowly making progress in their battle to contain the inferno that has razed swathes of Los Angeles' Pacific Palisades neighbourhood to the ground, but still-spreading flames threatened communities in the populous San Fernando Valley on Sunday.

Aircraft dropped water and fire retardant on steep hills to stem the eastward spread of the Palisades Fire and KTLA television reported that ground crews had managed to save a number of houses, although others were lost.

"LA County had another night of unimaginable terror and heartbreak," Los Angeles County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath said.

Six simultaneous blazes that have ripped across the United States' second-largest city since Tuesday had killed at least 16 people as of late on Saturday, the Washington Post and other media reported, citing the Los Angeles County medical examiner's office. Reuters could not reach the coroner.

At least 13 people are estimated to be missing. The blazes have damaged or destroyed 12,000 structures, fire officials said. The flames have reduced whole neighbourhoods to smouldering ruins, destroying the homes of the rich and famous and ordinary folk alike and leaving an apocalyptic landscape.

Over the past 24 hours, the Palisades Fire spread over an additional 1,000 acres, consuming more homes, officials reported.

Cal Fire official Todd Hopkins said that while 11 per cent of the Palisades Fire was now contained, it has burned more than 22,000 acres.

Firefighters work to put out flames in the Mandeville Canyon neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, on January 11, 2025, as the Palisades Fire continues to burn. The Palisades Fire, the largest of the Los Angeles fires, spread toward previously untouched neighborhoods January 11, forcing new evacuations and dimming hopes that the disaster was coming under control. Across the city, at least 11 people have died as multiple fires have ripped through residential areas since January 7, razing thousands of homes in destruction that US President Joe Biden likened to a "war scene." (Photo by AGUSTIN PAULLIER / AFP)

Hopkins told a press conference that fire had spread into the Mandeville Canyon and threatened to jump into Brentwood, an upscale neighbourhood that is home to many celebrities, and the San Fernando Valley. It also inched towards the north-south 405 freeway.

Although the Santa Ana winds that have fanned the flames were calmer on Saturday, the National Weather Service warned that stronger gusts of up to 70 mph could return early next week.

Red Flag warnings remain in effect for LA and Ventura counties through to Wednesday, the NWS said.

"These winds, combined with dry air and dry vegetation, will keep the fire weather threat in the area," it said. Conditions were expected to moderate by Thursday.

On Saturday, some residents were allowed to return to the sites of their ruined homes to see what they could salvage from the wreckage. Teams with the LA County Sheriff's Department were working to sift through the rubble with sniffer dogs to search for human remains.

Evacuation orders throughout the Los Angeles area now cover 153,000 residents. Another 166,000 residents have been warned that they may have to evacuate, Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said. — Reuters