California wildfires live updates: Biden likens LA devastation to ‘war scene’ and warns death toll likely to rise

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We reported earlier that California insurance commissioner Ricardo Lara announced that he had issued a moratorium to stop all non-renewals and cancellations by insurance companies for a year.

The LA Times has more some more detail on the moratorium:

The moratorium, issued Thursday, protects homeowners living within the perimeter of the fire and in adjoining ZIP codes from losing their policies for one year, starting from when Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency on Wednesday.

The moratoriums, provided for under state law, are typically issued after large fires and apply to all policyholders regardless of whether they have suffered a loss.

Insurers have also been urged to pause for six months any pending non-renewals or cancellations that were issued up to 90 days before 7 January.

Firefighters from outside California assist in putting out the state’s wildfires.

10,000 personnel already on the ground, but more are coming.

Colorado governor Jared Polis announced the arrival of aircraft, fire engines, and firefighters from his state to help California on Thursday. Dozens of firefighters from New Mexico and Utah have also traveled to lend a hand.

The US’s neighbors to the north and south are also providing resources. Canada has deployed aircraft to bolster efforts while Mexico is sending in firefighters.

California governor Gavin Newsom thanked Mexico president Claudia Shein on Friday for her support.

“Our partnership and shared commitment to helping communities in need is greatly valued,” Newsom said.

US health department declares public health emergency for California

“We will do all we can to assist California officials with responding to the health impacts of the devastating wildfires going on in Los Angeles County,” said Xavier Becerra, the health secretary.

“We are working closely with state and local health authorities, as well as our partners across the federal government, and stand ready to provide public health and medical support. My thoughts and prayers are with the people impacted in my home state.”

The move gives health care providers and suppliers more flexibility to meet the emergency health needs of federal Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries.

Earlier this week, Joe Biden issued a major disaster declaration for the state, which unlocks key federal resources such as support for emergency work and repair as well as assistance to individuals and households.

California governor Gavin Newsom has shared an update on the six other wildfires wreaking havoc in the Los Angeles area.

The Sunset fire in the Hollywood Hills has been 100% contained. Here is where the others stand:

The Lidia fire is at 75% containment.

The Hurst fire is at 37% containment.

The Kenneth fire is at 35% containment.

The Eaton fire is at 3% containment (up from 0% on Thursday).

And finally, the Palisades fire is at 8% containment, (up from 0% on Thursday).

Brush fire breaks out in Granada Hills, but is under control

The Archer fire has burned nearly 31 acres around O’Melveny Park – close to the Hurst fire.

An evacuation order was in place for the area north-west of Los Angeles, but that has been downgraded to a warning since firefighters managed to get it under control.

No injuries or damaged structures have been reported there so far. A cause for the fire is unknown.

Denise, 52, a program manager in the tech industry, from West Adams, has been in touch about how the fires have also affected air quality and the health impacts that come with it.

‘The air is so bad I wear a mask inside’

“I’ve been spending a lot of time on watch duty [an app that shares real-time updates of wildfires] to see where the wind is blowing. Yesterday the closest fire to me was the Sunset fire which was about five miles north [and has now been contained]. I couldn’t see the fire but I could see the smoke coming south.

“The air quality in the city is devastatingly bad. I’m recovering from Covid and wearing a mask inside my house because the smoke irritates my throat. I’ve also noticed a persistent headache for most of the day.

“Most of LA is under a red flag warning, which means the area is dry and anything can spark a fire. As someone who lives in the city it’s really unsettling to think you’re surrounded by things that can go up in flames. It’s a tinderbox.

“I’ve lived here for about 27 years and there have been all kinds of natural disasters. But this one feels like the largest impact on day-to-day life. I don’t recall a situation where so many people I know have been directly affected.

“I know the fires are not an immediate threat to me, but it’s been really difficult to sleep. I’m feeling climate anxiety quite intensely right now.”

Some schools may reopen eventually while others “were completely destroyed,” LAUSD superintendent Alberto Carvalho said in a briefing on Wednesday. LAUSD’s Marquez Elementary and Palisades Elementary were burned to the ground and 30% of Palisades Charter High School was also damaged.

Additionally, five PUSD campuses in Altadena have sustained damage, including Eliot Arts Magnet Middle School.

All Los Angeles Unified and Pasadena Unified schools remain closed.

“The confluence of factors – wind, fire, and smoke – have created unpredictable, complex situations that present potentially unsafe conditions for our school communities,” the LAUSD said in a statement.

“Select essential personnel will be contacted by their supervisors regarding potential work duties. As the Los Angeles region continues responding to this unprecedented crisis, the health and safety of our students and employees are of the utmost importance.”

Jem Bartholomew

Matt Sadie, 41, an artist manager in the music business, from Altadena, has been in touch with the Guardian. He shared his family’s experiences with the Guardian’s Jem Bartholomew.

‘It’s hard to imagine life there again’

“My wife Sophie and I, with our eight-week-old daughter and cat Luna, live streets away from Eaton Canyon in Altadena, where one of the fires began. We go for walks down that canyon most mornings, it’s a beautiful place.

“On Tuesday we were driving home – we’d gone to try and get our newborn to sleep – when we noticed this bright yellow and orange glow towards the canyon. It was a light you don’t see from an artificial source. And there was smoke.

“We rushed home, fighting intense winds and keeping our baby safe. Once we were in I ran next door to warn our neighbor. He said, ‘We need to get out of here quickly.’ So I ran to tell my wife and we started packing. The power was out, but I but we had battery-powered tea lights – I grabbed passports, cash, documents, baby stuff like blankets and diapers. I got Luna into her carrier quickly, which she doesn’t like. We evacuated in under five minutes. I didn’t think about how we wouldn’t be back for a long time.

“We managed to drive to family in Santa Barbara. The highway was insane, with trees and debris. Going to sleep that night around midnight, we mentally prepared ourselves for losing our home.

“Miraculously, despite most of the houses on our street burned down, we saw from a neighbor’s video that ours remains standing, with only damage to the landscaping (like the fences). It’s as if the flames stopped right at our house. A neighbour, who stayed during the fire, helped protect our home from the flames, and saved all the houses beyond it, too.

“We got insanely lucky, but we don’t feel lucky at all. We moved to the area to give my daughter the best start in life, near a really good school, in a great neighbourhood. Now the school’s burned down and the area is almost totally gone. It’s really hard to imagine life there again.

“We can’t get back home, the national guard has closed off the streets. Looters in the area are the new challenge. The neighbor who stayed behind has been patrolling for other fires and looters, and caught two in the area already. He’s a hero.”

Joe Biden warns death toll likely to rise as he likens fires to 'war scene'

Joe Biden said the death toll from the fires, which he described as a “war scene”, will likely increase, but “whether significantly or not, we don’t know yet.”

“It reminded me of more of a war scene, where you had certain targets that were bombarded,” Biden said from the White House’s Oval Office during a briefing on the fires.

LA witnessing 'mass devastation', says Kamala Harris

Vice-president Kamala Harris, a Californian herself, said in the press briefing with Joe Biden and California governor Gavin Newsom that we are witnessing “mass devastation” and that the effect of the historic widlfires “is going to linger for quite some time.”

“There are moments where we should find optimism in the heroism of people.”