Los Angeles County wildfires kill at least 2, injure several firefighters and civilians
At least two people have been killed and “several” firefighters and civilians have been injured in the at least four wildfires burning across California on Wednesday.
Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone said the two fatalities were caused by the Eaton fire.
Authorities emphasized at the Wednesday press conference that Los Angeles is “not out of danger yet,” citing high winds that continue to spread the flames.
Firefighters successfully contained a fifth wildfire in Tyler, California, but four blazes remain surrounding Los Angeles in the Palisades, Eaton, Hurst and Woodley.
Cal Fire is outlining a number of steps Californians can take for a “safe and efficient evacuation” during a wildfire.
Prior to being given evacuation orders, the agency says residents should have a “Go Bag” or emergency kit packed and “ready to grab” in case they need to flee – and that they should know their community’s evacuation routes.
Locals are advised to close all windows and doors of their homes but to leave them unlocked. Any flammable objects should be moved to the center of rooms and gas should be shut off at the meter, Cal Fire says.
Once outside, residents should wear clothing that fully covers their skin to protect against heat and sparks.
“Don’t forget about your pets. Make a plan for their safety,” Cal Fire also says. “Have carriers, food, and water ready so they can leave quickly and safely with you.”
Los Angeles public school system closes 100 schools amid wildfire conditions
Officials in Los Angeles have closed roughly 100 schools in the city due to wildfire conditions, LA Unified Superintendent Alberto Carvalho confirmed Wednesday.
Carvalho made the announcement at a Wednesday press conference alongside police, firefighters and other state and city officials.
“We make decisions regarding closure of schools in a very methodical and science driven manner. So after a great deal of consultation overnight, with experts looking at the data and considering the fact that air quality conditions deteriorated significantly overnight, we have made the decision to shut down a number of schools, particularly in the eastern part of our school system,” Carvalho said.
“As of now, those schools within the boundaries of the area that I will define are closed. This accounts for about 10% of our total schools in our district. About 100 schools out of 1000 schools,” he added.
Source: https://www.foxnews.com/
