Wildfires are raging in parts of Los Angeles, killing at least 10 people, burning hundreds of buildings, and prompting evacuation orders for thousands of county residents.

Despite the efforts of thousands of firefighters, the largest fires remain largely or completely out of control – with weather conditions and the underlying effects of climate change expected to continue fueling the flames for days to come.

In L.A. County, about 153,000 people were under evacuation orders as of Friday morning. Many of them fled their homes with only what belongings they could carry.

Another 166,000 residents are under evacuation warnings, meaning they may need to leave their homes soon.

More than 10,000 buildings were destroyed by the fire, the most devastating in LA’s history. Another 60,000 are also at risk. Insured losses are expected to exceed $8bn (£6.5bn) due to the high value of properties in Belize’s straits.

A man was arrested Thursday afternoon after residents suspected he was trying to start a new fire. He was charged with a probation violation but there was not enough probable cause to charge him with arson, police said, and the investigation is ongoing.

The actual causes of the fire are not yet known.

National Guard troops have been deployed in parts of the city to prevent looting in evacuated areas, and 20 arrests have been made, according to police.

Celebrities who have lost their homes. They include Mel Gibson, Leighton Meester and Adam Brody, who attended the Golden Globes a few days ago, actors James Woods and Paris Hilton.

According to California fire officials, at least five fires are burning in a wide area:

• The Palisades: The first and largest wildfire in the region on Tuesday, which could become the most destructive fire in state history. It has scorched a large part of the earth. Over 20,000 acres, including the upscale Pacific Palisades neighborhood. By Friday morning it was 8%.
• Eton: It has hit the northern part of Los Angeles, igniting cities like Altadena. It is the second-largest fire in the area, burning nearly 14,000 acres. It contains 3%.
• Hurst: Located just north of San Fernando, it started burning Tuesday night and has grown to 771 acres, although firefighters have begun to contain it.
• Lydia: It erupted Wednesday afternoon in the mountainous Acton area north of Los Angeles and spread over about 350 acres. Officials say it comprises 60 percent.
• Kenneth: The new fire broke out Thursday on the border of Los Angeles and Ventura counties. It covers about 1,000 acres so far. Its progress has been halted and is 35 percent complete, with no structures damaged or destroyed, officials said.

The first one Sunset, Woodley And olive The fire has been brought under control.

A political row has erupted over the city’s preparations after claims that some firefighters’ hoses have run dry, drawing criticism from US President-elect Donald Trump.

Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marvin said during a news conference Thursday that he had not received any reports of firefighters running out of water or experiencing low water pressure.

But in neighboring Pasadena, Fire Chief Chad Augustine said the area has experienced much less frequent hydrants. The pressure was low. He said that all the problems have been solved.

He attributed the problem to multiple fire engines draining water at the same time, as well as the loss of electrical depressurization.

Mayor Karen Bass returned from a previously scheduled visit to Ghana to find the city ablaze. He has faced serious questions about the region’s preparedness, his leadership in the crisis and water issues.

And LA’s fire chief before the fire A memo warned that budget cuts are affecting the department’s ability to respond to emergencies.CBS News, the BBC’s US partner, reports.

Desperation over the danger of fire was compounded by a warning. Residents say the message was mistakenly sent to every cell phone in Los Angeles on Thursday.A hint of anger by some. About 10 million people live in the county.

During a news conference Friday morning, city officials said they were investigating why the mass alert was sent out. And urged people not to disable the alert function on their phones, which they say is necessary to provide up-to-date emergency information. .

A combination of an unusually dry period — downtown Los Angeles has received just 0.16 inches (0.4 cm) of rain since October — and powerful sea breezes Known as the Santa Ana winds. has created conditions ripe for forest fires.

The Santa Ana winds blow from east to west through the mountains of Southern California. According to the National Weather Service.

Winds may also be responsible for the scale of the destruction that followed.

By blowing deserts further inland, they create conditions where moisture is reduced, which dries out vegetation. If a fire starts, winds can blow smoky embers into flames within minutes.

Gusts of 60 to 80 mph (95–130 km/h) are common, but gusts of up to 100 mph (160 km/h) are possible.

Although the strongest winds have passed through the region, forecasters have warned that another “traditional Santa Ana wind event” will move through Thursday night local time. According to CBS News.

The initial cause of the fire is under investigation.

L.A. District Attorney Nathan Hochman said law enforcement agencies are currently focused on saving lives and homes and assisting firefighters, but will eventually turn to investigating the cause of the fire.

“If it is determined that any fire in this situation is man-made and intentionally set, those responsible for the arson will be arrested and prosecuted. And they will be punished to the full extent of the law,” he said.

Hochman also warned people against looting, violating curfews in affected areas and flying drones near fires, and warned of scams targeting fire victims.

Fire is not the only cause of deadly wildfires. Power lines and other utility equipment have sparked some of the most destructive fires in California history. In 2018, The so-called campfire destroyed the town of Paradise. and killed 85 people, many of whom died trying to escape in their vehicles.

There is a glimmer of hope for firefighters, as the fire season outlook for Southern California has been upgraded from “extremely critical” to “critical.”

But BBC weather forecaster Sarah Keith Lucas says there is no rain forecast in the area for at least next week, so conditions are ripe for fire.

On Friday, officials said they were preparing for another windy “red flag” event, indicating dry and windy conditions, forecast for Monday.

Although strong winds and a lack of rain are fueling the fires, experts say climate change is altering background conditions and increasing the likelihood of such fires.

Much of the western United States, including California, experienced a decades-long drought that ended just two years ago, leaving the region vulnerable.

“Whiplash” swings. Between dry and wet periods in recent years Tinder produced a large amount of dry vegetation ready to be burned.

US government research is inconclusive in linking climate change to larger and more intense wildfires in the western United States.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration states that “Climate change, including increased warming, longer droughts, and a thirstier environment, has been a key driver in increasing the risk and extent of wildfires in the western United States.”

Fire season in Southern California is generally considered to stretch from May to October — but the state’s governor, Gavin Newsom, has previously pointed out that fires have become a perennial problem. “It’s not fire season,” he said. “This is the year of fire.”