Officials in Los Angeles are probing the source of the wildfires that continue to burn unchecked.
The death toll from wildfires in Los Angeles is expected to increase, according to police.
On Thursday, officials in Los Angeles warned residents to adhere to evacuation orders as several wildfires in the city remain uncontained.
On Thursday, Mayor Karen Bass, along with police and firefighting leaders, addressed the public at a press conference about the ongoing looting and burglary in evacuation areas. According to police, they have already apprehended 20 individuals for these crimes, and the number of arrests is expected to rise.
"Bass stated that the current firestorm is unprecedented and historic. However, he emphasized the importance of working together, evacuating when necessary, assisting others, and staying united."
The Eaton and Palisades wildfires in Los Angeles County are not contained, with the Eaton fire covering 10,600 acres and the Palisades reaching 17,234 acres.
Officials reported that the wildfire in Lidia has been 40% contained, limiting it to 348 acres. Meanwhile, the fire in Hollywood Hills and Sunset remains uncontained, but officials have successfully stopped its forward progress.
The cause of the fire is still unknown and is being actively investigated, according to Marrone.
Approximately 380,000 individuals have been evacuated or are under evacuation orders as of Thursday afternoon.
Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell stated that he was "not content" with the current reporting on fatalities from the firestorms. The official count of deaths is currently five, and McDonnell anticipates that it will increase.
On Thursday, high winds had prevented planes and helicopters from operating over the blazes on Wednesday, but Bass noted that aircraft were once again able to join the firefighting efforts.
During the briefing, the mayor was questioned by reporters about her whereabouts during the start of the fires.
Was your leadership effective in addressing this disaster, as questioned by a reporter?
Bass stated that her main priority was saving lives, and she acknowledged that investigating how Los Angeles was prepared for the crisis would be done at a later time.
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