OUT of control wildfires continue to wreak havoc in LA with raging flames roaring towards more celebrity-packed neighborhoods.
New mandatory evacuation orders have been issued by authorities because wind gusts could reach up to 70mph in the coming days. This is expected to make it harder to control the ongoing wildfires.
The California Fire Department reported that at least 11 people have died as a result of the fires, and over 10,000 structures have been destroyed.
Fire officials have now expanded the mandatory evacuation zone – and ordered residents living in parts of Brentwood and Encino to leave the area.
This now includes the area between Sunset Boulevard North, the 405 Freeway West, Mandeville Canyon and Encino Reservoir.
The Getty Centre – an iconic $1.3billion centre – is also within the evacuation zone.
These areas are being threatened by catastrophic Palisade Fires – the largest fire of all six currently burning.
At least 153,000 LA residents are under the new evacuation orders, it is reported.
According to Cal Fire, the wildfires have already consumed over 21,000 acres of land, including more than 5,000 homes, businesses, and significant landmarks in LA.
Firefighters have been able to contain only eight per cent of the Palisades Fires as of Friday.
Neighborhoods have been reduced to ash, with celebrities including John Goodman and Leighton Meester watching their pads burn down.
The Santa Ana winds – which caused these fires to rip through the city throughout the week – have died down to just 10mph as of Friday.
But the powerful winds are expected to grow back and reach speeds as high as 70mph over the weekend and early next week – potentially sparking new fires.
Brentwood is one of the most posh areas of Los Angeles known for its large homes and celebrity residents.
Celebrities including Lebron James, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Kamala Harris and Jennifer Garner have homes in the area.
Their residences are now under threat.
American anti-vax politician Robert F. Kennedy Jr also lives in Brentwood in his $6.6million home.
Meanwhile, Los Angeles County officials have now declared a public health emergency – warning people that smoke and particulate matter from wildfires could pose immediate and long-term threats.
People have been advised not to get out of their houses and wear masks if need be.
Fires and strong winds have “severely degraded air quality… posing immediate and long-term risks to public health”, a statement read.
Other fires in the region include the SunSet Fire, which is ravaging Hollywood Hills.
Kenneth Fire, another raging inferno, has sparked mass evacuations in Calabasas and Hidden Hills.
It is being investigated as arson – with one suspect arrested.
The devastating fires are set to have a costly impact on the city and its residents – with private forecaster Accuweather estimating the total damage and economic loss up to $150 billion.
Governor Gavin Newsom has deployed over 1,400 firefighters, with additional teams arriving from neighbouring states, but the battle to contain the flames is far from over.
He has also called for an independent investigation after firefighters complained about dropping water pressure in many hydrants across the city.
Meanwhile, satellite pictures have revealed whole blocks of homes in Los Angeles have been burned to rubble by the wildfires.
The snaps show before, during, and after the uncontrolled blazes have burned through LA homes and celebrity enclaves and caused thousands to flee.
Some of those homes belong to celebrities, with Paris Hilton, Billy Crystal, Miles Teller, and Anthony Hopkins among those to lose their abodes.
‘War zone’ LA feels ‘broken’ as fires still ravage the city – but we will rebuild
The U.S. Sun’s Assistant Editor for Exclusives Katy Forrester is an LA resident and she witnessed first-hand the horror as flames engulfed the city. She said the city feels like a “war zone
EVERY year Los Angeles braces itself for wildfires. It is not uncommon to see flames torching the hills and even houses burning to the ground.
But many residents have never witnessed anything as devastating as this week. And it’s nowhere near over.
I spent time near Pacific Palisades, where thick smoke filled the air, and saw desperate families fleeing the city while others begged police to give them access to their properties as roads were blocked off.
“Everything is gone” was heard many times, as thousands of people were left homeless and with few possessions.
I was lucky to only have the power go out in my home, but I’ll never forget what I witnessed traveling throughout the city.
It was like a war zone.
During a visit to a shelter, I spoke with a resident who has lived in his home for almost 30 years and is battling cancer. He stayed long after he was told to pack up and go.
It was only when flames began leaping around his building that he finally gathered his belongings and ran out.
I reported from Altadena, where buildings were still engulfed in flames, and few fire trucks were in sight as emergency services were overwhelmed.
Cars and school buses were completely torched, and heartbroken families stood around in shock, not being able to process what had happened.
As the sun went down, I drove back home towards the city center, which I felt was safe, until I saw orange flames leaping behind buildings just minutes from my house.
I felt sick. I’ve never known wildfires so close to Hollywood, and suddenly, phones were blaring with emergency notifications to evacuate the area.
Traffic lights and street lamps were out, and areas filled with fallen trees from the strong winds became gridlocked.
I feel extremely lucky I live minutes outside of the evacuation zone, but friends panicked and fled their homes.
Although many worldwide will merely shrug when they hear wealthy people have lost their homes, the reality is very different.
The city as a whole feels broken, everyone from single mothers to elderly people have been through hell.
And people are angry.
Dozens have spoken of their insurance policies being canceled just months before the fires, while others are reeling over alleged corruption and mismanagement.
They may be angry. But they are also hopeful. The people of Los Angeles are made of strong stuff.
We will get through this. And we will rebuild.
The wind-fuelled flames haven’t spared the homes of the rich and famous with Hollywood A-listers tragically seeing their houses turned to smouldering rubble.
This includes supermodel Bella Hadid, Spencer Pratt and Oscar winner Mel Gibson.
Other celebrities like Tom Hanks, 68, and Steven Spielberg, 78, had their homes narrowly spared in the fires.
A former Aussie child actor was tragically killed in the devastating wildfires after his mum failed to save him due to water shortage.
Brit-born Rory Callum Sykes, 32, was left trapped inside a self-contained cottage in Malibu after it caught fire from flying embers.
Mum Shelley said she tried to put out the embers that landed on the roof of the 17-acre property with a hose but the water supply was turned off.
Meanwhile, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle made a surprise appearance in Los Angeles to meet the victims of the devasting wildfires.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex also served food and donated toys and essential supplies to the victims outside the World Central Kitchen in Pasadena.
