Firefighters across the Los Angeles area in Southern California are taking advantage of favorable weather conditions to combat the wildfires, a battalion chief said on Thursday, while warning that containment efforts remain challenging.
With the easing of gusty Santa Ana winds and a drop in temperatures, responders began gaining the upper hand against massive wildfires on Thursday.
An official from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) told a correspondent of China Global Television Network (CGTN) that their teams were pushing for maximum containment given the improved conditions.
"We're getting a little bit of breathing room right now because it's not so windy. The red flag warning has gone away, but it's still warm, it's still dry and there might be winds next week, so we're not going to let our guard down. We're still out there, mopping up, trying to put this fire to bed before any more red flags are predicted," said Brent Pascua, a battalion chief for Cal Fire.
It has been over a week since the massive wildfires broke out in Los Angeles, fueled by hurricane-strength Santa Ana winds, causing some of the most catastrophic fire scenes California has ever witnessed.
The fierce wildfires have so far killed at least 27 people and destroyed more than 12,300 structures, local authorities confirmed on Thursday.
Up to 200,000 people have been displaced by the fires. As of Wednesday, some 82,400 residents were under evacuation orders and another 90,400 faced evacuation warnings, according to Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna.
California Governor Gavin Newsom has described the recovery effort as a "herculean task." Debris removal from affected homes is expected to take six to nine months, with challenges like toxic waste cleanup and coordinating rebuilding efforts.
Firefighters seize favorable weather to battle LA wildfires
Firefighters seize favorable weather to battle LA wildfires
