Fire updates: containment efforts, damage assessment and more

Nearly 180,000 residents across Los Angeles County have been evacuated and more than 10,000 structures may have been lost or damaged as destructive fires continue to burn in Southern California. We still do not have a clear understanding of how many homes have been destroyed. We know that many beloved local businesses have burned down. The death toll has already jumped, and is likely to continue its rise: The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner announced Thursday evening that it had "received notification of 10 fire-related deaths as of 9 p.m." It is believed that at least five of the deaths stemmed from the Eaton Fire, and two were confirmed from the Palisades Fire, according to comments L.A. Fire Chief Kristin Crowley made earlier in the day. "It is safe to say that the Palisades Fire is one of the most destructive natural disasters in the history of Los Angeles," Crowley said, putting the fire storm in context. The end doesn't seem to be near. Even though the worst of the Santa Ana winds that had fueled the uncontrollable fires in the Pacific Palisades and Altadena are now behind us, the National Weather Service says strong winds and critical fire weather will persist until at least Friday evening.

With files from LAist

How to process the grief and trauma during a natural disaster

As fires continue to rage in Los Angeles, it is estimated to be one of California’s most destructive fire events. Thousands have lost their homes and many more have been forced to evacuate. Everyone in LA has been affected in one way or another by the devastating wildfires in the region. We’ll be speaking with Sabrina Renteria, a Child Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist at Cedars-Sinai, who focuses her research on trauma in the aftermath natural disasters. Call us at 866-893-5722 or email us at atcomments@laist.com for help navigating your own mental health as well as your family’s.