At least 11 people have died and 180,000 residents have been forced to evacuate as devastating wildfires continue to scorch the Los Angeles area for a fifth day.
A series of wildfires have sparked since Tuesday because of extreme dry conditions and powerful Santa Ana winds. Two of the biggest blazes — the Palisades Fire and the Eaton Fire — have destroyed a total of 35,000 acres, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire).
Officials have said the true death toll remains unknown, as the fires continue to sweep through several areas.
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Here are the latest numbers from Cal Fire:
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The Palisades Fire has consumed more than 21,000 acres and is still growing in size, forcing officials to extend evacuation orders. It is 11% contained. City Fire Chief Kristin M. Crowley has called it “one of the most destructive fires in the history of Los Angeles.”
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The Eaton Fire has burned through more than 14,000 acres and is 15% contained. L.A. County Fire Chief Deputy Jon O’Brien said more than 5,000 structures are estimated to have been destroyed.
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The Hurst Fire has destroyed 771 acres and is 70% contained.
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Further north, the Lidia Fire, near Acton, has swept through 395 acres and is 98% contained.
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The Kenneth Fire, which began Thursday afternoon in the Woodland Hills area near Calabasas, has razed through more than 1,000 acres so far. It is 50% contained.
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The Archer Fire, sparked Friday, has burned through 19 acres and is 0% contained.
Several emergency alerts were mistakenly sent to millions of L.A. residents who were far from where the wildfires were burning, setting off panic.
Although officials had hoped that weaker winds late Friday would help to slow the spread of the blazes, the Palisades Fire tore through dry terrain overnight, moving closer to residential areas. Strong gusts are expected to resume later on Saturday.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
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