During a press conference on January 16 (US time), Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna announced that search teams are still combing through the rubble to find victims, so the death toll may increase. Mr. Luna added that authorities are preventing people from going to some areas “because we believe there may be deceased victims.”
A house destroyed by the Palisades fire in the Pacific Palisades area of Los Angeles, California
Tens of thousands of people who fled their homes as wildfires raged in Los Angeles last week were told on January 16 that they would not be allowed to return for at least another week. Many of those people are angry because the rules prevent them from returning, even to homes that did not suffer much damage after the deadly fire. Officials say they understand residents’ frustration, but ask them to be patient as power, gas and wastewater lines are destroyed, toxic waste is everywhere and there is a growing threat increased risk of landslides.
Wildfires are still raging in California, efforts to put out the fires are having difficulty
Teams from the Environmental Protection Agency on January 16 began inspections to remove pesticides, fuel and lithium batteries from the rubble before any cleanup could proceed. Los Angeles County Public Works Director Mark Pestrella said structures that appeared to be intact after the fire could now be affected by mudslides and any heavy rain could be dangerous.
