More than 34,000 acres have been destroyed in Southern California’s continuing wildfires, and numerous houses, businesses, and infrastructure have been reported to have suffered major damage.
Since the fires started earlier this week, there have been at least 10 confirmed deaths and several injuries. Nearly 20,000 acres have been destroyed by the Palisades Fire, the greatest of these disasters and the most devastating wildfire in Los Angeles history. Although just a tiny portion of the impacted areas have been brought under control, fire containment efforts are still ongoing.
Maxar Technologies has supplied satellite data that shows the extent of the fires’ damage in striking detail. Even though the impacted areas are heavily covered in smoke, infrared imaging has shown burned buildings and active fire hotspots.
Entire homes have been reduced to ash in the Palisades Fire, which has scorched large swaths of the Pacific Coast Highway and neighbouring Malibu districts. Smoke plumes rise above the ravaged lands in a false-color satellite image released by Planet Labs, highlighting the destruction of vegetation.
The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection has confirmed that the Eaton Fire, which burned around 10,600 acres, reached the base of Mount Wilson, according to space.com. The region is home to the famous Mount Wilson Observatory as well as transmitters and antennas essential to communication networks.
According to reports, firemen were able to restore power to the observatory and avoid serious damage. Emergency personnel also protected the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), which is situated at the foot of the San Gabriel Mountains. JPL Director Laurie Leshin expressed worry for more than 150 JPL employees who lost their homes in the tragedy and praised the firefighters’ bravery in protecting the institution in a statement posted on social media.