Apocalyptic Wildfire Engulfs Affluent LA, Leaves Devastation In Its Wake!

At least 10 people have died and thousands of structures destroyed as ferocious wildfires swept through Los Angeles, US officials said. Fast-moving flames, fuelled by intense dry winds, ripped through houses and businesses, forcing tens of thousands to flee smoke-choked canyons and neighbourhoods dotted with celebrity homes. The Pacific Palisades blaze gutted the predominantly residential neighbourhood, sweeping through 200 acres and necessitating mandatory evacuations. It was expanding rapidly, with firefighters struggling to contain it due to strong winds and fire hydrants running dry, according to the New York Times. Over 5,000 structures in Pacific Palisades alone were either damaged or destroyed, making it the most destructive fire in Los Angeles history. Nearly 27 square miles (70 square km) have burned in the coastal neighbourhood. Nearly 180,000 people were under evacuation orders as of Thursday. Affluent neighbourhoods such as Calabasas, Santa Monica and West Hills were threatened by flames. Hollywood stars, including Mark Hamill, Mandy Moore, and Paris Hilton, were among those displaced. Fires have scorched about 45 square miles (117 square km) across Los Angeles county, equivalent to the size of San Francisco. Los Angeles Sheriff Robert Luna described the devastation as resembling “an atomic bomb dropped in these areas.”