Ten people are now confirmed killed, with that number expected to rise, as firefighters worked to contain still-active blazes in Los Angeles during a lull in the winds on Friday.
As of Friday morning, more than 10,000 structures had been destroyed and mandatory evacuation orders issued for more than 360,000 people as at least five infernos burned around the city. The two largest fires—one in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood and one near Pasadena—were still largely uncontained early Friday, according to Cal Fire, the state’s fire authority.
Winds are expected to weaken overnight Friday into Saturday, but pick up again by Monday, leaving a small window for fire crews to get things under control before they hit.
There has been some good news: A brush fire that broke out in the Hollywood Hills was extinguished by water drops; and one of the other fires, the Sunset, was contained late Thursday and residents were able to return to their homes.
The National Guard has been deployed to assist in a situation many agree is unprecedented. Southern California sees its share of wildfires every year, but nothing like this—spreading into the city, with Santa Ana winds and extreme dryness creating a perfect storm of destruction.
Discover Los Angeles has made a statement—with information on how to help—and is providing regular updates on the wildfires, which were expected to continue through Thursday.
Effects on Hospitality
The Hotel Association of Los Angeles is keeping a list of Los Angeles-area properties offering relief accommodations for those displaced by the ongoing wildfires.
With mandatory evacuation orders in effect, anyone with plans to visit Los Angeles should reconsider. If you’ve already booked travel products and will be seeking refunds, contact your individual travel providers.
Based near the Los Angeles area, Princess Cruises is allowing passengers to cancel cruises scheduled to depart between Jan. 11-30. Travelers will receive a Future Cruise Credit equal to the value of their booking, which will be valid for any Princess Cruise departing from the Los Angeles World Cruise Center in 2025. In addition, anyone canceling will be fully refunded for any additional purchases such as shore excursions or Princess Packages.
Insurance Claims: The Next Disaster?
The catastrophic losses are already weighing on insurers, who are bracing for billions of dollars in potential claims. Private forecaster AccuWeather estimated the damage and economic loss at $135 billion to $150 billion, pointing to a difficult recovery followed by soaring homeowners’ insurance costs.
President Joe Biden has declared the fires a major disaster and said the federal government will reimburse 100 percent of the recovery for the next six months.
Prevue will update the situation as it continues to unfold.
