Multiple wildfires are raging across parts of the Los Angeles area, and thousands of Southern Californians have been ordered to evacuate their homes.
Since the fires began burning on Tuesday, Jan. 7, over 11,000 acres have been engulfed in flames between the Santa Monica and Malibu areas. More than 30,000 people have evacuated their homes in L.A. County, and two people are confirmed to have died during the blazes.
Before the fires began, the National Weather Service issued its highest alert for extreme fire conditions — citing widespread wind gusts of up to 100 mph, along with downed trees, power outages, low humidity and large amounts of dry vegetation — in Los Angeles and Ventura Counties.
Anyone who is under an evacuation order are advised to leave their homes as quickly as possible. If you are not under an order, but feel unsafe, it’s also best to evacuate.
The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, also known as Cal Fire, recommends that each member of a household and family have a wildfire action plan that everyone is aware of.
Residents should designate a safe meeting location for household members, identify potential escape routes, including knowing which highway routes are open and safe to use, as well as making arrangements for pets and livestock.
Additionally, they should establish a family communication plan that includes a designated contact person outside the affected area in case local phone lines are disrupted.
