75,000 Los Angeles County homes remain evacuated, number of destroyed homes expected to rise as Woolsey Fire rages in Southern California
Extreme fire behavior will continue to challenge firefighters in Southern California early this week as they look to gain ground on two large wildfires.
The Woolsey Fire and the Hill Fire ignited within a close proximity to each other on Thursday, Nov. 8.
Hill, Woolsey fires rage across Southern California
AP Photo/Garret Fischer
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Instagram/Drew Richards
Thousand Oaks, Calif., resident Drew Richards took this picture of his neighborhood shortly before evacuating on Thursday, Nov. 8.
Instagram/Drew Richards
A man watches as the Woolsey Fire rages in Thousand Oaks, Calif.
(AP Photo/Reed Saxon)
Strong winds blow smoke horizontally over the the Santa Monica Mountains and the Pacific Ocean over the city of Malibu, far distance, in Southern California.
(Photo/Michelle Tucker)
Instagram/scott.murphy00
A Thousand Oaks, Calif., resident posted this photo as the Woolsey Fire flames grew closer to their residence.
Instagram/@dawnmena
A resident in Thousand Oaks, Calif., posted this photo from her home as flames from the massive Woolsey Fire approached her neighborhood.
Twitter photo/@SoCal_Michele
A nearby resident captured this image from an evacuation center in Thousand Oaks, California. The Woosley Fire burns in the distance on Nov. 9, 2018.
Photo/Ventura County Fire Department
The Woolsey Fire is seen in Thousand Oaks California Friday morning.
(Twitter photo/LA County Fire PIO)
The Los Angeles Fire Department posted this photo early Friday morning as officials continue to battle the blaze, which is at 0 percent containment.
(AP Photo/Kathleen Ronayne)
Plumes of smoke loom in the sky several miles away, seen behind a home in Thousand Oaks, Calif., as a wind-driven wildfire known as the Hill fire threatens the area late Thursday afternoon, Nov. 8, 2018.
Instagram/@dawnmena
The Woolsey fire raged near Thousand Oaks, Calif., into Friday morning.
Instagram photo/@chrisamyfj60odyssey/Chris Manella and Amy Mabe
As the sun rose over Malibu, Calif., on Friday morning smoke and flames from the Hill and Woolsey fires were visible.
Instagram/LA City Fire
A Los Angeles City firefighter battles the Hill Fire in Southern California.
(Photo/Ken Clark)
The Woolsey Fire near Malibu is seen from a distance in Santa Monica along the 10 Freeway.
Christopher Weber
A child's bike stands outside burned homes and vehicles at Seminole Springs Mobile home Park in Agoura Hills, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 11, 2018.
(AP Photo/Reed Saxton)
The ruins of a classic Camaro car stands in front of one of at least 20 homes destroyed just on Windermere Drive in the Point Dume area of Malibu, Calif.,Saturday, Nov. 10, 2018.
Reed Saxon
A table and chairs stand outside of one of at least 20 homes destroyed just on Windermere Drive in the Point Dume area of Malibu, Calif., Saturday, Nov. 10, 2018.
Christopher Weber
The sign is all that remains of Kristy's Roadhouse Malibu restaurant, Sunday, Nov. 11, 2018, after flames tore across hillsides in canyon areas in Agoura Hills, Calif.
Reed Saxon
Flames from a broken gas line burn at one of at least 20 homes destroyed just on Windermere Drive in the Point Dume area of Malibu, Calif., Saturday, Nov. 10, 2018. Known as the Woolsey Fire, it has consumed thousands of acres and destroyed dozens of homes.
Ringo H.W. Chiu
Residents Damon Webb, left, and Brendon O'neal clean up the road after the Woolsey fire burned in Malibu, Calif., Saturday, Nov. 10, 2018.
Of the two, the Woolsey Fire continues to be the biggest threat to communities as it burns in Ventura and Los Angeles counties. It has charred 91,572 acres and is 20 percent contained as of Monday morning. Two people have been killed by the blaze, which has also destroyed 370 structures and is currently threatening another 57,000.
The number of destroyed homes is expected to rise, according to the Associated Press. The two victims were found in a car on a stretch of Mulholland Highway in Malibu, the AP reported.
Mandatory evacuations were still in effect for Los Angeles County residents in Malibu, Calabasas, Topanga and Hidden Hills. Some evacuation orders were lifted in the county as residents were being allowed to return home on Sunday including those in the communities of Agoura Hills and Westlake Village. However, over 75,000 homes remain under evacuation orders.
"It may look safe enough to go back and check on your home, but don't do it," Los Angeles County Fire Chief Daryl L. Osby said. "The potential dangers you may encounter could cost you your life. We will let you know when it's safe to go home."
Evacuation orders HAVE NOT been lifted for the 75,000 Los Angeles County homes within the Woolsey Fire Evacuation Area. Those displaced by the wildfire are strongly advised not to return to the area until first responders declare the area safe. #WoolseyFire pic.twitter.com/Hy2lsPyiSv
— LA County Sheriff's (@LASDHQ) November 11, 2018
#WoolseyFire #Malibu Please Continue to Evacuate & Drive Safely. We will continue to bring #LASD Personnel & Resources pic.twitter.com/mcVRZ9xzZ1
— LA County Sheriff's (@LASDHQ) November 10, 2018
Firefighters have made significant progress on the Hill Fire, which is burning in Ventura County. It has burned over 4,500 acres and is 80 percent contained.
The cause of both fires remains under investigation.
In total, 31 people have died across the state due to the outbreak of fires. In Northern California, 29 have died and over 200 are missing as a result of the Camp Fire, which destroyed the town of Paradise.
While the weather allowed firefighters to make some progress, a multi-day Santa Ana wind event will keep the threat high for wildfire development and spread through midweek.
"The fires in Southern California could spread from east to west toward the coast, potentially impacting areas from Oxnard to Malibu," according to AccuWeather Meteorologist Brett Rathbun said.
A state of emergency was declared in Los Angeles and Ventura counties on Friday afternoon due to the fires burning in Southern California. On Friday, President Donald Trump approved California's Emergency Declaration, allowing federal assistance to be open to the state.
Southern California Edison said the Woolsey Fire has damaged company infrastructure and caused outages in fire affected areas. Approximately 9,500 customers are without power.
The Malibu and Calabasas campuses of Pepperdine are among the universities that remain closed through Tuesday. Shelter locations have opened up throughout the area for evacuees.
