On Wednesday, firefighters were able to make progress as the weather alleviated harmful conditions.
This Thursday, 150 Arizona firefighters helped battle the massive blazes in Southern California.
Rick Jones, a battalion chief with the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management, said they are working 16-hour days on the frontlines, enduring heavy smoke.
While the Eaton Fire and other wildfires in the region are above 50% containment, the Palisades Fire, the largest in the region, is only at 22% containment, having burned more than 20,000 acres.
"We can be here for up to 21 days depending on the incident and the need,” Jones said. “A lot of hard work. A lot of work to still be done here. Precious scraps of time that we trade to be here for these folks but well worth it in the end."
The wildfires have killed more than two dozen people and damaged over 10,000 structures. Over 5,000 people are working against the Palisades Fire and over 3,000 people are fighting against the Eaton Fire.
“We’re experiencing long days, a lot of bad smoke, a lot of toxic smoke,” Jones said. “But it's the job that needs to get done, and we're the ones who do it.”
Threat from toxic fire debris will prevent many LA residents from checking on damaged homes
Homeowners learned Thursday that it could be a week or more before they will be allowed to check on their fire-damaged properties while officials assess the threat of potentially toxic ash and debris left by the blazes that have blackened neighborhoods across the LA area.
More than 80,000 people are still under evacuation orders, and many do not know what, if anything, is left of their houses, apartments and possessions.
“The properties have been damaged beyond belief,” Los Angeles County Public Works Director Mark Pestrella said at a briefing. “They are full of sediment, debris, silt and hazardous materials."
County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone said residents eager to enter burned areas to see what’s left of their homes or search for valuables need to be patient.
“We don’t have a date. We’re trying to render the area safe,” he said.
Officials said it would be at least another week before access is restored, as hazardous materials teams investigate. The rubble and ash can contain asbestos, lead and other dangerous materials.
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Commentator Herb Paine argues that for too long, we've operated under the illusion that growth is limitless and resources are infinite. But, he says, nature is not negotiable.
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Firefighting crews are working to contain a 360-acre fire burning near the community as windy conditions move in.
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A local Tempe bookstore called Wijaya started a donation drive, encouraging members of the community to give books in support of those affected by wildfire in Pacific Palisades, California.
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Rising costs and cancellations by insurers citing wildfire risks have garnered attention in California, where many Los Angeles County residents are struggling to recover from deadly wildfires. It's a problem in Arizona, too.
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Lawmakers at the Arizona Capitol want to require the state’s utility companies to prepare plans to reduce wildfire risks across the state, but critics argue the bill’s fine print will actually make it harder for residents to hold power companies accountable when they cause those fires.