Two of California’s most devastating wildfires, which ravaged thousands of acres and prompted widespread evacuations, have been fully contained after more than three weeks of battling the flames, authorities confirmed late Friday.
The Palisades Fire, which began on January 7, burned through more than 23,000 acres and obliterated over 6,800 buildings. The Eaton Fire, which started in Altadena, scorched just over 14,000 acres and destroyed more than 9,000 structures, according to CalFire.
Late Thursday into Friday, officials confirmed that both fires had achieved 100% containment, meaning firefighters had successfully secured the perimeter and halted any further spread of the flames.
The destruction caused by these fires was staggering, with entire communities leveled. At least 29 lives were lost — 17 in the Eaton Fire and 12 in the Palisades Fire, according to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office.
The exact causes of the fires remain under investigation.
The financial impact of the fires is expected to be astronomical. AccuWeather estimates that the total damage and economic losses caused by the wildfires could fall between $250 billion and $275 billion.
Earlier this week, firefighters were given a brief reprieve when light rainfall swept through Southern California, slowing the progression of the flames.
{Matzav.com}