Live Updates: Los Angeles wildfires kill at least 5, Palisades, Sunset, Eaton fires rage

Some Los Angeles County residents will wake up to dangerous conditions today as polluted air and unsafe water pose a threat in several areas.

At least five people have been killed, and officials expect the death toll to rise as fast-moving fires continue to burn across Los Angeles County, mostly uncontained.

The fires are the most destructive in LA history, with more than 1,000 buildings burned and over 130,000 people under evacuation orders or warnings as of Wednesday. More than 200,000 homes and buildings are without power.

Here’s where things stand:

The big fires: The Palisades Fire burning that the coastal area between Malibu and Santa Monica has exploded to more than 17,200 acres without containment. The other massive flame, the fast moving one Eaton Fireovertaking homes across Altadena is on 10,600 acres and 0% contained. The Hurst Fire is at least 855 acres and 10% contained while the Lydia Brand is 348 acres and 40% contained. The newest to break out is Sunset fire in the Hollywood Hills, where evacuation orders have been issued, burning through 60 acres without containment. The Woodley Fire has now been 100% contained after burning 30 acres.

Why did the fires spread so quickly: Extreme fire weather ignited fires throughout Southern California as strong winds and low humidity worsen conditions. The wind and fast-moving embers were the biggest factors in causing the fire to spread so quickly, according to Pasadena Fire Chief Chad Augustin. Although the winds decreased in intensity on Wednesday, they still made it difficult for the firefighters. The cause of the Eaton fire is “unknown and under active investigation,” LA Country Fire Chief Anthony Marrone said. Wildfires are driven by a number of factors, but scientists say global warming is tipping the dice in favor of more intense and severe flames.

Fire forecast: Critical fire weather is expected to last in parts of Los Angeles and Ventura Counties through Friday. While much of Southern California should see a brief lull in gusty winds this morning, the National Weather Service warned that winds are expected to begin picking up throughout the day. Red flag warnings remain for over 10 million people.

The most expensive wildfire in history: The The Palisades wildfire alone is expected to be the costliest in history, according to climate scientist Daniel Swain. It is also the most destructive fire in the state’s history that occurred in the month of January.

Dedicated Answer: Firefighters risk their lives battling the fast-moving wildfires, with some employees working 36-hour and 48-hour shifts. More than 7,500 firefighting and emergency workers have been mobilized. Nevada is also sending resources from multiple fire agencies to Southern California to help fight the blaze, and the California National Guard has deployed troops.

Water problems: The city of Pasadena issued an emergency warning about unsafe drinking water in areas affected by recent evacuations due to the Eaton fire. The Pasadena Water and Power system may be compromised by “debris and elevated turbidity,” according to the city. Residents are advised to rely exclusively on bottled water for all consumption, including drinking, cooking, brushing teeth and pet care.

Air quality: The excessive smoke and ash has caused air quality to drop to ‘hazardous’ levels in parts of the region, and air quality alerts are in place in many areas, including Downtown Los Angeles. Altadena has a current air quality index of 426, which exceeds the worst air quality seen in New Delhi, a city notorious for air pollution, over the past two days.

Learning Disrupted: All schools in the Los Angeles Unified School District will be closed today. The district will announce a decision no later than 4:00 PM PT on whether schools will be open Friday, while all schools in Pasadena will be closed for the rest of the week. In the Palisades, two schools have been burned to the ground.