Los Angeles residents displaced by the massive fires sweeping through the area will not be able to return home until at least Thursday, officials confirmed.
Tens of thousands of evacuees are facing an agonizing wait, as emergency teams battle to contain the fierce flames that have ravaged neighborhoods, including the Palisades Fire and the Eaton Fire.
EDITOR’s PICK
Many evacuees, who were forced to leave their homes with little more than the clothes on their backs, have lined up at checkpoints in hopes of being allowed back into the dangerous fire zones.
Some are desperate to retrieve essential items like medications or personal belongings they didn’t have time to collect before fleeing. Others simply want to know if their homes have survived.
“It’s not safe yet,” Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone said during a press conference.
He explained that strong winds expected to continue through Wednesday could reignite the fires, making conditions too hazardous for residents to return.
Marrone emphasized that the priority remains getting people back to their homes as soon as it is safe to do so.
“We’re hoping to have conversations about repopulation on Thursday morning,” he added.
In the meantime, frustrated residents have been waiting for hours in long lines, hoping for a brief, escorted visit to their homes.
Some have been queuing for up to 11 hours, driven by the need for closure or the hope that their homes have survived the inferno.
Janelle, a resident, expressed the anguish many are feeling.
“I know it’s gone, but I just want to see it for myself,” she said.
For others, the stakes are even higher. Editor Henry Levinson, whose home in the Pacific Palisades was affected, shared his emotional story, “I wanted to collect my dad’s ashes, which we had to leave behind,” he said, speaking of the sentimental objects that many evacuees have been unable to retrieve.
As of Sunday, around 100,000 people remain under compulsory evacuation orders, down from a peak of 180,000 last week.
The fires have devastated entire streets, leaving them charred and unrecognizable, while infrastructure has been badly damaged.
With the official death toll now at 24, authorities continue to search for more victims.
Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna emphasized the ongoing danger of returning to the fire zones, highlighting the presence of live wires, gas lines, and other hazards.
Despite the heartache, he urged residents to prioritize their safety above all.
“We’re very empathetic to their needs,” Luna said. “But your safety comes first.”
Click HERE For Our Video Of the Week
Lagos Assembly Gets New Leadership: Rt. Hon Mojisola Former speaker Mudashiru Obasa impeached on Monday…
Australian DJ Courtney Mills, tragically died after falling from a balcony in Bali. Despite undergoing…
Elejinrin Community Event Display of Apo masquerade Elejinrin of Ejinrin Kindom 20th coronation anniversary and…