L.A. Residents Urged to Stockpile Sunscreen, as Fire Threat Looms 

United States: The Pacific Palisades fire, now spanning at least 2,900 acres as of 8:00 a.m, is part of a larger crisis in Southern California.  

Experts caution that the situation is sadly not improving at all and remains critical. 

Speaking at an afternoon briefing on Tuesday, January 7, 2020, Swain, a climate scientist with the University of California at Los Angeles stated, “This event is not only not over, but it is just getting started and will get significantly worse before it gets better.” Los Angeles, Times. 

He said that the strongest and the most widespread winds have “have not arrived yet.” 

On Wednesday morning, the NWS Los Angeles posted in its local bulletin that a high wind warning remains until 6 this evening for Catalina and Santa Barbara islands, Los Angeles County beaches, Los Angeles County Inland Coast including downtown Los Angeles, and Palos Verdes Hills. Prediction was made to be that there will be north winds ranging from 30 to 40 mph, and up to gusts 60 mph. 

As reported by the people.com, storms accompanied by damaging winds would even bring about many trees and power lines. Cuts in electricity power are likely to be experienced throughout the region. ‘’Travel will be difficult, particularly any highly visible vehicles,’’ the NWS update has stated. 

A high wind advisory also remains in place until 6 p.m. Wednesday for central Ventura County valleys, northern Ventura County mountains and the southern Ventura County mountains as well as the Malibu coast. 

The NWS Storm Prediction Center added that although the winds may subside gradually Wednesday, “critical fire weather conditions which are expected to continue through Thursday.” 

In the Eaton fire which occurred near Pasadena on Tuesday evening, officials claimed two deaths, as per the LA times. 

On the other hand, Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone mentioned at the Wednesday news conference that in the Palisades, some 1,000 structures were burned, and a “high number of people who failed to flee” were critically injured, KTLA of the local station.