California on fire

Wildfires have broken out across southern California and have devastated areas of Los Angeles, resulting in 27 deaths. In excess of 200,000 LA residents have been forced to evacuate, abandoning their homes to the flames.

On the morning of 7th January, the first wildfire broke out in the Pacific Palisades neighbourhood. That same evening, a second fire ignited in close proximity to national forest lands, with 6 additional blazes appearing in the hours that followed.

Nicole Perri and partner Kyle Kucharski were forced to abandon their Pacific Palisades home. They've returned to see if there's anything worth rescuing from the ashes.

Nicole Perri: "I feel broken. I feel lost. I feel devastated. I don't want to have to tell my boys that this is their home, that is gone. It's so tragic, and I know I'm not the only one. So I feel for everyone who's in this position. I really do."

Although investigations into the fires' causes are ongoing, one contributing factor's the lack of rainfall over the last 8 months. Combined with high winds fanning the flames, it's allowed the wildfires to spread rapidly over vast distances.

At least 17,000 structures have been consumed by fire. Kristin Crowley, the city's Fire Chief, described the crisis as "one of the most destructive natural disasters in the history of Los Angeles."

Current estimates suggest economic losses are likely to exceed $135 billion. However, the full extent of the human and economic costs won't be known for some time.

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