President Joe Biden convened senior officials today for a briefing on the federal response to the catastrophic wildfires ravaging Los Angeles County. Three active fires—the Palisades, Eaton, and Hurst fires—have already claimed at least 24 lives, scorched over 40,000 acres, and destroyed more than 12,000 structures.

The largest blaze, the Palisades fire, is only 14% contained and is now threatening neighborhoods including Brentwood, Encino, and Westwood. Over 105,000 residents have been ordered to evacuate, with an additional 87,000 on standby.

The Eaton Fire, which erupted in Altadena earlier this week, has devastated 10,600 acres and destroyed nearly 1,000 structures. Its impact has been particularly severe on Altadena’s historic Black community, a sanctuary for generations of African Americans who overcame systemic barriers to create a thriving cultural hub.

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