At least 24 people have now been confirmed dead due to massive wildfires around Los Angeles with California Governor Gavin Newsom saying it could be the most devastating natural disaster in US history, which has also destroyed thousands of homes.

Los Angeles County in the US has been battling devastating wildfires for the past five days. At least 11 people are dead and thousands of structures, which include homes, commercial buildings and vehicles, have been damaged or destroyed. While the fires that have devastated celebrity neighbourhoods near Malibu have caught the world’s attention, a similar-sized blaze in Eaton Canyon, north of Los Angeles, has ravaged Altadena, where rows of neat bungalows once nestled. But as the embers cooled, some residents whose homes were ravaged in the inferno returned to see what remained. 

According to the BBC, many residents of Altadena found small trinkets that brought smiles to their faces amid a hellish ordeal. Six-year-old Henry Giles was among one of them. When the little boy returned to his home in Altadena with his parents, he found a bucket and a toy lawnmower that survived the inferno. “Mommy look, they survived! We hid them in the bushes because we knew there would be a fire!” he excitedly yelled, per the outlet. 

Another man, 52-year-old Larry Villescas, was also able to find a few things, including a wedding gift from 25 years ago. He said that he found a Christmas ornament, a Dr Suess book and something that nearly brought him to tears. 

“We found a dish and a bowl that’s part of a dish set that my great aunt gave us on our wedding day. It’s lasted 24 years. We’ve been together 29 and we got married four years later, and so 24 years old that bowl and that plate, believe it or not,” he told the BBC. 

Also Read | Los Angeles Battles Historic Wildfires, Yet Its Air Quality Is Better Than Delhi’s

Even though not much survived the fire, a few other residents were able to find small things that are now even more special to them. Daron Anderson said that he found a white and blue flowered vase from the pile of debris that stayed together. “I know my mom will like it,” he said, adding, “It’s small, but it’s something.”

Another woman sifted through charred coins to find two pearls belonging to her mother’s necklace, while her neighbour managed to find a power saw and an antique hand tool. 

LA wildfires to be costliest US disaster 

Meanwhile, as firefighters continue to combat the Eaton Fire, its destruction has taken a toll on the Pasadena, Altadena and Sierra Madre communities. At least 7,000 structures have been damaged or destroyed in the area, CBS News reported. Don Fregulia, an operations section chief for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said that crews have made good progress on portions of the blaze, while other areas are still very active.

The devastating Los Angeles wildfires are poised to become one of the costliest natural disasters in US history, with estimated losses already surpassing $135 billion. According to a preliminary estimate by private forecaster AccuWeather, the total losses could reach as high as $150 billion, making it one of the most expensive wildfires the country has ever seen. 
 

Los Angeles County in the US has been battling devastating wildfires for the past few days. Today, half of the city is on fire. The inferno has ripped through more than 19,000 acres of Pacific Palisades and Malibu. The death toll from the wildfires has continued to climb with at least 10 people known to have died and that toll may grow. However, astonishingly, even amidst the natural calamity, LA’s air remains significantly cleaner than that of Delhi. 

The AQI in the US city was recorded at 154 today, which is far better than the air quality in the Indian capital. Delhi’s air quality continued in the “very poor” category. According to IMD, the AQI was recorded at 372 in Delhi today. 

This stark contrast highlights a troubling reality for Delhi, where poor air has become a daily struggle. Noting the same, an X user shared a side-by-side comparison of AQI recorded in Delhi and LA on Friday. “Half of LA is on fire, but the air is still cleaner than Delhi’s,” the user wrote. 

Take a look below: 

Half of LA is on fire, but the air is still cleaner than Delhi’s https://t.co/hQrRvjZFXI pic.twitter.com/AdLVYRkK4u

— Abhinav Kukreja (@kukreja_abhinav) January 9, 2025

In the comments section, several users pointed out that the air quality in LA is even better than in Mumbai. Some of them explained the cause, noting that it is because of the wind velocity and direction of it. 

“Wind direction is the cause, people burn parali in Haryana and Punjab, and effect is seen in Delhi, same wind caused havoc by supporting its spread and also protected air quality!” explained one user. “While Delhi aqi is truly awful, I don’t think the comparison with a coastal city with heavy winds is very accurate,” commented another. 

The Air Quality Index, often referred to as AQI, is a federal measure of the amount of air pollution. An AQI between zero and 50 is considered ‘good,’ 51 and 100 ‘satisfactory,’ 101 and 200 ‘moderate,’ 201 and 300 ‘poor,’ 301 and 400 ‘very poor,’ and 401 and 500 ‘severe’. 

Also Read | Pics: Losses From Deadly Wildfires Across Los Angeles Likely To Hit $60 Billion

Meanwhile, five fires are still burning in LA. A Los Angeles County fire official said an untold number of significant injuries were linked to two of the fires, and a city official in Los Angeles described Tuesday night as “one of the most devastating and terrifying” that she had seen in her corner of the city.

Nearly 180,000 people are under evacuation orders due to the wildfires. Another 200,000 residents are under evacuation warnings. 

Thousands of structures, which include homes, commercial buildings and vehicles, have been damaged or destroyed. The insured losses from this week’s fires may exceed $20 billion, and total economic losses could reach $50 billion, according to estimates published by JPMorgan on Thursday.