Kimiko Nickerson's father did not want to leave the home where he had lived since 1968. The 82-year-old did not believe it would be as devastating as it actually became. With the help of the wind, the fire jumped over the entire block, says the daughter to Sky News – and struck against just Rodney Nickerson's street in Altadena.
He was sleeping in his bed and is still lying there, while I'm waiting for the coroner, says the daughter.
She is at a loss for words. Everything happened so fast.
I'm just silent and numb and trying to get through this.
67-year-old Anthony Mitchell and his son also perished. The father, who was in a wheelchair, did not want to leave his brain-damaged son when the flames approached the house in Altadena.
It was like a ton of bricks fell on me, says Hajime White to The Washington Post about receiving the news of the death.
Death toll feared to rise
In the fire around Altadena, over 5,000 structures have been destroyed, according to Los Angeles County's fire chief. The term includes both houses, apartment buildings, commercial properties, and vehicles.
In the fire around Pacific Palisades, over 5,300 buildings and vehicles have been damaged or destroyed, according to the authorities.
On Thursday, calmer wind speeds contributed to the rescue services managing to get a grip on the deadly fires for the first time. But late in the afternoon, local time, a new fire broke out in San Fernando Valley near the area West Hills.
Ten people have so far been confirmed dead, according to local authorities early on Friday, Swedish time. But the figure is feared to rise.
"Atomic bomb"
Members of California's national guard are now being sent to the fire-ravaged areas.
Over the past 24 hours, around 400 members of the national guard in the state have made themselves ready to support us, said Los Angeles Sheriff Robert Luna on Thursday afternoon.
It looks like an atomic bomb has struck these areas.
President Joe Biden says he is gathering all federal resources he can. In a speech on Thursday, he stated that the fires show that climate change is real.
This is the most widespread, devastating fire in California's history, said the president.
The forecasting company Accuweather has estimated the economic losses to be up to 150 billion dollars, equivalent to approximately 1,700 billion kronor.
