the speed at which the la fires are moving makes any claim of 'up to date', out of date an hour later but here's one, up to date;

The wildfires ravaging Los Angeles County have not only claimed lives and homes but have also ignited a firestorm of public discontent. With over 12,300 homes destroyed in just five days, the death toll has reached at least 11, and thousands remain displaced. The scale of the disaster is unprecedented, with the fires consuming around 38,000 acres, an area significantly larger than Manhattan.

Kristian Fors of the Independent Institute captures the sentiment on the ground, “When people see that our basic needs are not being met, they’re angry.” This frustration is palpable as the fires, including the Palisades at 11% containment, Eaton at 15%, Kenneth at 80%, and Hurst at 76%, continue to challenge emergency services.

Economic devastation follows in the wake of these fires, with damage estimates soaring past $150 billion, as reported by AccuWeather. This figure represents the highest cost from a wildfire ever recorded in the U.S., dwarfing the previous record set by the 2018 Camp Fire in Paradise, which, adjusted for 2025 dollars, caused $12.5 billion in damage. The current fires are approximately 12 times more costly, signaling a profound economic impact that could last decades, with over 10,000 structures destroyed and an estimated 10+ year rebuilding period..........more......