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Firefighters in Los Angeles County are continuing to fight fires across the eastern and western outskirts of the city since Tuesday. According to Reuters, the disaster has killed at least 16 people. Meteorologists warn that the Santa Ana winds could reach speeds of over 32 km/h.
The winds could once again accelerate the spread of the fire. Rose Schoenfield from the American Meteorological Institute, quoted by the "Los Angeles Times," expressed concerns that the wind's strength would increase. This is expected to happen by Wednesday.
Criticism of the authorities for their lack of response to the fires is mounting. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and Governor Gavin Newsom have come under scrutiny for not preparing the city to fight the disaster, according to MSN.
Carriers and shippers are closely watching the evolving situation. If the fires continue to grow or spread toward more densely populated areas, it could lead to significant delays or interruptions in transportation services, said Translogistics Inc (TLI) , which has been communicating with carriers in the affected areas. The logistics firm reported that there have been no significant disruptions to LTL (less-than-truckload) carrier operations so far. Terminals remain open & operational, and transport services are still being offered.
However, the fires are located within service areas, and continued high winds increase the risk of broader disruptions if the fires spread further into metro areas.
The Russell meteorological prognosis is that humidity could go up again towards the weekend but only for a day or two. If the fires are not contained by then, they could extend well into next week as the air dries out again and pressure builds.
Looking to the long term implications, the Los Angeles wildfires should serve as a warning to major sports events organisers that they must adapt to climate change, with the BBC reporting that sports events organisers will be increasingly on their guard. LA will host the next edition of the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2028, as well as matches during the 2026 FIFA World Cup and this summer's revamped Club World Cup.
The destruction of thousands of buildings and costs already expected to exceed $135bn (£109.7bn) while the insurance loss, as this blog was being published, was estimated at between $10-20 billion, according to The Insurer magazine, but that figure could well go up.
Insurance shares have for local US insurance companies have tumbled since the fires began but the latest commentary suggests that some of the declines may have been overdone.
