The death toll from the wildfires in Los Angeles County has risen to 16, according to the Los Angeles County medical examiner's office. The previous number of confirmed fatalities was 11, but officials expect that figure to rise as cadaver dogs search leveled neighborhoods and crews assess the devastation. Meanwhile, LA's fire chief, Kristin Crowley, has engaged in a public spat with Mayor Karen Bass over resources, blaming budget cuts for making it harder for firefighters to do their jobs. The wildfires are projected to be among the costliest natural disasters in US history, with preliminary estimates putting the damage and economic losses between $135 billion and $150 billion.
image sourced from original article at https://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/ap/article-14275293/AP-News-Brief-12-09-m-EST.html
Original article source: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/ap/article-14275293/AP-News-Brief-12-09-m-EST.html
Source Id: 8496432114