Hi there, everyone. It's now 4 o'clock in New York. We start with what is already the most

destructive fire Los Angeles has ever seen. And there's a long way to go yet. Like hell on

earth in more ways than one, five wildfires are right now,

burning almost completely out of control across 45 square miles. At least six people are dead,

and that number is expected to rise. 180,000 people have been forced from their homes. 350,000 people are without power right now.

The sheer scale of the destruction is almost too much to describe and comprehend.

Homes, businesses, schools, communities suddenly reduced to nothing.

Ash, sewer, power, transportation systems there

are significantly damaged.

The estimate from J.P. Morgan late this afternoon, $50 billion in total economic losses.

Just look at the before and after satellite imagery of family homes in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood.

Homes that stood when the week began as latest Monday evening have now been wiped off the face of

the earth. The latest addition to the crisis is the sunset fire, which started last night in the

Hollywood Hills. It has grown to some 60 acres now and threatens a number

of iconic landmarks. Thankfully, that fire is, as of right now, 100% contained. As for the others,

while there was some hope that calmer conditions today would allow crews to turn the corner

on containment.

Winds are expected to pick back up again this afternoon,

and this evening red flag warnings are in effect for much of Los Angeles and Ventura counties,

and that's expected to be in place until 6 p.m. tomorrow.

So it does appear sadly that things could get worse

before they get better, a difficult realization for those people who've already lost so much.

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