Part 2/8:
Southern California has seen severe wildfires, notably the Palisades and East fires, wreaking havoc and damaging thousands of homes and businesses. With containment efforts only at approximately 10-15%, the potential for further destruction looms large, particularly as winds expected to exacerbate the situation. Despite the threats, Santa Monica has largely dodged the bullet, largely spared from destruction, with decent air quality and utilities still functional.