The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on Friday declared a public health emergency for California to address the health impacts of the ongoing wildfires in Los Angeles County.

The US health department on Friday declared a public health emergency for California in response to devastating wildfires in the Los Angeles area that have so far killed 10 people and destroyed more than 10,000 structures.

The expanding wildfires in Southern California have prompted more evacuation orders overnight while the Los Angeles County Public Health Department declared a local health emergency, stating the

The public health emergency was put in place retroactive to Tuesday, enabling these measures under federal law.