For the past four days, Los Angeles has been battling a ferocious wildfire that has engulfed numerous homes and disrupted roads. The tragedy has claimed 11 lives so far. Firefighters report some progress in controlling the blaze, although they warn that high winds could reignite the flames, worsening the situation. Thousands of homes in Los Angeles' upscale neighborhoods have been destroyed, with the inferno reaching the Hollywood Hills.
Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna described the calamity to the media as akin to someone dropping a nuclear bomb in the affected areas, with approximately 10,000 homes and structures damaged. He expressed concerns about the death toll rising and warned that good news is not on the horizon. According to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, 6% of the fire in the Palisades has been controlled, yet the Eaton fire remains out of control.
In Kenneth, the wildfire has affected roughly 960 acres across Los Angeles and Ventura County. Firefighters have managed to control 35% of the blaze. Hearst and Lydia fire departments report progress in battling the flames over 1,200 acres, with a 37% containment in Hearst and 75% in Lydia. Winds gusting at 160 km/h in Los Angeles have exacerbated the situation, although calmer winds allowed rescue teams to air-drop water using helicopters to fight the fire.
Source: aajtak
Despite this, nighttime winds picked up again, leading officials to warn of the possibility of the fire spreading and conditions worsening throughout Los Angeles and South California by Friday afternoon (Indian time Saturday). Los Angeles Fire Department Chief Kristin Crowley noted that the high winds made it extremely challenging to control the wildfires. She warned that 'we are not out of danger yet.' Two days ago, President Joe Biden declared the Los Angeles wildfires a major disaster.
Source: aajtak
After a meeting with senior advisors at the White House, Biden stated, 'I have advised governors and local officials to do whatever they need to. There should be no stone unturned in getting the fires under control.' Power outages have affected nearly 100,000 homes and businesses in Los Angeles. The fire has led to an estimated loss of 135 to 150 billion USD. Smoke from the wildfires has heavily polluted the air in Los Angeles, leading to school closures.
The wildfires have destroyed the homes of several film stars and celebrities, including Paris Hilton and Mel Gibson. Sheriff Robert Luna mentioned that approximately 153,000 individuals have been asked to evacuate to safer locations, with another 166,800 warned to be ready for evacuation if necessary. A curfew is in place across all evacuation zones. Meanwhile, a person has been detained on suspicion of arson in connection to the Kenneth wildfire. However, a fire official told BBC there is no definitive evidence to prove the fire was deliberate.
The Los Angeles police reported that at least 20 people have been arrested for looting during this emergency. To enforce curfews in evacuation areas, Los Angeles police are collaborating with the California National Guard. Firefighters from other US states and Canada are being dispatched with essential equipment to California.
