11 killed, 10,000 homes destroyed in Los Angeles amid threat of new wildfires
The catastrophic wildfires that continue to blaze through upscale enclaves in Los Angeles have claimed the lives of 11 people and destroyed thousands of homes, vehicles, and streets since Tuesday.
The firefighters toiled to contain the blaze as strong winds fanned the flames, causing the fire to spread to more areas and worsening the situation. The massive fires, which began on Tuesday, have devoured thousands of homes in iconic Los Angeles neighbourhoods, and spread through the Hollywood Hills. Nearly 10,000 structures have been damaged, with Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna describing the scene as someone who “dropped an atomic bomb in those areas”.
Though the firefighters finally started gaining control over two of the multiple wildfires on the eastern and western flanks of Los Angeles, the threat of new fires persisted, according to officials. Warning that the death toll was expected to grow, Luna said, “It looks like an atomic bomb dropped in these areas. I don’t expect good news and we’re not looking forward to those numbers.”
The government has not yet released figures on the cost of the damage, but private firms have estimated it will climb into the tens of billions.
FIREFIGHTERS SAY SOME PROGRESS IN DOUSING OUT FLAMES
While the Palisades Fire was 6 per cent controlled, the Eaton Fire was still blazing out of control, according to the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. In Kenneth, the wildfire impacted about 960 acres in Los Angeles and Ventura counties and was 35 per cent controlled.
In Hurst and Lidia, fire officials reported progress in containing the fire in a combined 1,200 acres. While 37 per cent of fire was controlled, the figure was 75 per cent in Lidia.
On Thursday, winds dropped from gusts of 160 kmph witnessed earlier in the week, allowing rescue authorities to throw gallons of water from helicopters. However, winds intensified again overnight, with officials saying that red flag conditions – in place across Los Angeles and parts of Southern California – were expected until Friday afternoon.
Los Angeles Fire Department chief Kristin Crowley said that high winds would make it more difficult to contain the wildfires overnight and said that “we are not out of danger”.
“You can see the active fires that are burning with strong winds that are going to continue throughout the night. I can tell you and assure you that firefighters and first responders remain focused on protecting lives and property. We urge the public to help us,” Crowley told a press briefing, BBC reported.
US President Joe Biden, who declared the wildfire a major disaster two days ago, promised on Thursday that the federal government would reimburse 100 per cent of the recovery for the next 180 days to pay for debris and hazard material removal, temporary shelters and first responder salaries.
“I told the governor, local officials, spare no expense to do what they need to do and contain these fires,” Biden said after meeting with senior advisers at the White House.
1 LAKH HOMES OUT OF POWER, SCHOOLS SHUT
Firefighting crews managed to fully control the Sunset Fire in the Hollywood Hills, after flames had raged atop the ridge overlooking Hollywood Boulevard’s Walk of Fame on Wednesday night. About one lakh homes and businesses were out of power in Los Angeles, with private forecaster AccuWeather estimating the damage and economic loss at USD 135 billion to USD 150 billion.
Superintendent Alberto Carvalho announced that schools were closed for the second consecutive day on Friday due to the contaminated air. The wildfires have destroyed the homes of several movie stars and celebrities, including Paris Hilton and Mel Gibson.
MAN DETAINED FOR POSSIBLE ARSON, 20 ARRESTED FOR LOOTING
Meanwhile, a man was detained on suspicion of arson in connection with the Kenneth wildfire, although a fire official told the BBC that there was no “conclusive evidence” that the blazes were deliberately set.
As many as 20 people were arrested for looting during the wildfires, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said, adding that it was working with the California National Guard to establish curfews for areas affected by mandatory evacuation orders.
RELIEF EFFORTS
Chef Jose Andres, a Spaniard known for providing free food to disaster victims around the world, set up a food truck near the Palisades Fire on Pacific Coast Highway. “Everybody needs support and love in these moments, wealthy or not, poor or not,” he said.
On Thursday, actor Jamie Lee Curtis said that her family would donate USD 1 million to relief efforts. Firefighters from half a dozen other US states and Canada were being rushed to California, in addition to US federal personnel and equipment.
“To our American neighbours: Canada’s here to help,” said Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, whose country has experienced its own severe wildfires.
Out of the 11 people killed, five were from the Palisades Fire and six from the Eaton Fire, according to the LA County medical examiner’s office. Officials said they expected that number to rise as cadaver dogs go through levelled neighbourhoods to assess the devastation to an area larger than San Francisco.