Los Angeles faces the most destructive fire in its history, with three large outbreaks of active fire in which, as of press time, there were five deaths, more than 1,100 destroyed structures (including homes, businesses, and other buildings) and evacuation orders for 155,000 residents. And the numbers continue to rise.
The fires have consumed 108 square kilometers, an area larger than the size of Jalisco (78 square kilometers). And they were aggravated by the historic scarcity of water in the area (Los Angeles has recorded its second driest period in almost 150 years this winter).
Last night, 1,400 firefighters were fighting the fire throughout California, while the California Government declared a state of emergency and President Joe Biden issued a declaration of “major catastrophe.” Therefore, in addition to the resources that will be allocated, the Pentagon will send 10 Navy helicopters to fight the flames.
The first fire was in Pacific Palisades, to the west of the city, which extended over more than six thousand 400 hectares (one fifth of the total area of the La Primavera Forest).
The second began in the nearby city of Pasadena, named “Eaton,” with 4,290 hectares devastated.
And the third, “Hurst”, burned in the North area, affecting more than 200 hectares.
Firefighters are fighting to put out the flames, but water is needed and power outages continue. AFP/J. Edelson
During the last hours of yesterday, a new fire named “Sunset” started in the area of the hills with the famous sign of Hollywood, where they began to evacuate residents due to the fire.
The panorama of Los Angeles yesterday showed luxurious houses that collapsed in a whirlwind of burning embers, swimming pools blackened with soot and luxury sports cars with melted tires and abandoned on the city’s avenues because their owners had to abandon them and evacuate as soon as possible.
Just The Palisades fire is the most devastating in the city’s modern history, much more than the “Sayre” fire of 2008, when it destroyed 600 structures. Today there are documents of a thousand properties consumed by fire in the area.
For now, The damage caused is estimated at up to 57 billion dollars. For perspective, Los Angeles County spends on average less than $13 billion over an entire year; That is to say: the accidents already cost four years of public money.
Billy Crystal and his wife Janice lost the home they had lived in for 45 years to the Palisades Fire.
“We raised our children and grandchildren here. Every inch of this house was filled with love. There are great memories that cannot be taken away from us,” the Crystals said.
More than 1,400 firefighters have been deployed to the area to fight the flames. The Pentagon will send 10 helicopters. EFE/C. Brehman
Luxury cars were reduced to ashes. AFP/J. Edelson
“It’s strange to return to a place that no longer exists”
A new fast-spreading fire in the Hollywood Hills broke out last night, as additional evacuations were ordered for Los Angeles residents and fire crews battled three other significant conflagrations that killed at least five people.
The three active outbreaks are in Palisades, Eaton and Hurst, while In Lidia and Woodley the flames were controlled.
The Sunset Fire was burning near the Hollywood Bowl and other landmarks in the Hollywood Hills. The winds were easing as firefighters from across the state took over for exhausted crews, but the danger is not over yet.
Authorities issued a mandatory evacuation order in the iconic area bordered by Mulholland Drive and Hollywood Boulevard, threatening some historic sites on the popular Walk of Fame, such as the Chinese Palace, which along with neighboring businesses began the eviction of one of the most touristic areas of the city.
More than 1,100 structures, mostly homes, have been destroyed, and evacuation orders cover more than 155,000 people in the metropolitan area, from the Pacific coast to Pasadena, a figure that continues to change as new fires start.
Heavy smoke spread over many parts of Los Angeles. More than a half-dozen area schools were damaged or destroyed, including Palisades Charter High School, which has been featured in many Hollywood productions, including the 1976 horror film “Carrie” and the television series “Teen Wolf.” , officials reported.
The Eliot Arts Magnet school burns during this incident. AFP/J. Edelson
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said firefighters from different parts of California and elsewhere arrived to the area to provide assistance, along with aerial operations to extinguish the flames. He warned that They were still facing “erratic winds,” although not hurricane-force like those on Tuesday night, when much of the destruction occurred.
In Pasadena, Fire Chief Chad Augustin said between 200 and 500 structures have been damaged or destroyed by the Eaton Fire that started Tuesday night. He noted that the water system was overwhelmed and was further hampered by power outages, but even without those problems, firefighters would not have been able to stop the fire as embers ignited block after block as they flew through the air. “We were not going to stop that fire last night,” he commented. “Those erratic wind gusts sent embers flying several kilometers in front of the fire.”
On the Pacific coast, west of Downtown Los Angeles, a massive fire devastated entire blocks, reducing grocery stores and banks to rubble in Pacific Palisades, a rugged area along the coast where many celebrities live. More than a thousand structures were destroyed in the Palisades fire alone, the most catastrophic in the city’s modern history. Many people were injured, including first responders, said Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone.
The magnitude of the destruction was barely becoming evident: block after block of homes were reduced to charred remains punctuated by stone chimneys. Ornate iron railings surrounded the smoldering frame of a house. The apocalyptic scenes stretched for several kilometers. Swimming pools were left black with soot and sports cars lay on melted tires.
“It’s really strange to come back to a place that doesn’t really exist anymore,” said Dylan Vincent, who returned to the neighborhood to retrieve some items and saw that his elementary school had burned down and entire blocks had been leveled.
And the damage count is not over. Los Angeles burns.
