Los Angeles and its surrounding areas remain under threat from massive, uncontrolled fires that continue to ravage the region, fueled by violent winds and extreme drought. The situation remains critical despite the efforts of firefighters and the support of helicopters which drop water on the flames.
In Altadena, north of Los Angeles, residents are seeing the damage. “The flames have consumed all our dreams. We lost practically everything,” testifies William Gonzales, standing in front of the ruins of his house. At least five people lost their lives in this area, including Victor Shaw, who died trying to save the family home. “It seems like he was trying to save the house his parents had for almost 55 years,” said his friend Al Tanner. Robert Luna, the sheriff of Los Angeles County, indicated Thursday that the toll could be much higher.
Devastation and chaos
West of Los Angeles, the fire in the wealthy Pacific Palisades neighborhood, known for its celebrity villas, remains out of control, although its spread has been temporarily slowed thanks to a lull in the winds. More than 9,000 buildings (homes, shops and businesses) have already been destroyed since Tuesday, and concern is growing about further human losses.
As of Thursday, some 180,000 people still remained under evacuation orders, while weather forecasts predict “critical” conditions until Friday. Santa Ana winds, sometimes blowing up to 160 km/h, continue to fan the flames. “The winds retain their historic character. This is absolutely unprecedented,” said Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass.
A massive mobilization of the population
Californian parliamentarian Judy Chu, visiting a center hosting a thousand evacuated residents, described the distress of the victims: “They are helpless. » In Altadena, residents organize patrols to protect the remains of their neighborhoods, while a curfew has been established in Santa Monica to prevent looting. “These acts are totally unacceptable,” responded the police after the arrest of twenty people.
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To cope with the scale of the disasters, 7,500 firefighters, some of whom came from other states, were mobilized. The arrival of 400 military reinforcements is expected on Thursday evening, according to local authorities. According to ABC, some 800 prisoners are also taking part in fighting the fires.
The cinema industry, emblematic of the region, is also affected. Several film and series shoots have been suspended, and Universal Studios Hollywood has closed its doors. The Oscar nominations, originally scheduled for January 17, have been postponed to January 19.
