After having been largely reduced to ashes, Altadena is now patrolled by soldiers of the American National Guard on Friday: but for the inhabitants of this suburb of Los Angeles, these men in uniform arrive far too late.
“We didn’t see a single firefighter when we were defending our house with buckets of water against the flames” Tuesday evening, moans Nicholas Norman, 40 years old.
“They were too busy saving the properties of the rich and famous in Pacific Palisades, and they let us, ordinary people, burn”growls this teacher to AFP.
However, the fire did not discriminate: in the upscale neighborhood of Pacific Palisades, first hit by the flames this week, the wealthiest share the same resentment towards the authorities.
“Our city has completely failed us”plague Nicole Perri, scandalized by the drying up or poor pressure of the fire hydrants used by firefighters.
His opulent villa is nothing more than a pile of ashes. After the shock, this 32-year-old stylist demands accountability.
“Measures should have been put in place that could have prevented this”she judges. “We lost everything, and I don’t feel any support from our city, our horrible mayor and our governor. »
“Not prepared”
The multiple fires that continue to ravage the outskirts of Los Angeles have killed at least eleven people, destroyed more than 10,000 buildings and forced well over 100,000 people to flee.
A house destroyed in Altadena, California, January 10, 2025 / Patrick T. Fallon / AFP
So far, the authorities mainly cite gusts of up to 160 km/h and the drought of recent months to explain the disaster. But for Californians affected in their flesh, the official speech is a little short.
Absence of the mayor of Los Angeles, Karen Bass, visiting Ghana when the fire started, too few firefighters, empty fire hydrants, lack of brush clearing operations: the controversies are multiplying.
“I think the authorities were not prepared at all”breathes James Brown, a retiree from Altadena still in disbelief at his city transformed into “war zone”.
On Friday, Los Angeles Fire Chief Kristin Crowley blamed the municipality, denouncing the budget cuts suffered by her department.
“We are still short of staff, resources and funds”she insisted on the FOX channel.
“The city has doubled in size since 1960, but we have fewer fire stations”that at the time, she recalled.
She also explained that she was not informed that one of the water tanks supplying the region was empty, because it was closed for work.
Mayor Bass promised an investigation. And on Friday, California Governor Gavin Newsom ordered the opening of a “independent review” on the water supply of the second city in the United States, denouncing problems “deeply disturbing”.
“Too early” to argue
The duo of Democrats are playing big: the most populous state in the country, the « Golden State » is a beacon for the American left. And a few days before his return to the White House, Donald Trump blows on the embers of the drama.
Firefighters in Altadena, California, January 10, 2025 / Patrick T. Fallon / AFP
The Republican denounces “gross incompetence and mismanagement” of his predecessor Joe Biden and Governor Newsom. And does not hesitate to spread false information, claiming that California is running out of water because of Democratic environmental policies that would divert rainwater to protect a “useless fish”.
In fact, most of the water used by Los Angeles comes from the Colorado River, and is used primarily by the agricultural sector.
An instrumentalization that annoys some Altadena survivors.
“It’s classic Trump: he’s trying to create controversy with false information”sighs Ross Ramsey, as he clears the ashes from the ruins of what used to be his mother’s house.
“It’s too early to point fingers or blame anyone”estimates this 37-year-old architect.
“We should focus on people trying to get their lives back together and how to help them”he adds. “Then we can clarify all of this, with real facts and real data. »
