Los Angeles: Winds remained calm around Los Angeles on Friday, providing a momentary window of opportunity for firefighters battling five major blazes as official blame games began over responsibility for the disaster.
At least 11 people have died this week as flames engulfed neighborhoods and destroyed thousands of homes in a disaster that US President Joe Biden has compared to a “war site.”
As the scale of the damage to America’s second-largest city came into focus — a new estimate showed the bill could reach $150 billion — Angelenos grappled with the heartbreaking devastation.
“I lost everything. My house burned down and I lost everything,” Hester Callul, who arrived at a shelter after fleeing her Altadena home, told AFP.
With fears of increased looting and crime, California Governor Gavin Newsom deployed the National Guard to reinforce law enforcement.
Night curfew has been imposed in the evacuated areas and dozens of arrests have been made.
“This curfew will be strictly enforced,” Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said. “We’re not messing around with this.”
California’s fire agency reported that five separate fires have burned more than 35,000 acres (14,000 hectares) so far.
“It reminded me of a war scene where you had some targets that were bombed,” Biden said while holding a White House briefing about the fire.
– ‘Destructive’ –
Much-needed progress was made in fighting the fire on Friday due to a decrease in winds.
The largest fire has burned more than 20,000 acres in areas near Pacific Palisades and Malibu, where firefighters said they were beginning to contain the blaze.
As of Friday, eight percent of its perimeter had been contained – meaning it cannot spread further in that direction.
“Braveheart” actor Mel Gibson was the latest celebrity to reveal that his Malibu home burned down, telling NewsNation the damage was “devastating.”
The Eaton Fire in the Altadena area is three percent contained, having scorched about 14,000 acres and threatening key infrastructure, including communications towers.
Fire Chief Jason Schillinger said Friday that “significant progress” has been made in extinguishing the blaze.
A third fire broke out Thursday afternoon near the wealthy Hidden Hills enclave, home to celebrities like Calabasas and Kim Kardashian, with 35 percent of its area engulfed.
But emergency chiefs warned the situation was “still very dangerous” and there would be no relief from strong gusts spreading embers.
“Winds have slowed down today, but … are expected to pick up again in the coming days,” said Dean Criswell, administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
– ‘Answer needed’ –
The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed one additional death Friday, bringing the total to 11.
Officials have said it is too early to know the cause of the fire, but criticism of authorities’ preparation and response has increased.
Newsom on Friday ordered a “complete independent review” of the city’s water utilities, calling the lack of water supply and loss of pressure at hydrants during the initial fire “deeply troubling.”
“We want answers about how this happened,” they wrote in an open letter.
Los Angeles Fire Chief Kristin Crowley blamed her department’s funding cuts, telling Fox News affiliate KTTV: “We’re still understaffed, we’re still underresourced, and we’re still underfunded.” Are.”
Meanwhile, emergency managers apologized on Friday after an evacuation alert was mistakenly sent to millions of mobile phones, causing panic.
“I can’t explain how sorry I am,” said Kevin McGowan, director of the Los Angeles County Office of Emergency Management.
And aviation officials were investigating who piloted an illegal drone that attacked a water-dropping aircraft, leaving a fist-sized hole in the plane and taking it out of operation.
– Wrong information –
Biden also took a dig at incoming President Donald Trump, who has spread misinformation about the blazes on social media.
“There’s going to be a lot of bad guys out there trying to take advantage of this,” Biden said of the fires.
Wildfires occur naturally, but scientists say human-caused climate change is altering the weather and changing fire dynamics.
Two rainy years have replaced very dry years in Southern California, leaving enough fuel on the ground to burn.
The fire may be the costliest fire ever recorded, with AccuWeather estimating total damage and loss at between $135 billion and $150 billion.
