#LosAngeles#LosAngelesWildfire#Wildfire#LAWildfire#California
Los Angeles/IBNS-CMEDIA: At least 11 people have been killed in what is considered as the worst wildfire in the Los Angeles city of California, United States while more than 10,000 houses and structures were burnt down in the blaze which is even three days later no less threatening.
The winds eased out on Friday evening helping the firefighters to make significant progress in containing the fire that has forced over 100,000 people including the top celebrities to flee their homes.
However, red flag warnings are likely to be imposed again next week as officials think the danger is far from over.
According to the latest report by The Guardian, six wildfires are still raging in Los Angeles county. The wildfires are still persistent in Palisades, Eaton, Kenneth, Hurst, Lidia and Archer.
The toll is expected to climb when cadaver dogs and detectives visit the affected zones after the situation improves.
Los Angeles mayor Karen Bass has received flak for her absence in the first 24 hours of the wildfire as she was in Ghana as a part of the White House delegation to attend the inauguration of the country’s president.
In the face of the criticism, Bass said her main focus is saving lives until the fire is contained.
“.. Our job is to make sure that people stay alive and we save lives, homes and properties. When fires are out, we will do a deep dive. We will look at what worked and didn’t work and will let everyone know. Until then, my focus is on saving lives,” said the mayor.
The administration faced the flak also because fire hydrants in some areas ran dry affecting the firefighting.
According to a Los Angeles Times report, the effort to contain the deadly wildfire was hampered by low water pressure and fire hydrants that ran dry.
“The system has never been designed to fight a wildfire that then envelops a community,” Martin Adams, former general manager of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, told Los Angeles Times Report.
“The system has never been designed to fight a wildfire that then envelops a community,” Adams added.
The Los Angeles Police Department or LAPD has reminded people that an overnight curfew has been imposed in the Pacific Palisades and Eaton areas.
Only approved fire prevention and security entities will be allowed into those neighbourhoods, LAPD chief Jim McDonnell said as reported by BBC News.
In some of the visuals, entire houses, vehicles were seen completely torched as the wildfire has also badly affected the rich neighbourhood of Hollywood Hills.
Some of the residents, who fled with whatever belongings they could manage to take, returned to their destroyed homes to clear the debris.
Several neighbouring states including Oregon, Utah, Nevada have joined hands to fight the wildfire that has also forced the Hollywood A-listers to leave behind their posh places and flee.
The fires, driven by intense winds and dry conditions, have been described as among the most destructive to impact the region in recent memory.
Strong winds with gusts reaching up to 100 mph, combined with low humidity, have created challenging conditions.
Due to shortage of water, the firefighters resorted to collecting water from swimming pools and ponds to douse the fire.
In a separate video, a deer was seen running for an escape route as wildfire rages while major parts of Pacific Palisades were seen being wiped off due to the fire.
Several Hollywood celebrities including Adam Brody, Tom Hanks, Ben Affleck fled their homes which were burnt down.
The wildfire has engulfed the Pacific Palisades area which houses outgoing US vice-president Kamala Harris, Rihanna, Jennifer Aniston.
Shari Shaw, the sister of one of the killed named Victor Shaw, said her brother died in order to protect his home from flames.
“When I went back in and yelled out his name, he didn’t reply back,” Shari said as quoted by NDTV.
She added, “I had to get out because the embers were so big and flying like a firestorm that I had to save myself. I looked behind me, and the house was starting to go up in flames, and I had to leave.”
In an Instagram post, actress Ricki Lake said her “dream home” was lost in fire.
“It’s all gone. I can’t believe I am typing these words. After a valiant and brave effort by our friend and hero @kirbykotler_ Ross and I lost our dream home,” she said and added, “This loss is immeasurable.”
These wildfires are part of a broader crisis related to prolonged dry conditions following Los Angeles’ highest recorded rainfall in two years.
Thousands of displaced residents face an uncertain future as they cope with the devastation.
