A large fire broke out a few kilometers from Los Angeles, causing the evacuation of several residents from their homes. No casualties have been reported at this time.
A major fire broke out this Tuesday, January 7 in the morning, in Pacific Palisades, a neighborhood about 30 kilometers from Los Angeles. The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection had issued a watch for California due to high winds and low humidity.
On X, California Governor Gavin Newsom estimated that the southern part of the state “faces high winds and extreme fire risks.” Winds of up to 160 km/h are expected according to the US Weather Service (NWS).
More than 250 firefighters mobilized
About 300 hectares burned several hours after the start of the fire, around 11 a.m. according to the Los Angeles firefighters. They indicate that the cause of the fire is “under investigation.”
Faced with the advance of the flames, residents evacuated their homes. “Potential threat to life and/or property. People who need additional time to evacuate, as well as those with pets and livestock, should leave the area immediately,” local firefighters said.
Several highways were closed to traffic. “Approximately 30 abandoned vehicles on Sunset and Palisades will be moved by a county bulldozer to allow clear access,” the Los Angeles Fire Department said in its latest bulletin.
“More than 250 firefighters from Los Angeles and neighboring agencies” are mobilized and are fighting “aggressively” against the flames, according to the city’s mayor Karen Bass.
Large plumes of smoke are visible from Los Angeles, the second most populous city in the United States. The wind explains the rapid progression of the flames. “This is expected to be the strongest wind event in this region since 2011,” warned Daniel Swain, an extreme events specialist at the University of Los Angeles.
California Governor Gavin Newsom is “on the ground” and “informed” of the situation, he explained on his social networks. “Californians in affected areas should remain vigilant and follow evacuation orders from local authorities,” he wrote.
For the moment, no victims have been reported by local authorities who continue to fight against the flames.
These violent winds disrupted President Joe Biden’s visit to California on Tuesday to announce the creation of two “national monuments”, vast protected areas in the south of the state.
