Los Angeles: discover the terrifying images of the fire that swept the city

Los Angeles: discover the terrifying images of the fire that swept the city
Los Angeles: discover the terrifying images of the fire that swept the city

The images that have reached us are spectacular. A violent fire broke out in Los Angeles on Tuesday, January 7, forcing thousands of people to evacuate the hills overlooking the city. Strong winds spread the flames and posing a “mortal danger”according to local authorities.

The fire broke out late in the morning in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood, populated with multimillion-dollar villas in the mountains northwest of the city. It has already devastated nearly 1,200 hectares. At a press briefing in the evening, the California government said that “many structures were already destroyed.”

Around 30,000 people are under evacuation orders, but no injuries have been reported so far. “I never thought the wind could have such an effect on the fire,” Gary told local station KTLA. This resident of the neighborhood reported seeing “embers dragged 100 meters” in the air.

Many residents evacuated in panic, with just a few belongings and their pets. Many have found themselves stuck in traffic, like Kelsey Trainor. “There was nowhere to go and people were abandoning their cars,” she said. “Everyone was honking, there were flames everywhere around us, left, right. (…) It was terrifying,” she says.

Responsible global warming

After two very rainy years which reinvigorated the vegetation, southern California is experiencing “the driest start to winter on record”. In other words, anything that has grown back abundantly now acts as fuel for the fire. Scientists regularly point out that climate change is increasing the frequency of extreme weather events.

The storm disrupted the visit of President Joe Biden, who came to California on Tuesday to announce the creation of two “national monuments”, vast protected areas in the south of the state. Present in Los Angeles, the 82-year-old Democrat immediately approved federal aid for the second largest city in the United States.

“This is something (…) that we should not take for granted at this moment in American history,” greeted Mr. Newsom.
Donald Trump, who is due to succeed Mr. Biden in a few days at the White House, threatened in September to cut federal aid usually received by California to fight against forest fires.

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