Local media indicate that the fire caused injuries, including at least one serious. Looters are also said to be active. All evacuees were asked to leave the doors of their homes unlocked and turn off the electricity.
Hot winds up to 160 km/h
The fire broke out at the worst time for Los Angeles, swept by violent gusts. Warm Santa Ana winds, typical of the California winter, are expected to blow up to 100 mph in the region Tuesday and Wednesday, according to the U.S. Weather Service (NWS). Enough to spread the flames very quickly and pose a “mortal danger”.
“We are absolutely not out of the woods,” insisted Mr. Newsom, recalling that the gusts will “reach their peak” tonight, between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m.
The Democratic governor asked Californians to “respect evacuation orders”, which are not always followed in the United States.
gullThis is expected to be the strongest wind event in this region since 2011.
More than 250 firefighters are currently mobilized, added Kristin Crowley, a Los Angeles fire official.
“The combination of strong winds and the “steep” topography of the neighborhood makes the task extremely difficult,” she insisted. Air assets will probably not be able to intervene during the night.
The firefighters will even have to fight on several fronts: Tuesday evening, a new fire broke out near Pasadena, north of Los Angeles and quickly ravaged more than 400 hectares, according to the CalFire agency.
“This is expected to be the strongest wind event in this region since 2011,” warned Daniel Swain, an extreme events specialist at UCLA University. But the risk of fire is, according to him, “much higher” than at the time.
Because 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.
Stars like Tom Hanks and Jennifer Aniston had to flee the fire
Among those who fled the fire were movie stars such as James Woods, Mark Hamill and Eugene Levy, according to American media. According to The Hollywood Reporter, several celebrities such as Jennifer Aniston, Tom Hanks, Michael Keaton and Reese Witherspoon own homes in the area threatened by the flames.
At least three previews have also been canceled due to the situation, including that of the biopic “Better Man” with Robbie Williams, the film “Unstoppable” with Jennifer Lopez, as well as “Wolf Man”.
