More than 12,000 homes, buildings and vehicles were destroyed or damaged, and entire neighborhoods razed in the space of a week.
A situation still critical, more than a week later. Los Angeles knows no respite: hot and powerful winds continue to blow during the night of Tuesday January 14 to Wednesday January 15 and further fan the flames of the violent fires which have disfigured the second city in the United States for a week and left at least 25 dead.
The US Weather Service (NWS) warned of gusts of up to 110 km/h between 3 a.m. and 3 p.m. Wednesday. Parts of Los Angeles County and neighboring Ventura County have been placed on “particularly dangerous situation” status.
The Santa Ana winds, which fanned the flames at breakneck speed, are a classic of Californian autumns and winters. But this time they reached an intensity not seen since 2011, according to meteorologists, with gusts blowing up to 160 km/h last week.
The very low humidity and very dry vegetation can also lead to “ultra-rapid expansion of the fire” in certain areas, warn meteorologists, who have also placed a large part of southern California in red alert.
“Only the chimney remains”
The damage is immense: more than 12,000 homes, buildings and vehicles were destroyed or damaged, and entire neighborhoods razed. Some 88,000 people are still displaced and at least 25 have died, according to a new report.
Refusing to leave the apartment complex he manages in Pacific Palisades, Jeff Ridgway told AFP he saved it from the flames by drawing buckets of water from the swimming pool to extinguish a dangerously close eucalyptus tree.
“It was war,” said this sixty-year-old. “But I was stubborn, I fought.”
Fred Busche, another resident, was less fortunate. “My house burned, I know it. I saw photos: only the chimney remains. But I need to see it with my own eyes to believe it,” he confided to the AFP.
The two main fires covered 9,700 hectares in the upscale Pacific Palisades neighborhood, and more than 5,700 in the town of Altadena, just north of Los Angeles.
Ongoing investigation
An investigation to determine the causes of the fires was launched Tuesday by federal authorities, who warned, however, that it would take time.
“We know you want answers, (you) deserve it. The ATF will give you (some) answers once the investigation is complete and thorough,” declared Jose Medina, representative of this agency in charge in particular of explosives and weapons .
For days, teams accompanied by dogs have been searching the ruins for victims. On Monday, 1,800 homes were inspected, according to Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna. “The good news is that we didn’t find any bodies,” he said.
These fires, among the worst in California’s history, could be the most costly ever known: between 250 and 275 billion dollars according to provisional estimates from the private company AccuWeather.
In total, thousands of firefighters are on the job. Human and material reinforcements, including dozens of tank trucks, were sent. They were mobilized in particular for a new outbreak which broke out late Monday, in Oxnard, 80 km from Los Angeles.
“Fine dust”
After problems fighting flames in the Pacific Palisades area due to dry or low-pressure hydrants, which notably led to criticism of fire management, Fire Chief Anthony Marrone assured Tuesday that There was indeed “water and pressure” in the Altadena sector.
Target of this criticism, notably coming from the next Republican President of the United States Donald Trump, the Democratic Governor of California Gavin Newsom has requested “a comprehensive independent review” of Los Angeles’ water distribution services.
He also ordered clearance teams on Tuesday to be ready to intervene, authorities fearing that winter storms could cause mudslides.
The health services have also warned of the health risks linked to the smoke and ashes generated by the fires and moved by the winds.
“Ash is not just dirt. It is fine dust that can irritate or damage your respiratory system and other parts of your body,” warned Anish Mahajan of the county public health department. The authorities called on the population to wear a mask.
