A week after the fires started in Los Angeles, meteorologists warned that “particularly dangerous” winds would intensify this Wednesday.
“Be prepared to evacuate”
“Stay attentive […] Be prepared to evacuate. Avoid anything that could start a fire,” said the National Weather Service (NWS), warning of winds of up to 110 km/h this Wednesday. The humidity level, very low, and the vegetation, extremely dry after eight months without precipitation, can lead to an “ultra-rapid expansion of the fire” in certain places, underline the meteorologists, who have also placed a large part of the south of the California on red alert.
Several areas of Los Angeles County and swathes of neighboring Ventura County are in a “particularly dangerous situation,” the NWS noted, using the same terms as before last week’s deadly fires. The Palisades and Eaton outbreaks – which are still active in places – could restart. The two main fires covered 9,700 hectares in the upscale Pacific Palisades neighborhood and more than 5,700 in the city of Altadena, just north of Los Angeles.
The authorities nevertheless say that they are ready to face new threats, while the fire hydrants had finally dried up in recent days. “We have checked the water system in the Eaton fire zone and it is operational, which means we have water and pressure,” assured Fire Chief Anthony Marrone.
Toxic ashes
Health services are also urging everyone to wear a mask, as gusts raise toxic ash. “The ashes are not just dirt,” warned Anish Mahajan of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. “These are dangerous fine dusts that can irritate or damage your respiratory system and other parts of your body. »
California Governor Gavin Newsom on Tuesday ordered cleanup crews to be ready to respond, as emergency officials predict possible winter rainstorms that could cause mudslides. But some Palisades residents have decided not to wait and are working to remove the charred debris from streets and sidewalks themselves.
At least 25 dead, immense damage
The latest report from these gigantic fires shows at least 25 deaths. Some 88,000 people are still displaced. The damage is immense: more than 12,000 homes, other buildings and vehicles were destroyed or damaged and entire neighborhoods razed. These fires, among the worst in California’s history, could thus be the costliest ever recorded: between 250 and 275 billion dollars, according to provisional estimates from the private company AccuWeather. An investigation aimed at determining the causes of the fires was opened on Tuesday at the federal level.
