The firefighters resume the upper hand over the fire

After having fought all night up against a new violent fire near Los Angeles, the firefighters seem to take over on the flames on Thursday, despite winds of disturbing force in the region.

More than 4,000 fire soldiers, assisted by planes and bulldozers, currently fight in the vicinity of Lake Castaic, about fifty kilometers north of the American megapol. Evacuation orders have been issued for more than 31,000 people. Enough to put the nerves of the inhabitants to the test, when Los Angeles is barely back from fire who declared themselves in early January and disfigured part of the city, killing nearly thirty people.

The spread of this new fire, which started on Wednesday, slowed down considerably overnight. The fire is 14%contained, according to firefighters.

The strong winds that fed its explosive growth in the early hours must continue on Thursday, with gusts reaching 80 km/h, according to Bryan Lewis, American weather services (NWS). The region remains “super dry” and the conditions are “always dangerous,” he told AFP. But Friday, “at the end of the morning or afternoon, the wind should be much better” and drop according to him.

A powder

South California is sorely lacking in precipitation for eight months, which has transformed the region into a powder maker. In this context, the rain expected this weekend will be welcomed with relief. “It will help us in the short term,” said Bryan Lewis. But according to him, other rainy episodes will be necessary “to really get out of this season from the fires”.

Scientists regularly recall that climate change increases the frequency and intensity of extreme events, whether storms or droughts. Struck by fires in the middle of January, Los Angeles is now preparing, with the rain, with possible sludge flows and landslides in the areas devastated by fire, filled with calcined toxic waste.

In the County of Los Angeles, workers have prepared sandbags, gravel and concrete barriers which can be deployed in the event of heavy rain.

“Without vegetation to anchor the soil, strong precipitation can cause sudden and rapid debris flows, which can destroy houses, block roads and lay serious risks for life and goods,” warned the governor of California, Gavin Newsom. The Democrat assured that his services work “in close collaboration” with local partners “to prevent toxic runoff from entering rivers”.

Invested on Monday, Donald Trump has to go to Los Angeles on Friday to see the damage. The republican billionaire must meet firefighters and people affected by fires, according to the authorities.

This visit will be closely scrutinized by residents and local authorities, because the tribune has threatened to cut federal aid received by California for the anti-breakdown. (MBR/ATS)

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