Fire in Los Angeles: more than 8,300 hectares burned, homes destroyed and thousands of residents evacuated

The “Mountain Fire” broke out on Wednesday, November 6 near the town of Camarillo, northwest of Los Angeles, in the United States. The fire is burning in an area where about 30,000 people live, according to Ventura County firefighters. The flames spread quickly, fueled by violent winds, with gusts of up to 130 km/h. It threatens more than 3,500 homes and has already consumed more than 8,300 hectares. On the evening of Thursday, November 7, the fire was only 5% contained, according to the authorities. A first estimate of the damage by the authorities shows 132 houses completely destroyed and around 88 badly damaged by the flames. Authorities ordered the evacuation of more than 10,000 people.

“We emptied the water systems”

A state of emergency was declared by Governor Gavin Newsom in the most affected areas. Helicopters dropped water on the area throughout the night. Several hundred firefighters defended the houses with fire hoses. “We emptied the water systems”explained Ventura County Fire Chief Dustin Gardner during a press conference Thursday, November 7. This forced his teams to carry water to different homes.

After two rainy winters which provided a relative respite, California is experiencing a very active fire season this year. The vegetation reformed thanks to the precipitation of the last two years has dried up and becomes a powerful fuel. This summer, the “Golden State” suffered from several heat waves, signs of global warming. In July-August, it suffered the fourth largest fire in its history.