Joe Biden describes “war zones”

The Los Angeles fires continue to cause material and human damage. The provisional report from the fires carried out by the Los Angeles County Forensic Institute now shows 11 deaths in a press release published Friday January 10. A figure that is likely to continue to increase. “This is a crisis and we don’t know what to expect, but we are prepared for anything,” the Los Angeles sheriff said Thursday evening. Around 166,800 residents are under evacuation warning.

“These are the most widespread, devastating fires in the history of California,” said US President Joe Biden on Thursday evening during a crisis meeting at the White House. The president assured that the images which reached him made him think of “war zones, with bombings”, Friday evening. In total, six major fires have already burned more than 10,000 hectares in several sectors of the city. If the Kenneth fire which burned 375 hectares was contained towards West Hills, that of Pacific Palisades which has ravaged more than 8,100 hectares since January 7 is only 6% contained according to the authorities and the fire of Eaton 9,000 hectares) is not yet contained. Finally, the two other fires around Hurst (300 hectares) and Lidia (160 hectares) are 37 and 75% controlled. Three minor outbreaks, the Sunset Fire, the Woodley Fire and the Olivas Fire, were quickly brought under control. Thursday evening, Joe Biden announced that the federal state will cover 100% of the costs linked to fires, such as debris collection or management of temporary shelters, for six months.

Accidental or arson fires?

The Los Angeles fires were able to progress at full speed thanks to the weather conditions of the last few days in Los Angeles. After two rainy years which allowed the vegetation to reform densely, these last months of drought – the last rain dates back to May 2024 and only offered a few millimeters of water – have made the bushes very flammable. The violent winds that have been blowing and expected to continue this weekend, according to the National Weather Service, are allowing the fires to gain ground very quickly. A lull was felt Friday evening, but the wind should pick up again on Sunday. But the question is how the fires started. On Radio 4, the Los Angeles fire chief said there was “no conclusive evidence” that the fires were set deliberately. He said the investigation was just beginning: “Now that people’s safety is a priority and we have sufficient resources to help them, they can start digging into the investigation and see what they can find out.” .”

Despite the lack of evidence, a man was arrested on suspicion of lighting an arson fire, as the BBC reported this Friday, January 10. The fire in question would be that of Kenneth, the last to have broken out on the evening of Thursday January 9.

Looting in disaster areas

Areas that have been evacuated are now subject to a curfew, from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. local time. The aim is to protect the houses which have remained intact from looting. Indeed, the areas in question are now deserted and the residents subject to an evacuation order have left, leaving all their belongings behind. Enough to delight the looters who enter these houses without witnesses, and with alarms which sometimes no longer work due to power cuts. The neighborhoods are then closed off at night, except for law enforcement, firefighters and the press. 20 people have already been arrested for this looting.