Fires in Los Angeles: the death toll rises to 11

The numerous fires raging in Los Angeles for the fourth day in a row have caused at least eleven deaths, but the wind which fans the flames began to weaken on Friday, while controversy mounts over the effectiveness of the relief efforts.

• Also read: Los Angeles fires: devastated citizens

• Also read: Los Angeles fires: questions and criticism around fire-fighting infrastructure

At least eleven people died in these violent fires and entire sections of the second largest city in the United States were devastated: more than 10,000 buildings were destroyed and more than 14,000 hectares went up in smoke.

“It reminded me of a war scene, with bombing,” President Joe Biden said.

For his part, Pope Francis said on Saturday he was “saddened” by the loss of life and the damage caused by the fires and expressed his “spiritual closeness” to the people affected by this “tragedy”, in a telegram addressed to the Archbishop of Los Angeles.

Faced with increasing looting in disaster-stricken or evacuated areas, a strict curfew, in force between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m., was decreed Friday by the authorities in the Pacific Palisades and Altadena sectors, the most ravaged.

Faced with the extent of the damage, California Governor Gavin Newsom on Friday requested “a comprehensive independent review” of the city’s water distribution services.

The Democratic official described as “deeply disturbing” the lack of water supply and loss of pressure at hydrants in the early moments of the fires, which helped allow them to expand.

“We need answers to know what happened,” he wrote in an open letter.

The largest fire, among five still active, has burned more than 8,000 acres on the Malibu coast and the upscale Pacific Palisades neighborhood, where firefighters said they were beginning to control the flames.

Among those who saw their homes destroyed was actor Mel Gibson. He told NewsNation he was devastated by the loss of his Malibu home.

Nicole Perri, whose home was destroyed by the flames in Pacific Palisades, told AFP that authorities had “completely failed them.”

“I don’t think the authorities were prepared at all,” said James Brown, a 65-year-old retired lawyer who lives in Altadena, across town.

The wind nevertheless weakened on Friday, favoring the action of the firefighters. However, new evacuations had to be ordered in the evening in the Palisades sector.

“Still very dangerous”

On Thursday afternoon, a new fire broke out north of the main home in Pacific Palisades, near the wealthy Hidden Hills neighborhood, where star Kim Kardashian lives. It has since been largely brought under control.

The situation “is still very dangerous,” warned Deanne Criswell of the federal disaster response agency (FEMA).

Across the Californian megacity, according to orders received, sometimes by mistake, evacuations number in the hundreds of thousands.

The mandatory evacuation orders also target upscale neighborhoods along the fire’s eastern flank, where the famous Getty Center is located. Built for a billion dollars, in part with fire-resistant travertine stones, the famous museum has 125,000 works of art.

Soldiers were also deployed and dozens of people were arrested.

Before the decision to establish a curfew, residents acted as vigilantes and patrolled to protect what remained of their neighborhoods.

“Need answers”

Although it is too early to know the origin of the fires, criticism has emerged regarding the authorities’ preparation and response.

Fire Chief Kristin Crowley told Fox News affiliate KTTV that they are “still understaffed, under-resourced and under-funded.”

Californians are being urged by authorities to save water, as some reservoirs supplying fire hydrants have been emptied by the fight against flames.

Several evacuation alerts were also sent by mistake to residents’ phones Thursday and Friday in Los Angeles. Messages which led the authorities to apologize.

The Federal Civil Aviation Authority (FAA) announced the opening of an investigation after a drone struck and damaged a tanker plane.

These violent fires could be the costliest on record: AccuWeather estimates total damages and losses at between $135 billion and $150 billion.

Donald Trump spread false information on his Truth Social network, claiming that California was running out of water because of Democratic environmental policies that would divert rainwater to protect a “useless fish.”

President Joe Biden said “a lot of demagogues” were looking to take advantage of misinformation surrounding the disaster.

The hot, dry Santa Ana winds currently blowing are a classic of California autumns and winters. But this time they reached an intensity not seen since 2011, according to meteorologists.

A nightmare for firefighters: California is coming out of two very rainy years which gave rise to lush vegetation, now dried up by a glaring lack of rain for eight months.

Scientists regularly point out that climate change is increasing the frequency of extreme weather events.