Parts of Los Angeles County and neighboring Ventura County have been placed in “particularly dangerous situation” status. The very low humidity and very dry vegetation can lead to “ultra-rapid expansion of the fire” in certain areas, warn meteorologists, who have also placed a large part of southern California on alert. red.
700 hectares ravaged in Pacific Palisades and more than 5,700 in Altadena
The damage is immense: more than 12,000 homes, buildings and vehicles were destroyed or damaged, and entire neighborhoods razed. Some 88,000 people are still displaced and at least 25 dead, according to a new report.
For days, teams accompanied by dogs have been searching the ruins for victims. On Monday, 1,800 homes were inspected, according to Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna. “The good news is that we didn’t find any bodies,” he said.
Refusing to leave the apartment complex he manages in Pacific Palisades, Jeff Ridgway told AFP he saved it from the flames by drawing buckets of water from the swimming pool to extinguish a dangerously close eucalyptus tree. “It was war,” said this sixty-year-old. “But I was stubborn, I fought.”
The two main fires covered 9,700 hectares in the upscale Pacific Palisades neighborhood, and more than 5,700 in the town of Altadena, just north of Los Angeles.
New fire declared in Oxnard
An investigation to determine the causes of the fires was launched Tuesday by federal authorities, who warned, however, that it would take time. “We know you want answers, (you) deserve it. The ATF will give you (some) answers once the investigation is complete and thorough,” declared Jose Medina, representing this agency in charge in particular of explosives and weapons.
These fires, among the worst in California’s history, could be the most costly ever known: between 250 and 275 billion dollars according to provisional estimates from the private company AccuWeather.
In total, thousands of firefighters are on the job. Human and material reinforcements, including dozens of tank trucks, were sent. They were mobilized in particular for a new outbreak which broke out late Monday, in Oxnard, 80 km from Los Angeles.
Fears of mudslides
After problems fighting flames in the Pacific Palisades area due to dry or low-pressure hydrants, which notably led to criticism of fire management, Fire Chief Anthony Marrone assured Tuesday that There was indeed “water and pressure” in the Altadena sector.
Target of this criticism, notably coming from the next Republican President of the United States Donald Trump, the Democratic Governor of California Gavin Newsom has requested “a comprehensive independent review” of Los Angeles water distribution services.
He also ordered clearance teams on Tuesday to be ready to intervene, authorities fearing that winter storms could cause mudslides.
Health services have also warned of the health risks linked to smoke and ashes generated by the fires and moved by the winds. “The ashes are not just dirt. This is fine dust that can irritate or damage your respiratory system and other parts of your body,” warned Anish Mahajan of the county public health department. The authorities called on the population to wear a mask.
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