more than 4,000 firefighters mobilized, 31,000 people evacuated

After fighting all night against a new violent fire north of Los Angeles, firefighters seemed to gain the upper hand on the flames on Thursday, January 23, despite winds of worrying force in the region. More than 4,000 firefighters, assisted by planes and bulldozers, are currently fighting in the vicinity of Lake Castaic, about fifty kilometers north of the American megalopolis.

Evacuation orders have been issued for more than 31,000 people as Los Angeles barely recovers from fires that broke out in early January and disfigured part of the city, killing nearly of around thirty people.

The spread of this new fire, which broke out on Wednesday, slowed considerably overnight. The fire is 14% contained, according to firefighters. The strong winds that fueled its explosive growth in the early hours are expected to continue Thursday, with gusts reaching 80 kilometers per hour, according to Bryan Lewis of the US Weather Service (NWS). The region remains “super dry” and the conditions are “always dangerous”he explained to Agence France-Presse. Friday, “by late morning or afternoon, the wind should be much better” and decline, according to him.

Southern California has been critically short of precipitation for the past eight months, turning the region into a tinderbox. In this context, the expected rain this weekend will be welcomed with relief. “This will help us in the short term”estimated Mr. Lewis. According to him, other rainy episodes will however be necessary “to really get out of this fire season”.

Donald Trump expected Friday

Scientists regularly point out that climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of extreme events, whether storms or droughts. Hit by fires in the middle of January, Los Angeles is now preparing, with the rain, for possible mudslides and landslides in areas devastated by the fire, filled with charred toxic waste.

In Los Angeles County, workers have prepared sandbags, gravel and concrete barriers that can be deployed in the event of heavy rains. “Without vegetation to anchor the ground, heavy rainfall can lead to sudden and rapid debris flows, which can destroy homes, block roads and pose serious risks to life and property”warned California Governor Gavin Newsom.

The Democrat assured that his services are working “in close collaboration” with local partners “to prevent toxic runoff from entering waterways”.

Inaugural on Monday, Donald Trump must go to Los Angeles on Friday to see the damage. The Republican billionaire is to meet with firefighters and people affected by the fires, according to authorities. This visit will be closely scrutinized by residents and local authorities, because the tribune threatened to cut federal aid received by California for firefighting if the state does not stop its environmental policies.