Fires in Los Angeles: 10 dead and thousands of homes burned

The fire continues to ravage the outskirts of Los Angeles, overhung by acrid whitish smoke: the main fires remain out of control Thursday evening in the Californian megacity, which has now recorded at least ten deaths and where military reinforcements will be deployed.

It looks like the apocalypseconfides to Agence France-Presse (AFP) Oren Waters, in front of his house reduced to ashes in the town of Altadena, north of Los Angeles. Coming back to see this is unimaginable.

In the northwest of the second largest city in the United States, the outbreak which devours the upscale district of Pacific Palisades, with the villas of multimillionaires and celebrities, located between Malibu and Santa Monica, was still not contained on Thursday evening. And this, despite the reinforcement of helicopters dropping water, thanks to a temporary lull in the violent winds which fanned the flames.

No more than the fire that set Altadena ablaze, even if its spread was significantly stopped during the previous night, according to firefighters.

Around 180,000 people remain under evacuation orders. The razed or damaged buildings number in the thousands and the toll has risen to at least ten deaths, the authorities announced Thursday evening.

US President Joe Biden deplored fires very extensive et devastatingduring a crisis meeting a few days before the end of his mandate.

Journalists from theAFP flew over Malibu and Pacific Palisades on Thursday: instead of sumptuous villas with breathtaking views of the ocean, often only scrap metal skeletons, filled with ashes, remain.

Several hundred military reinforcements must arrive on site, California Governor Gavin Newsom announced Thursday evening.

The Democrat ordered the deployment of the National Guard, with a dual mission: to assist the thousands of firefighters fighting the fire, and to restore order, because the region is the victim of looting. At least 20 people have been arrested for this reason in recent days.

Let’s be clear: looting will not be toleratedhe insisted.

In the middle of the ruins of Altadena, some improvise as vigilantes and patrol to protect what remains of their neighborhoods. A curfew was declared in evacuated areas of the coastal city of Santa Monica.

I didn’t save this damn house for some idiot to come and steal from me. There’s no waylet goAFPNicholas Norman, who will spend the night in front of his home, after keeping the flames away with buckets of water.

I don’t know if anyone will be able to come back for a whilesighs Kalen Astoor, another resident, devastated by the panorama of death and destruction offered by Altadena.

The gusts which blew up to 160 km/h in recent days, dragging embers for kilometers, have calmed down. But the wind has not disappeared and the hills remain ultra-dry: conditions remain critiquesaccording to authorities.

The winds retain their historical character. This is absolutely unprecedentedwarns Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass.

The weather alert will last until Friday, and a Significant fire development remains likelyaccording to the weather services.

Thursday afternoon, another outbreak broke out near Calabasas and the wealthy Hidden Hills neighborhood, where star Kim Kardashian lives.

The legendary Hollywood district, threatened for a time by the flames, can breathe: the fire in its hills was brought under control by firefighters, according to local authorities, and the evacuation order lifted Thursday morning.

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The water issue: between true and false information

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

President-elect 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.

In fact, most of the water used by Los Angeles comes from the Colorado River, and is used primarily by the agricultural sector.

The climate change is a realityreaffirmed Joe Biden, who will cede power on January 20 to his climate-sceptic successor.

The fires are disrupting the cinema industry: several film and series shoots have been stopped, and the Oscar nominations have been postponed by two days, to January 19.

Closed for the last two days, the Universal Studios Hollywood theme park will reopen on Friday.

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.