UPDATE ON THE SITUATION – The multiple fires that have raged in Los Angeles for five days have left at least 16 dead, and spread on Saturday to areas that had until now been spared.
Besieged by flames since Tuesday, the American megacity continues to count its dead: the toll, which so far showed 11 victims, increased on Saturday evening to 16 dead. Despite the efforts of thousands of firefighters on duty, the “Palisades Fire” spread to the northwest of Los Angeles on Saturday. It now threatens the densely populated San Fernando Valley, but also the Getty Museum and its priceless works of art.
Firefighters have benefited from a calm in the winds over the past three days. But the gusts should get stronger again this weekend. “These winds, combined with dry air and dry vegetation, will keep the fire threat in Los Angeles County high”warned Anthony Marrone, the county fire chief.
The City of Angels is reliving scenes it had not experienced since the pandemic. Its legendary traffic jams have disappeared and residents who venture outside often wear masks, to protect themselves from the air stale by toxic fumes.
12,000 structures destroyed
The fire has so far destroyed or damaged more than «12.000» structures. A figure which includes buildings, but also cars, the authorities said on Saturday.
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The bill is expected to run into tens of billions of dollars, and some experts already fear that these fires will be the costliest on record.
The authorities increasingly criticized
Residents are beginning to question the authorities’ management, particularly because firefighters have sometimes had to deal with empty fire hydrants or low pressure. “Our city has completely failed us”told AFP Nicole Perri, another resident of Pacific Palisades who lost her house.
Much criticized, the mayor of Los Angeles, Karen Bass, assured Saturday that her services are “all on the same wavelength”. The day before, the city’s fire chief had pointed out the insufficient budget allocated by the municipality to fire fighters.
The Democratic governor of the nation’s most populous state, Gavin Newsom, asked Friday “a comprehensive independent review” city water distribution services.
Evacuees face a headache finding rehousing with a dizzying jump in rental prices. On Saturday, the state attorney general recalled that artificial price inflation is a “crime punishable by one year in prison and a $10,000 fine”.
Curfew against looting
Faced with 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.
Enough to frustrate some, already burned by certain evacuation alerts sent by mistake to the smartphones of thousands of people. On Friday, AFP journalists saw many people arguing with the police and National Guard soldiers about the roadblocks preventing them from returning home. “My father is diabetic and he needs the insulin we left at home”explained Jennifer Aguilera, with tears in her eyes.
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Search for victims
Rescuers assisted by sniffer dogs continue to inspect the rubble for bodies or human remains. The toll could rise further, according to the authorities.
The hot, dry Santa Ana winds that fanned these fires are a classic of California autumns and winters. But this time they reached an intensity not seen since 2011, according to meteorologists, with gusts of up to 160 km/h this week.
Enough to spread the embers very quickly, sometimes over kilometers. A nightmare scenario for firefighters, because California is coming out of two very rainy years which gave rise to lush vegetation, now dried up by a severe lack of rain for eight months.
Scientists regularly point out that climate change is increasing the frequency of extreme weather events.
Investigation into the causes of the fire
The investigation to determine the causes of these multiple fires, in which the FBI is participating, is still ongoing, Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna recalled on Saturday.
“We will not neglect any avenue”he assured. “If it is a criminal act – I am not saying that it is -, (…) we must get our hands on the person(s) responsible.”
