Firefighters are struggling to bring the Los Angeles blaze under control before high winds return. climate crisis news
Firefighters continue to battle a massive wildfire that has killed 16 people in the Los Angeles area of California, as forecasters warn of dangerous weather with strong winds returning again this week.
Although the Santa Ana winds that fanned the flames calmed over the weekend, the U.S. National Weather Service (NWS) warned that gusty winds of up to 110 km/h (70 mph) could return early next week Are.
Local officials said they expected the strongest winds on Tuesday. Red flag warnings for Los Angeles and Ventura counties remain in effect through Wednesday, the NWS said.
Conditions are expected to become normal by Thursday.
On Sunday, aircraft dropped water and fire retardant on steep hills to stop the eastward spread of the fire in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood, and KTLA television reported that ground crews managed to save several homes, although others were lost.
“There was another night of unimaginable terror and heartbreak in L.A. County,” said Los Angeles County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath.
At least 16 people have died in six simultaneous fires in America’s second largest city since Tuesday.
Five deaths were caused by the Palisades fire and 11 deaths were caused by the Eaton fire, the Los Angeles County coroner’s office said in a statement Saturday evening.
Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said Sunday morning that 12 people were missing in the Eaton Fire zone and four people were missing in the Palisades Fire.
California Governor Gavin Newsom said he expected the death toll to rise.
“I have prepared search and rescue teams. “We have found dead dogs, and likely many more,” he told NBC News.
Newsom said the fire was likely to be the worst natural disaster in U.S. history in terms of “scale and scope” as well as associated costs.
FEMA Administrator Dean Criswell said in a series of television interviews Sunday that active duty military personnel are ready to support firefighting efforts, with the agency urging residents to start applying for disaster relief.
“We have the money to support this response, to support this recovery,” he told ABC News.
Fire officials said the blaze had damaged or destroyed 12,000 structures, as the flames turned entire neighborhoods into smoldering ruins and left an apocalyptic landscape.
The Palisades Fire has spread an additional 1,000 acres (400 hectares) in the past 24 hours, burning more homes, officials said Saturday evening.
Cal Fire official Todd Hopkins said that although 11 percent of the Palisades Fire is now contained, it has burned more than 22,000 acres (8,900 hectares).
Hopkins told reporters that the fire has spread into Mandeville Valley and threatens to spread to Brentwood, an upscale neighborhood, and the San Fernando Valley. It also extended towards the north-south 405 freeway.
Al Jazeera’s Phil Lavelle, reporting from a helicopter above Los Angeles, said the scale of the destruction was enormous.
“What you get from here shows you how much danger still lies ahead, because these flames from the Palisades Fire are moving toward densely populated areas, and their direction can change in a second,” he said. “
“One minute, they’re headed to places like Brentwood. Second, they are heading towards the densely populated San Fernando Valley where millions of people live.
Evacuation orders throughout the Los Angeles area now cover 153,000 residents. Sheriff Luna said another 166,000 residents were warned they may have to evacuate.
Trump criticized local officials
US President Joe Biden spoke by phone with officials to get updates on their efforts and was briefed by aides about federal resources being sent.
His declaration of a major disaster opened up federal aid to those affected by the wildfires, clearing the way for the Federal Emergency Management Agency to provide assistance.
FEMA spokesman Michael Hart said the assistance could range from money for home repairs to money to replace lost food or medicine, adding that assistance could be provided within a few days.
Newsom also signed an executive order to reduce the amount of state government red tape required to rebuild lost homes and businesses.
However, US President-elect Donald Trump criticized local and state officials who he believes mishandled the situation.
“The fire is still raging in LA. The incompetent (politicians) don’t know how to keep them out. Thousands of wonderful homes have been lost, and many more will soon be gone. There is death everywhere…they can’t put out the fire. What is their problem?” he said on his Truth social media feed.
Kathryn Barger, chairwoman of the Los Angeles Board of Supervisors, told reporters that she has invited Trump — who will take office on Jan. 20 — to visit the county to get a first-hand look at the devastation.
