Devastated by wildfires, Los Angeles had to face new and dangerous gusts of wind this Sunday, while authorities promised that firefighters were ready to combat any new conflagration.
At least 16 people have died due to the fires that have devastated the Californian city for five days, reducing entire communities to rubble and leaving thousands of people homeless.
US authorities warned this Sunday that “strong and dangerous” winds could push wildfires towards residential areas of Los Angeles, while firefighters fight to combat the flames.
“The winds are becoming potentially dangerous and strong again,” Deanne Criswell, director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), told CNN.
Los Angeles County Fire Department Chief Anthony Marrone said his department had received resources, including dozens of new tankers and firefighters from distant placesand that he was prepared to face the renewed threat.
When asked about whether hydrants could run out of water again, as they did during the initial outbreak of fires last week, Mayor Karen Bass responded, “I think the city is prepared.”
Meanwhile, frustration was mounting as evacuees waited all day at the perimeters of the disaster zone, hoping to be allowed to visit their homes and attempt to retrieve vital medicines and pets.
Despite the efforts, the Palisades Fire continued to grow, moving east toward the Getty Center art museum’s priceless collection and north toward the densely populated San Fernando Valley.
In some areas, the fire turned houses into ashes and left traces of molten metal from burned cars.
A brief lull in the wind gave way to gusts that forecasters said could reach up to 80 kilometers per hour on Sunday morning and fuel the fires for the next few days.
Winds were expected to weaken later Sunday before increasing again overnight, according to the National Weather Service.
Frustration and criticism
The Palisades fire was 11% contained Saturday but had grown to 9,500 hectares, while the Eaton fire was about 5,700 hectares and 15% contained.
Official figures show more than 12,000 structures burned, but Cal Fire’s Todd Hopkins said not all of them were homes, and the figure also included outbuildings, trailers and sheds.
The sudden avalanche of people who need a new place to live in the coming months may complicate the dynamics for the city’s tenants, who already did not have it easy.
“I’m back on the market with tens of thousands of people,” said Brian, a 69-year-old retiree whose rent-controlled apartment caught fire. “It doesn’t look good.”
With reports of looting and a nighttime curfew in effect, police and the National Guard have set up checkpoints to prevent people from entering disaster zones.
Two people were arrested near Vice President Kamala Harris’ home in Brentwood for violating curfew, local media reported, citing police.
A handwritten sign that says “the looters will be shot” was hung on a tree, next to the American flag outside a house in Pacific Palisades.
But security checks have left residents frustrated, with up to 10 hours queuing to try to get back in and see what’s left of their homes.
Complaints about this poor management are added to other criticisms, such as hydrants that dried up in the initial fire.
President-elect Donald Trump accused California authorities of incompetence over their handling of the fires.
“The fires are still burning in Los Angeles. Incompetent politicians have no idea how to put them out,” Trump said on his Truth Social platform.
“This is one of the worst catastrophes in the history of our country. They just can’t put out the fires. What’s wrong with them?” he wrote.
Among those known to have died in the tragedy was former Australian child star Rory Sykes, who appeared on the British television show “Kiddy Kapers” in the 1990s.
Teams with cadaver dogs are combing through the rubble and, with several people missing, the death toll is feared to rise.
Climate impact
Federal and local authorities are conducting a major investigation to determine what caused the fires.
California Governor Gavin Newsom told Meet the Press that he will launch a sort of “Marshall Plan” to rebuild the state.
“We already have a team looking to reimagine Los Angeles 2.0,” he said.
He also emphasized the immediate problem of weather conditions, stating that “the challenge is the winds.”
While the start of a wildfire can be deliberate, it is often natural and a vital part of the life cycle of an environment.
But urban sprawl is putting people at risk more often, and climate change, supercharged by humanity’s uncontrolled use of fossil fuels, is exacerbating the conditions that lead to destructive fires.
