California wildfires are still raging even after destroying more than 10,000 properties in the LA County. After hitting homes of ordinary citizens and Hollywood celebrities alike, the flames continue to spread. The death toll has hit 25 mark but is expected to rise further as investigators will be able to enter many areas only when the fires are put out completely.
California, Los Angeles Fires: Status in 10 points
1. Fires in the localities of Eaton and Pacific Palisades have now become top-two most destructive fires in Southern California’s history. This has been confirmed by Cal Fire, the state’s fire agency. Alon with Hurst fire, Palisades and Eaton fires have now burnt about 60 square miles of area. This is larger than Paris. The Palisades fire is now 18 per cent contained.
2. Predatory real estate speculators have begun approaching families who have lost homes offering them value much below market level. Such realtors are offering cash in expectations that the mourning families who are in need of money would agree to sell their burnt houses. California Governor Gavin Newsom has issued a warning against such speculators.
“We will not allow greedy developers to rip off these working-class communities at a time when they need more support than ever before,” he said in a statement.
3. Winds are still causing problem but are lighter than the previous ‘hurricane-strength’ ones. However they are expected to pick up so the officials have warned residents to stay on guard.
4. Los Angeles County’s Department of Public Health has advised people to wear masks to protect themselves from ash, even after fire in an area is doused completely.
5. The air quality in Southern California has worsened. Authorities say that this situation is likely to persist.
6. Thirteen people are still missing in the Palisades area.
7. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms and Explosives (ATF) has launched an investigation into causes of Palisades fire.
8.The police have made 14 arrests in relation to the Palisades fire
9. University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) has did an analysis and found that fires that raged over the last week were larger and also that they burned hotter than they would have in the absence of climate pollution in the world. The university said that they would have been “somewhat smaller and less intense.”
10. An investigative report from CNN has revealed that Los Angeles Fire Department is one of the most understaffed in US.
