Wildfire has been raging in Los Angeles for the last four days, engulfing many homes. Roads are blocked. So far 11 people have died in this accident. Firefighters say they are having some success in containing the blaze, although they warn that strong winds could rekindle the flames, making the situation worse. The massive fire burned thousands of homes in posh areas of Los Angeles and spread to the Hollywood Hills.
Fear of increasing death toll
Describing this horrific disaster, Los Angeles County Sheriff (police officer) Robert Luna told the media, ‘About 10,000 houses and other structures were damaged, it looks as if someone has dropped a nuclear bomb on those areas.’
However, the fire in Eaton has still not been brought under control.
He feared that the death toll would increase and said that there is no hope of good news yet. According to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, the Palisades Fire is 6 percent contained, although the Eaton Fire is still not contained.
About 960 acres of land were affected in Ventura County.
In Kenneth, the wildfire affected about 960 acres in Los Angeles and Ventura counties. Firefighters have brought the fire under control in 35 percent of the area. Fire officials in Hurst and Lydia reported progress in containing the combined 1,200-acre blaze. Hearst controlled 37 percent, while Lydia controlled 75 percent. Winds blowing at a speed of 160 km per hour in Los Angeles made the situation even more uncontrollable. When the wind slowed down, the rescue team found it easier to drop water from the helicopter to extinguish the fire.
However, winds increased again during the night, leading officials to fear that the fire would spread and worsen over parts of Los Angeles and Southern California by Friday afternoon (Saturday IST). Los Angeles Fire Chief Christine Crowley said strong winds would make the wildfire more difficult to control. ‘We are still not out of danger,’ he warned. US President Joe Biden declared the wildfire in Los Angeles a major disaster two days ago.
“I told the governor, local officials to do what they need to do,” Biden said after meeting with senior advisers at the White House. No stone should be left unturned in controlling the fire. Nearly a million homes and businesses lost power in Los Angeles. The fire is estimated to have caused between US$135 billion and US$150 billion in damage and economic losses. Wildfire smoke has severely polluted the air in Los Angeles, forcing schools to close.
