World
January 10, 2025 10:06
los angeles, california, usa - Wildfires in Los Angeles destroy a vast area, leading to evacuation orders for thousands of residents and causing casualties.
Wildfires raging in Los Angeles have devastated a large area, with 20 thousand football fields worth of land turning into ashes. The fires, which started on January 7th in California, have continued to wreak havoc despite intense efforts to contain them.
The strong and dry winds have fueled the fires, rapidly expanding to consume around 10 thousand structures, including the homes and luxury mansions of Hollywood stars.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass highlighted the impact of the fierce winds that have exacerbated the fires and delayed the intervention of support aircraft, stating, "The reason for such widespread destruction was these unprecedented winds".
Los Angeles Fire Chief Kristin Crowley stated that they have not yet been able to control the fire that started in the Palisades area, describing it as one of the most devastating natural disasters in the history of Los Angeles.
Crowley mentioned that the flames have scorched over 27 thousand acres of land, equivalent to approximately 20 thousand football fields.
Investigations into arson related to the fires are underway, with 16 arson experts, 21 officials, and a trained dog actively examining the origin of the Palisades fire.
The Los Angeles Fire Department reported that a total of 12 helicopters and 6 planes, including aid from outside the state and federal agencies, are being used in the firefighting efforts.
Approximately 800 inmates are working alongside firefighters under a voluntary program to slow down the spread of the fires, as declared by the California Department of Corrections.
Los Angeles police detained a man suspected of attempting to start a fire in the Woodland Hills area, responding to a report of someone trying to ignite flames.
Authorities have issued evacuation orders for 180 thousand people and evacuation warnings for around 200 thousand individuals due to the ongoing wildfires.
The Los Angeles area coroner's office reported that 10 individuals have lost their lives due to the fires.
President Biden announced that the federal government will cover 100% of the costs incurred by the wildfires for the next 180 days, including debris removal, temporary shelters, first responders' salaries, and other necessary measures to address the crisis.