(Los Angeles) The City of Angels knows no respite: hot and powerful winds are expected to hit the second largest city in the United States on Tuesday, threatening to further fan the flames that have been ravaging it for a week.
Exhausted Los Angeles firefighters were hoping for respite from the Santa Ana winds, hot and dry squalls typical of the region that caused the fires that have killed at least 24 people.
But the US Weather Service (NWS) warned on Tuesday that winds were expected to blow up to more than 120 km/h.
“Today’s winds have already begun to strengthen and will continue to accelerate through mid-morning,” the NWS said.
Parts of Los Angeles County and Ventura County have been classified as being in a “particularly dangerous situation,” a rare warning from the NWS.
A large swath of Southern California was also placed on red alert. The very low humidity level can lead to “ultra-rapid expansion of the fire” in certain areas, meteorologists warn.
The scars of the fires of the past days disfigure Los Angeles. Entire neighborhoods are razed, tens of thousands of people displaced, and at least 24 have died in a “war scene” setting, according to President Joe Biden.
PHOTO JAE C. HONG, ASSOCIATED PRESS ARCHIVES
Pacific Palisades devastated by fires.
Authorities fear the toll will rise with fires that are among the worst in California history.
Searching for victims is “a very trying task, and unfortunately, we come across bodies every day,” laments Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna.
“My house burned”
Thousands of firefighters are on the job and have received human and material reinforcements, including dozens of tanker trucks.
But the fight against the flames remains fierce, and the damage is immense: 9,700 hectares ravaged in the upscale neighborhood of Pacific Palisades, and more than 5,500 in the town of Altadena, just north of Los Angeles.
“My house burned down, I know it. I saw photos: only the chimney remains. But I need to see it with my own eyes to believe it,” Fred Busche told AFP.
In Altadena, Zahrah Mihms tries to contain the anxiety of her little Ethan, four years old.
“I try to make him forget what’s going on and tell him, ‘Everything’s okay. Our house had a little mess, but we’re going to fix it. Everything is going to be fine,” + she says, still wearing the slippers she wore when she fled the flames.
More than 12,000 homes, buildings and vehicles have been destroyed or damaged by the fires, which could be the costliest ever, according to preliminary estimates.
Reviews
Hundreds of thousands of children returned to school on Monday, but affected schools located in evacuated areas remain closed.
Fire management is criticized by many residents, with firefighters sometimes having to deal with dry hydrants or low pressure.
PHOTO ERIC THAYER, ARCHASSOCIATED PRESS
Fires raged on January 11 in Mandeville Canyon
California’s Democratic governor, Gavin Newsom, has called for “a comprehensive independent review” of Los Angeles’ water services.
President-elect Donald Trump, as usual, did not pull any punches, castigating “incompetent” local leaders.
“I look forward to him coming here,” replied Gavin Newsom, who aims to launch a “Marshall Plan” to rebuild California.
Santa Ana winds are a classic of California’s autumns and winters. But this time they reached an intensity not seen since 2011, according to meteorologists, with gusts blowing up to 160 km/h last week.
Enough to spread the fire at lightning speed, especially since two very rainy years had given rise to luxuriant vegetation, which then dried up over the course of eight months without precipitation.
Scientists regularly point out that climate change is increasing the frequency of extreme weather events.
