(Los Angeles) The numerous fires raging in Los Angeles for the fourth day in a row have caused at least eleven deaths, but the wind which fanned the flames weakened on Friday, while the authorities shifted responsibility.
At least eleven people were killed in these violent fires and entire sections of the second largest city in the United States were devastated: more than 10,000 buildings were destroyed and more than 14,000 hectares went up in smoke.
“It reminded me of a war scene, with bombing,” President Joe Biden said.
PHOTO BEN CURTIS, ASSOCIATED PRESS
President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris during a virtual meeting with California Governor Gavin Newsom, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator Deanne Criswell.
The largest fire has burned more than 8,000 hectares on the Malibu coast and the upscale Pacific Palisades neighborhood, where firefighters said they were beginning to control the flames.
Among those who saw their homes destroyed was actor Mel Gibson. He told NewsNation he was devastated by the loss of his Malibu home.
PHOTO ERIC THAYER, ASSOCIATED PRESS
The Palisades Fire continues to burn on the outskirts of the Pacific Palisades neighborhood in Los Angeles, January 10, 2025.
The wind nevertheless weakened on Friday, making it easier for firefighters to fight the flames, while five main outbreaks are still active.
“Still very dangerous”
On Thursday afternoon, a new fire broke out north of the main home in Pacific Palisades, near the wealthy Hidden Hills neighborhood, where star Kim Kardashian lives. It has since been largely brought under control.
The situation “is still very dangerous,” warned Deanne Criswell of the federal disaster response agency (FEMA).
In the northwest of Los Angeles, the outbreak which devours the upscale district of Pacific Palisades, with its villas of multimillionaires and celebrities, between Malibu and Santa Monica, was still not contained, despite the contribution of helicopters dropping water. After a lull, the winds returned and new fires continued to break out.
PHOTO MARK J. TERRILL, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Beachfront properties are destroyed by the Palisades Fire on January 9, 2025 in Malibu.
“The winds have weakened today, but I have just received the weather report (…) the winds will strengthen again in the coming days,” she added in a meeting with the White House.
Across the Californian megacity, depending on the orders received, evacuations number in the hundreds of thousands.
Faced with increasing looting in disaster or evacuated areas, a curfew, in effect between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. in Pacific Palisades and Altadena, was decreed by local authorities on Friday.
Soldiers were also deployed and dozens of people were arrested.
Before this decision, residents acted as vigilantes and patrolled to protect what remained of their neighborhoods.
“Need answers”
Although it is too early to know the origin of the fires, criticism has emerged regarding the authorities’ preparation and response.
California Governor Gavin Newsom on Friday called for “a comprehensive independent review” of the city’s water services. He described the lack of water supply and loss of pressure at fire hydrants in the first moments as “deeply disturbing”.
“We need answers to know what happened,” he wrote in an open letter.
Fire Chief Kristin Crowley told Fox News affiliate KTTV that they were “still understaffed, under-resourced and under-funded.”
Californians are being urged by authorities to save water, as some reservoirs supplying fire hydrants have been emptied by the fight against flames.
PHOTO FREDERIC J. BROWN, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
A partially melted car sits in front of the remains of the Altadena Compassionate Heart Church destroyed in the Eaton Fire, Altadena, January 10, 2025.
Several evacuation alerts were also sent by mistake to residents’ phones Thursday and Friday in Los Angeles. Messages which led the authorities to apologize.
The Federal Civil Aviation Authority (FAA) announced the opening of an investigation after a drone struck and damaged a tanker plane.
PHOTO DAVID RYDER, REUTERS
Firefighters work near a destroyed church after the Palisades Fire in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles on January 10, 2025.
These violent fires could be the costliest on record: AccuWeather estimates total damages and losses at between $135 billion and $150 billion.
Donald Trump spread false information on his Truth Social network, claiming that California was running out of water because of Democratic environmental policies that would divert rainwater to protect “useless fish.”
President Joe Biden said “a lot of demagogues” were looking to take advantage of misinformation surrounding the disaster.
The hot, dry Santa Ana winds currently blowing are a classic of California autumns and winters. But this time they reached an intensity not seen since 2011, according to meteorologists.
A nightmare for firefighters: California is coming out of two very rainy years which gave rise to lush vegetation, now dried up by a glaring lack of rain for eight months.
Scientists regularly point out that climate change is increasing the frequency of extreme weather events.
