Devastating Los Angeles Fires Force New Evacuations as Death Toll Rises to 11
Los Angeles, The Gulf Observer: The largest wildfire in Los Angeles has spread to previously untouched neighborhoods, forcing new evacuations on Saturday and dashing hopes of bringing the disaster under control.
Since Tuesday, multiple fires have ravaged residential areas, claiming at least 11 lives and destroying thousands of homes. US President Joe Biden compared the scenes of devastation to a “war zone,” as firefighters struggle to contain the flames.
The Palisades Fire, one of the most destructive, has prompted evacuation orders for affluent neighborhoods near its eastern flank, including areas around the Getty Center art museum. Despite extensive firefighting efforts, strong winds forecasted for Saturday threaten to ignite new blazes as embers are carried into parched vegetation.
Residents have voiced mounting frustration over officials’ preparedness and response. Nicole Perri, whose Pacific Palisades home was destroyed, criticized authorities for their lack of readiness. “They completely let us down,” she said. In Altadena, retired lawyer James Brown echoed the sentiment, questioning officials’ ability to manage such crises.
California Governor Gavin Newsom has ordered a “full independent review” into the disaster, citing a troubling lack of water supplies during the initial fires. “We need answers to how that happened,” Newsom stated in an open letter on Friday.
Amid reports of looting, a dusk-to-dawn curfew has been imposed in evacuated areas. Authorities have arrested around two dozen individuals, and the National Guard has been deployed to support local law enforcement.
In some neighborhoods, residents have organized street patrols and armed watches to protect their properties. Meanwhile, firefighting efforts continue as the city braces for potentially worsening conditions in the coming days.
