On Wednesday, three uncontrolled wildfires fueled by hurricane-force winds ripped through the suburbs of Los Angeles, destroying dozens of homes and forcing tens of thousands of residents to evacuate their homes.
According to US media, at least one firefighter was hurt fighting a fire close to the upscale Pacific Palisades neighbourhood, and multiple additional people were said to have been burned.
Red-hot embers were whipped hundreds of meters (yards) by vicious winds, which fueled the fires and caused new spot fires to start before the firefighters could put them out.
With the sharp tang of burning in the air, a huge veil of smoke was visible over Los Angeles as dawn broke.
City Mayor Karen Bass issued a warning on X early Wednesday, stating that the “windstorm is expected to worsen through the morning.”
According to the Los Angeles Times, some firefighters encountered water shortages at hydrants in the Palisades while battling a blaze that has already consumed nearly 3,000 acres (1,200 hectares).
In Altadena, north of Los Angeles, the 2,200-acre Eaton Fire prompted emergency crews to evacuate elderly patients in wheelchairs from a care facility, as witnessed by an AFP journalist.
Meanwhile, a third fire continued to rage near Santa Clarita.
The blaze at Pacific Palisades has already claimed dozens of homes in one of California’s most desirable spots, where Hollywood celebrities are among those who live in mutli-million dollar houses.
Emmy-award-winning actor James Woods posted a video showing flames engulfing trees and bushes near his home as he got ready to evacuate, and said all the fire alarms were going off.
“I couldn’t believe our lovely little home in the hills held on this long. It feels like losing a loved one,” Woods said.
Events throughout the area were canceled, including a Tuesday evening red-carpet premiere of Jennifer Lopez’s new film “Unstoppable,” while the Screen Actors Guild Award said Wednesday’s in-person nominations ceremony would be replaced with a press release.
President Joe Biden said late Tuesday that he was “being frequently briefed on the wildfires” and had offered federal aid if needed.
The first wildfire ignited on Tuesday morning and rapidly grew, catching many residents off guard.
Pacific Palisades resident Andrew Hires recounted to AFP how he received a fire alert while his child was at the dentist, moments before a tooth extraction.
“We pulled off the mask and ran to the car,” he said.
READ ALSO: After Promising to Reduce Food Prices in 180 Days, Tinubu’s Government Still Failed—Oseni Rufai
Flames scorched trees and vegetation surrounding the Getty Villa, but the museum reported that the structure and its collections remained unharmed.
Established by U.S. oil billionaire and collector J. Paul Getty, the Getty Villa—a renowned art museum—houses Greek and Roman antiquities in a replica of a Roman countryside estate.
The wildfire coincided with the arrival of seasonal Santa Ana winds, which meteorologists warned could escalate into the region’s most severe windstorm in a decade, with gusts reaching up to 100 miles (160 kilometers) per hour.
“This looks pretty concerning,” said meteorologist Daniel Swain.
Wildfires are a natural part of life in the U.S. West, playing an essential role in the ecosystem. However, scientists note that human-driven climate change is altering weather patterns, intensifying fire risks.
Southern California, after two decades of drought followed by two years of extraordinary rainfall, has experienced significant vegetative growth—leaving the region laden with fuel and primed for wildfires.
Follow Parallel Facts on WhatsApp Channel: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaCQSAoHgZWiDjR3Kn2E
