The forest fires in California reached devastating levels, ravaging entire neighborhoods in Los Angeles and reaching the hills of Hollywood. In less than 24 hours, the flames consumed around 11,000 hectares, resulting in at least five deaths, over 1,100 buildings destroyed, and forcing the evacuation of over 100,000 people.
Undoubtedly, the strong northern winds, with gusts of up to 56 km/h, fueled the rapid spread of the fires, especially in residential areas with wooden houses. This is compounded by an extreme drought exacerbated by climate change, turning the area into veritable powder kegs.
Among the most destructive fires are, Palisades Fire: with 6,407 hectares consumed by the fire, followed by Eaton Fire, with 4,290 hectares burned and five fatalities, Hurst Fire, north of Los Angeles, with 1,729 hectares razed, and Sunset Fire, where the fire is advancing rapidly, especially in Hollywood Hills, threatening homes near the iconic Runyon Canyon Park.
The fires left over 400,000 homes and businesses without electricity, in addition to forcing the closure of schools and affecting air quality throughout the region.
National and International Response
As a result of these fires, President Joe Biden canceled his trip to Italy to coordinate federal response, deploying helicopters, tanker planes, and ground crews, as well as approving a major disaster declaration. Meanwhile, the Pentagon will send helicopters and modular extinguishing systems.
The chaos also affected the entertainment industry. The Academy of Hollywood postponed the announcement of the Oscar nominations, and other events like the Critics Choice Awards were also postponed.
The fight against forest fires in California highlights the combined effects of climate change and uncontrolled urbanization. While extinguishing efforts continue, there is a long road ahead for recovery and prevention of future tragedies.
Severity of the fires. (Photo: EFE).
Assistance from Other States to Combat Fires in California
The state of Oregon also responded to the events in California by sending aid to combat the fires. In this regard, the Oregon fire chief, Mariana Ruiz-Temple, issued a statement offering their support to resolve the situation, ensuring they are working as quickly as possible in this emergency. She added that both states have suffered from these fires, thus they are ready to assist each other as needed.
For this, the state of Oregon sent 12 teams, including 240 firefighters and 60 trucks. The aid was dispatched after California requested assistance, a request made on Tuesday night.
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