A pause in the fierce winds that super-charged the ring of wildfires that devastated Los Angeles this week helped crews make some progress in controlling the infernos yesterday, but strong gusts returning next week could resuscitate the flames.
The fires, which have devastated Los Angeles neighbourhoods on the east and west sides of the sprawling metropolis, have so far killed 10 people and destroyed nearly 10,000 structures, with those figures expected to grow.
“We are doing everything we can to bring the situation under control, and success has been reported,” Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said at a news conference. “We know that we’re going to have a possible increase in the force of the winds at the beginning of next week, and getting Los Angeles prepared – doing everything we can to save lives – that is our No 1 job.”
President Joe Biden said federal officials expect the winds to remain a threat at least until early next week.
Wind conditions in the Los Angeles area will improve through the weekend to about 20mph, with gusts between 35mph and 50mph, according to the National Weather Service, a far cry from days ago when wind gusts blasted as high as 80mph.
Even with dangerous “red flag” wind conditions, any periods of easing would allow more crucial support from aircraft dropping water and fire retardant on the flaming hills.
“It’s not as gusty so that should help firefighters, hopefully,” NWS meteorologist Allison Santorelli said, adding that conditions were still critical with low humidity and dry vegetation.
Farther south in San Diego, winds will pick up, with sustained winds of 40mph and gusts up to 70mph, creating dangerous fire conditions there over the weekend, she added.
As of yesterday, at least three major fires were still burning in Los Angeles. In addition to the Palisades and Eaton fires, a blaze broke out on Thursday near Calabasas, a wealthy enclave home to numerous celebrities and gated communities. The so-called Kenneth Fire, which expanded to 960 acres in a matter of hours, was 35 per cent under control by morning, fire officials said.
The Sunset Fire in the Hollywood Hills was brought fully under control, after flames had engulfed a ridge overlooking Hollywood Boulevard’s Walk of Fame.
The Palisades Fire and the Eaton Fire already rank as the most destructive in Los Angeles history, consuming more than 34,000 acres – some 53sqm or 2 1/2 times the land area of Manhattan – and turning entire neighbourhoods to ash.
The Eaton Fire, now 3pc controlled, has damaged or destroyed 4,000 to 5,000 structures, while the Palisades Fire, now 8pc controlled, destroyed or damaged another 5,300 structures, including many homes of movie stars and celebrities.
Some Pacific Palisades residents were venturing back to areas where the fire had already swept through. Brick chimneys loomed over charred waste and burnt-out vehicles.
“I can’t describe it,” the 44-year-old psychiatrist Kelly Foster said as she combed through the ashy rubble where her home once stood with her children while smoke rose from neighbouring homes and planes dropped water nearby.
Officials have imposed a curfew in mandatory evacuation zones for the Palisades and Eaton fires from 6pm to 6am to help prevent looting. California National Guard members also have begun to arrive to secure evacuation zones and help with traffic control, freeing up firefighters and police.
Meanwhile, false evacuation messages sent by an automated alert system further frayed residents’ nerves as officials vowed to work on the problem. Many area homes also were without power.
Catastrophic losses are already weighing on insurers, which are bracing for billions of dollars in potential claims.
Private forecaster AccuWeather estimated the damage and economic loss at $135 billion to $150bn, portending an arduous recovery and soaring homeowners’ insurance costs.
l Bahrain has expressed its solidarity with the US following the tragic wildfires in California, which have resulted in numerous deaths, injuries and the destruction of hundreds of homes.
In a statement issued by the Foreign Ministry, Bahrain conveyed its condolences to the government and people of the US for the victims of the wildfires and wished the injured a speedy recovery.
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