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| Firefighters work to control a wildfire in the Mandeville Canyon area of Los Angeles on Sunday | Photo: Reuters |
Six wildfires have been burning in Los Angeles since they began on January 7. Three are still active. The Palisades Fire in the west of the city and the Eton Fire in the east are the worst. Both fires have been brought under control to a limited extent. It is estimated that the Los Angeles wildfires are set to be the largest natural disaster in US history in terms of damage.
Firefighters in Los Angeles, California, are having a busy time. The city has been burning for seven days, and after a two-day break, the wind speed has started to increase again. Firefighters are trying to put out the fire before the wind speed increases.
The extent of the damage is truly staggering. Area after area of Los Angeles has been burned to the ground in the wildfires. The homes of billionaires and ordinary people alike have all been destroyed. At least 12,300 homes have been destroyed. The fires have caused between $135 billion and $150 billion in damage so far, according to the weather website AccuWeather.
In addition to the loss of property in the fire, human suffering has also reached its peak. Amid the grief of losing their homes, 100,000 people have been asked to leave the affected areas to save their lives. If the situation worsens, the same order may be given to another 87,000 people. And California Governor Gavin Newsom has reported at least 24 deaths so far.
The fire service is trying its best to put out the fire. Water and chemicals are being dropped from the sky. Fire service members have entered the field with various equipment. So far, the most devastating Palisades fire, which has consumed 23,713 acres, has been only 13 percent contained. The Eton fire, which is burning in an area of 14,117 acres, has been 27 percent contained.
A major reason for the fire department's success is the slowing of the Santa Ana winds. However, after slowing over the weekend, they have started to pick up again. The National Weather Service forecast that the winds, which originate from the local desert, could blow over Los Angeles at speeds of 80 to 112 kilometers per hour from Sunday night into Wednesday.
Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Maron said at a news conference that the air is very humid, so there will be a high risk of fires spreading across Los Angeles. Areas that have been ordered to evacuate will not be reopened until the highest alert is lifted next Thursday.
Meanwhile, firefighters from seven states surrounding California have already rushed to help fight the fire. Neighboring countries Canada and Mexico have also extended their assistance. Danny Criswell, administrator of the US Federal Disaster Management Agency, said that the military has also been put on standby to help fight the fire.