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| Fire burns in the Brentwood neighborhood of Los Angeles. January 11 | Photo: Reuters |
Deadly wildfire is burning in the western US state of California, Los Angeles. The fire has not been fully controlled even after five days. Firefighters are struggling to put out the fire due to lack of rain and strong winds. The scenario is completely opposite in the southern. Many states known as warm there are still bitterly cold and snowfall is ongoing.
Every year, from September to May, a series of strong winds sweep across California during the cold months. The Santa Ana winds can reach speeds of up to 160 kilometers per hour. They reduce the humidity in the air. This has caused fires in the state in the past. But this time, another problem is the lack of rain. Los Angeles has recorded only 0.3 inches of rain since last May.
The Los Angeles wildfires are largely due to strong winds and lack of rain. Eleven people have died in the fires since Tuesday, and more than 10,000 structures have been destroyed. As of Friday, the damage from the fires was estimated at $150 billion, according to the weather information website AccuWeather. There are currently six wildfires burning in Los Angeles.
However, some of the fires have been brought under control. Millions of people have already left the city to escape the fires. Now, people have been asked to evacuate to avoid the 'Palisades' fire, which is burning west of the city from Santa Monica to the Malibu area.
The fire has started to change direction since Saturday, according to Reuters news agency. The fire is now moving more east to northeast. Six fires are still burning at the same time.
Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden has expressed new concerns about the fires. In a speech given on Saturday, he said that the fires in Los Angeles are unprecedented. Although the spread of the fire has been partially prevented in the last 24 hours. However, there may be strong winds until early next week. It will be ensured that California has everything possible to fight these fires.
What is behind the wildfire?
According to the National Fire Protection Association, lightning is a major factor in starting wildfires, but investigators believe that was not the case in the California fires.
The California wildfires started in eastern Los Angeles County. There were no reports of lightning strikes near the Palisades area or the Eaton fire area. Then came the discussion of two other common causes. One of them is deliberate arson and a spark from a power line.
Southern California Edison, the electric utility company, filed a report with the CPUC on Friday about the fire in the Eaton area near Pasadena. It said it found no evidence that any of its equipment was involved in the fire, but issued the report as a precaution after receiving a notice to preserve evidence from the insurance company's lawyers.
In addition to lightning strikes, arson, and power lines, fires can sometimes be started by burning garbage and setting off fireworks. In addition, fires can spread from numerous sources, including accidents.
John Lentini, who has experience investigating major wildfires in California, including the 1991 Oakland Hills fire, is the owner of Scientific Fire Analysis in Florida. "This was a small fire," Lentini said. "We need to focus more on where the fire started, what the source of the fire was, looking around the source and determining the cause," he said.
Meanwhile, discussions have also begun about whether climate change is behind this situation in the United States.
Cold and snowy in the south
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| A snowstorm in Atlanta, Georgia, has dumped several inches of snow. January 10 | Photo: AFP |
While the West is burning, the weather in the South and Midwest is completely different. Southern states, including New Mexico, Georgia and Texas, which are usually known for their warm climate, are experiencing snow and rain. Temperatures have dropped below freezing. There, a combination of cold air and winds blowing from the Gulf of Mexico has created this situation.
The winter storm is expected to dump four to six inches of snow between Texas and the Carolinas by Sunday, with parts of Arkansas and Tennessee seeing up to eight inches of snow.
Meanwhile, schools in Dallas, Fort Worth and Arlington, Texas, were closed on Thursday and Friday. More than 1,000 flights were canceled in Dallas and Fort Worth. Schools and businesses in Oklahoma were closed to encourage people to stay indoors.
New Mexico has also been hit by snow and windstorms, with temperatures well below freezing. However, conditions are expected to improve slightly starting Monday.
Counter-accusations
President-elect Donald Trump engaged in a political spat with President Joe Biden and California's Democratic governor on Thursday over the wildfires. Trump has begun blaming Democrats without any evidence, including Governor Gavin Newsom, for various failures.