Environment

‘Dangerous and strong’ winds threaten to spread hell in Los Angeles

Snohomish County, Washington firefighters are working to extinguish a fire behind a home in the Mandeville Canyon area.

US authorities warned on Sunday that “dangerous and strong” winds would further spread a deadly wildfire into residential areas of Los Angeles as firefighters battled to extinguish the blaze.

At least 16 people were confirmed dead in the blaze that tore through the city, leaving entire neighborhoods in ashes and thousands left homeless.

Despite massive efforts, including precision sorties by airmen, the Palisades Fire continued to grow, spreading east toward the Getty Center’s rare collections and north into the densely populated San Fernando Valley. Ta.

“Winds could become dangerous and strong again,” Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Deanne Criswell told CNN.

“The biggest thing people need to know is this is still dangerous.”

There has been a brief lull in winds, but gusts have developed, reaching up to 50 miles per hour (80 kilometers per hour) early Sunday morning, and forecasters warned that they could spark fires over the next few days.

Winds are expected to weaken later Sunday and pick up again overnight, the National Weather Service said.

I don’t have a place to live

The Palisades Fire is 11 percent contained but has grown to 23,600 acres (9,500 hectares), and the Eaton Fire is 14,000 acres and 15 percent contained.

Smoke and flames from the Palisades Fire burn towards the Encino neighborhood of Los Angeles, California

Smoke and flames from the Palisades Fire burn towards the Encino neighborhood of Los Angeles, California.

Official figures say more than 12,000 structures were destroyed, but Cal Fire’s Todd Hopkins said not all were homes, and that number also included outbuildings, trailers and sheds. said.

In some areas, raging fires sent streaks of molten metal pouring from burned out cars.

The sudden influx of refugees in need of a place to live created a major problem for the city.

“I’m back on the market with tens of thousands of other people,” said a man who gave his name as Brian, whose rent-controlled apartment building burned down. “That doesn’t bode well.”

With the outbreak of looting and the enforcement of a curfew, police and the National Guard set up checkpoints to prevent people from entering the affected areas.

Two people were arrested on suspicion of violating curfew near Vice President Kamala Harris’ Brentwood residence after police received a report of a robbery.

Smoke from flames rises behind homes in the Mandeville Canyon neighborhood in Los Angeles, California, on January 11, 2025.

Smoke from flames rises behind homes in the Mandeville Canyon neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, on January 11, 2025.

A handwritten sign reading “Looters Will Be Shot” hung on a tree next to an American flag outside a Pacific Palisades home.

But residents are frustrated as they wait up to 10 hours at security checkpoints to go back and check what’s left in their homes or to check on their loved ones.

“I have to be there to protect my family, my wife, my children, my mother, and I can’t even go see them,” said Bobby Salman, 42, a resident of Altadena who was prevented from entering the evacuation zone. ” he said.

The lines have left some people angry about sloppy management, and it was the latest complaint from residents who were already upset that fire hydrants ran dry during the first shootout.

After reports of a behind-the-scenes spat between the mayor and fire chief, city officials put up a united front.

But President-elect Donald Trump accused California officials of incompetence.

Firefighters battle a fire in the Mandeville Canyon area

Firefighters are working to extinguish the fire in the Mandeville Canyon area.

“This is one of the worst disasters in the history of our country. They just can’t put out the fire. What’s wrong with them?” President Trump said on his Truth Social platform.

Teams with dead dogs are searching through the rubble and several people are known to be missing, raising fears the death toll could rise further.

Among those known to have died in the tragedy was former Australian child star Rory Sykes, who appeared on British TV show Kiddie Capers in the 1990s.

Climate impact

An extensive investigation by federal and local authorities was underway to determine the cause of the fire.

California Governor Gavin Newsom told Meet the Press that he also plans to launch a “Marshall Plan” to rebuild the state.

“We already have a team looking at reimagining LA 2.0,” he said.

He also highlighted the issue of immediate weather conditions, saying: “The challenge is the wind. This wind will return tonight, Sunday night. The wind will peak on Monday.”

Molten metal leaks from burned-out car in Palisades fire in Los Angeles, California

Molten metal gushes from a burnt-out car in the Palisades fire in Los Angeles, California.

Although wildfire ignition can be intentional, it is often a natural phenomenon and an important part of the environmental life cycle.

But urban sprawl is putting people at risk more often, and climate change, exacerbated by humanity’s unchecked use of fossil fuels, is exacerbating the conditions that lead to devastating fires.

© 2025 AFP

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