California Wildfires: Over 137,000 Residents Forced to Flee
Several wildfires have broken out in Los Angeles and its neighbouring Ventura County, with the latest occurring in the Hollywood Hills on Wednesday evening. This fire, nicknamed “The Sunset Fire,” has escalated rapidly due to strong winds. The first wildfire started on Tuesday in Palisades, scorching about 16,000 acres. Another significant fire broke out in Eaton, in northern Los Angeles, which has burnt nearly 10,600 acres and remains uncontained. A third fire in Hurst, north of San Fernando, began Tuesday night and has grown to 700 acres. While authorities have managed to contain a fire in Woodley, efforts continue to address the others.
In Ventura County, northeast of Los Angeles, another fire has burnt through approximately 11 acres. The Hollywood Hills fire has worsened due to strong winds, leaving much of the area covered in thick smoke and creating chaos as residents scramble to evacuate.
Authorities have issued evacuation orders for people living in affected areas. Landmarks such as the Dolby Theatre, where the Academy Awards are held, the Hollywood Bowl outdoor amphitheatre, and Hollywood Boulevard are under threat. Many residents have lost their homes, including Paris Hilton, who shared on Instagram: “Seeing our home in Malibu burn to the ground is something no one should ever have to experience. This home is where we built so many precious memories. My heart and prayers go out to every family affected by this fire.”
Actor Billy Crystal told CNN that his family is “heartbroken” by the loss of their home. Actor Cameron Mathison and other celebrities have also shared visuals of their homes reduced to ashes.
Five deaths have been recorded since the start of the wildfires, all near the Eaton fire. The cause of these deaths remains under investigation. Over 100,000 residents have been evacuated from Eaton and another 37,000 from Palisades. The LA Fire Department has reported challenges in containing the fires due to water shortages caused by power outages. First responders have been using water from ponds, pools, and other sources to fight the flames.
President Biden has cancelled his trip to Italy to address the crisis. In a statement, he said, “The government is prepared to do anything and everything, as long as it takes to contain the wildfires and help reconstruct California.”
See Also: Granite Truck Crash Kills One at Eleyele, Many Injured.
The University of California, located in the Westwood neighbourhood of Los Angeles, has announced the closure of its campus for the next few days due to the fires. Chancellor Julio Fenk expressed his condolences: “The first week of classes, typically a joyous occasion, has instead brought so much pain and devastation.” Meanwhile, the University of Southern California remains open but has advised students and faculty to work from safe locations.
AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Jonathan Porter warned, “Should a large number of additional structures burn in the coming days, this may become the worst wildfire in modern California history, based on the number of structures burnt and economic loss.”
The wildfires have placed immense strain on firefighters, emergency responders, and residents, with efforts underway to prevent further devastation.
Content Credit| Ajibola Emmanuel Adebayo
Picture Credit | https://calmatters.org/
