Los Angeles:
Fire-plagued Southern California was hit by dangerous winds Monday, with forecasters warning of “very significant” danger in a region already reeling from horrific fire damage.
Firefighters continue to extinguish a blaze that destroyed 40,000 acres (16,000 hectares) in the Los Angeles area after it erupted on January 7, killing at least 27 people.
But the hurricane-force winds that helped spread the initial fires returned, threatening further danger.
Winds of up to 88 mph (142 kph) were recorded in some locations, and forecasters said the combination of once again extremely dry conditions could cause the fire to spread more quickly.
“The region is expected to continue to experience very dangerous fire weather conditions,” Ariel Cohen of the National Weather Service (NWS) told AFP.
“Any fire that occurs can spread explosively, so this is a particularly dangerous situation.”
Officials said they pre-positioned engines and firefighters to dangerous areas after facing criticism earlier this month that they were unprepared.
“I think we’re going to be very well prepared over the next few days for the worst-case scenario that could happen, and I hope that doesn’t happen at all,” Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass told reporters. he said.
The largest blaze, the Palisades Fire, was 59% contained by Monday, and the area affected by evacuation orders has now shrunk to roughly match the fire footprint.
The Eaton Fire, which destroyed much of the Altadena area, is 87% contained.
There is no “Magical Spigot”
Political tensions intensify as Los Angeles grapples with the devastating damage.
Donald Trump, who was sworn in as US president on Monday, announced he would visit fire-affected areas over the weekend.
That trip could include an awkward encounter with California Gov. Gavin Newsom, who has been the subject of fierce criticism from President Trump over his response to the disaster.
Shortly after being sworn in as the 47th president, Trump once again swept California’s Democratic leadership.
“We are witnessing weeks-old fires still tragically burning with no protection,” he said.
“We can’t allow this to happen. There’s nothing anyone can do about it. That’s going to change,” he added, musing that it was “interesting” that some wealthy people had lost their homes.
Newsom did not directly address the provocation, but extended an open hand to the newly sworn-in president.
“This moment highlights the critical need for partnership, a shared commitment to the facts, and mutual respect,” he said on social media. “These values are what fuel civil debate, effective governance, and meaningful action. It makes it possible.”
“We look forward to President Trump’s visit to Los Angeles to mobilize the full power of the federal government to help our fellow citizens recover and rebuild.”
Although the direct cause of the fires is not yet known, scientists believe that human actions are changing weather patterns and making them more unstable, which could increase the destructive power of fires. It states that there is.
Southern California has not seen significant rain in about eight months, even though it is normally in the rainy season.
Officials have warned that if the rain does fall, it could cause dangerous debris flows in the affected areas, causing debris flows and hill collapses.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
