At least five major wildfires are sweeping through California, leaving a trail of devastation in their wake. The blazes have claimed the lives of at least five people, destroyed nearly 1,900 structures, and threatened iconic landmarks.According to CAL Fire, the five active fires have scorched almost 28,000 acres of land. While the Hurst and Lidia fires have been partially contained, the others continue to rage unchecked.
The wildfires have forced over 130,000 people to evacuate their homes, with communities from the Pacific Coast to inland Pasadena bearing the brunt of the disaster.In Los Angeles, the Sunset fire is burning perilously close to the famous Hollywood Bowl and Walk of Fame. Meanwhile, hundreds of incarcerated firefighters are joining the battle to contain the blazes.
The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation has deployed 395 imprisoned firefighters across 29 crews to assist in the efforts.In Pasadena, Fire Chief Chad Augustin reported that the city’s water system is under strain due to power outages, making it even more challenging for firefighters to combat the flames.Several celebrities, including Billy Crystal, Paris Hilton, and Eugene Levy, have lost their homes to the wildfires.
The disaster began on Tuesday afternoon when a powerful windstorm fueled the flames of a fire in the Pacific Paldives neighborhood, prompting thousands to flee.Satellite images reveal the sheer scale of the destruction, with over 15,000 acres burned and the coastline along the famous Malibu neighborhood left scarred and blackened.
New fires continue to break out, with embers spreading up to 2.5 miles and igniting fresh blazes, including one that destroyed a large property in Studio City.Adam Vangerpen of the Los Angeles County Fire Department said crews are working tirelessly to prevent the new fires from spreading further.
“It’s a four-storey home… we did just have the winds pick up again, so we are seeing some ember casting,” he said. “Our hope is to hit it hard and make sure that we’re trying to keep it out of the brush right now, because with the winds picking up there in the hills, that is a concern of ours.”
Source : https://www.theguardian.com/
