Los Angeles is burning: 180 thousand without electricity, 40 thousand displaced, a state of emergency declared

One month after the huge fire in December, Los Angeles is burning again and the authorities declare it state of emergency. More than 500 hectares of land in the area inhabited by Hollywood stars between Santa Monica and Malibu have already gone up in flames, with the flames advancing under a whipping wind that prevents helicopters from putting out the fires. Over 40 thousand people have been displaced. Gov. Gavin Newsom said rescue teams were already on alert but that “we are still far from being out of danger“. Mayor Karen Bass interrupted her trip and is returning to the city. More than 180 thousand people are without electricity.

The fire emergency follows that of December, which forced many VIPs, including the singer Dear, to leave their villa. A second fire broke out west of the ‘City of Angels’ while the Eaton fire in Altadena, as CNN reports, forced the need for evacuations. Fire crews are trying to put out the Eaton flames but there are many difficulties related to the extreme winds that prevent the use of aircraft, as explained by city spokeswoman Lisa Derderian.

Meanwhile, the administration of US President Joe Biden has offered federal resources and approved it emergency aid to support affected areas in Los Angeles from a fire that is raging out of control, fueled by strong winds, and which has forced the evacuation of thousands of people. “I am frequently briefed on the fires in West Los Angeles. My team and I are in communication with state and local officials and have offered all federal assistance needed to contain the terrible fires in the Pacific Palisades,” Biden said in a statement. communicated.

Additionally, the White House said, the Federal Emergency Agency FEMA has approved an initial grant for thefire assistance which will help the State of California pay the most immediate costs of fighting the flames. This evening, Biden had a phone call with the FEMA administrator assigned to the affected area, Bob Fenton, to learn the details of the fires that spread extremely quickly, due to particularly strong winds in the area, and are affecting a region protected woodland, but surrounded by homes, mostly of wealthy families.

In a few hours, the fire grew from 200 acres in the morning to almost 3,000 in the afternoon, forcing tens of thousands of people to evacuate, setting up shelters and forcing firefighters to fight the flames within inhabited areas.

Experts consulted by the Los Angeles Times believe the worst of this devastating fire is yet to come, while state media have reported the deployment of firefighting planes. Biden had already planned a trip to Santa Monica, near the fire area, so if he doesn’t change his plans, tomorrow he will go to the places devastated by the fire that is affecting an area of ​​Los Angeles county, where almost 10 million people live.