Los Angeles (USA) – Hurricane gusts continue to fan the devastating fires in Los Angeles. Tens of thousands of residents are fleeing, leaving behind their belongings, some even their cars. Fearing that the approaching fire could trap them in a traffic jam of refugees.
More than 1,400 firefighters risk their own lives Burnt in the US metropolis. And they apparently have to deal not only with strong winds (up to 160 km/h), but also with a lack of wind Water to fight!
According to the Los Angeles Times, some firefighters fighting the blaze in the upscale Pacific Palisades neighborhood reported over the radio that the fire hydrants in the area would soon be empty.
The flames engulf one house after the next
“Water supply is out”
“The hydrants are down,” said a firefighter. And another even said: “The water supply just stopped.” Rick Caruso, owner of the Palisades Village shopping center, told the newspaper that he had received similar reports from his employees.
“There is no water in the hydrants,” Caruso is quoted as saying. “The firefighters are there and they can’t do anything – whole neighborhoods are burning, houses are burning, businesses are burning. Something like this should never happen.”
Criticism of outdated infrastructure
A ministry spokesman confirmed reports of reduced water flow from fire hydrants, without providing details. They are working on “ensuring the availability of the water supply”. Water tanks would also be used for this. Caruso criticized what he saw as the outdated infrastructure.
The burning Pacific Palisades district – photographed from an airplane
Since no fire-fighting planes can currently take off due to the strong winds on the coast, the firefighters are relying on the water supply from the ground. This is the only way you can try to bring the fires under control.
A huge cloud of dark smoke hangs over the famous Santa Monica Pier with its Ferris wheel and roller coaster
“New fires are breaking out as we speak.”
But the situation is currently not expected to ease. The spokesman of the Fire department, David Acuna, told CNN: “New fires are breaking out as we speak.”
At least, according to the fire department, there is currently no information about seriously injured or even dead people in the disaster in the USA. The evacuation measures appear to have been successful so far; patients from hospitals and retirement homes were also able to be brought to safety from the approaching flames in wheelchairs.
While the residents try to escape the areas in their cars, the forests burn next to them
More than 100,000 people affected by evacuation
More and more people are having to flee the fires near Los Angeles. More than 52,000 Passadena residents have already received evacuation orders, and over 46,000 have been warned to prepare to flee.
In addition, there are more than 30,000 residents of Pacific Palisades who had to flee their homes in the hills northwest of Los Angeles hours ago. And residents of San Flores, a district of Malibu, also received an evacuation order. It is still unclear how many people are affected.
In total, well over 100,000 people are affected.