Los Angeles is affected by one of the worst natural incidents in its history: the tragic fires They have already caused the death of five people, burned more than 11,000 hectares, destroyed 1,000 structures and forced evacuate to more than 130,000 people. What is happening in California is not just another catastrophe and, according to UCLA researcher Daniel Swain, “it has the potential to be the Costliest wildfire in American history“.
In detail, the fire started on January 7 and, according to witnesses, it began in an area of low humidity and, later, due to the winds called “Saint Anne“, spread throughout the area. The surprise of the authorities is even greater since, generally, the fire season in California begins in June and lasts until October.
The costliest forest fire in history
The UCLA researcher stated that the entire situation “taken together” has the potential to be the largest and “costliest” in US history. In detail, what puzzles experts is that the incident impacts the country in the middle of winter and after the fire season that runs from May/June to October.
Regarding the scenario that Los Angeles is experiencing, the Californian governor, Democrat Gavin Newsom, stated “There is no longer a season of fire, there is a year of fire“.
The situation is worsening day by day as a result of the force of the “Santa Ana” winds. “The winds will act as a ‘atmospheric dryer’, increasing the risk of fire to extreme levels in more densely populated areas,” Swain explained.
The droughts that the American State is experiencing also explain a large part of the catastrophe. The last few weeks have been unusually dry (and very warm) and Southern California is full of grasses and shrubs ready to be fed to the flames. “The south of California has not received more than 0.25 cm of rain since Maywhich translates into a high risk of fires,” reported the UCLA researcher.
There are already five deaths from the fires in California
The tragedy is steeped in uncertainty as the damage is assessed. More deaths are expected because it is six wind-driven fires burning in Los Angeles County they remain largely uncontained. The most recent is the Sunset Fire in the Hollywood Hills, where also The corresponding evacuations were ordered.
Experts have not yet been able to determine The causes of the fire and the speed of its spread make containment difficult, according to the Fox News channel.. The fire was described as the most destructive in the history of Los Angeles: the Palisades fire that is burning the coastal area between Malibu and Santa Monicahas already spread to more than 6,300 hectares without any containment.
President Joe Biden declared the affected areas “catastrophic”
The president of the United States, Joe Biden, declared the places affected by the fires a “catastrophic zone.” This will allow the communities and survivors receive immediately federal funds to help rebuild, the White House announced. In addition, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) promised the affected state financial assistance for fighting the fires.
The support of the North American State also provides individual assistance programs for citizens and companies. These include aid such as emergency shelter and money for destroyed property, according to Governor Newsom. “President Biden’s quick action is a huge relief for California“Newsom wrote on his website.
Source: Ambito
I am an author and journalist who has worked in the entertainment industry for over a decade. I currently work as a news editor at a major news website, and my focus is on covering the latest trends in entertainment. I also write occasional pieces for other outlets, and have authored two books about the entertainment industry.
