USA Fire danger in L.A. remains - strong winds expected
The battle of thousands of firefighters against the fires in the Los Angeles area has contained some fires - but the danger is far from over. According to the weather service in Southern California, the dreaded Santa Ana winds could return on Monday. These strong foehn winds and the very dry vegetation favor the rapid and unpredictable spread of existing and new fires. According to the Los Angeles Times, fire department spokesman Colin Noyes said with regard to the weather forecast for the coming week that firefighters would continue to "aggressively" tackle the fires every day.
18.01.2025, 07:24
18.01.2025, 07:25
SDA
Cooler temperatures and decreasing winds had come to the rescue of emergency crews in recent days. The "Eaton" fire near Pasadena is now 65 percent under control, the "Palisades" fire on the western edge of Los Angeles 39 percent. According to initial estimates, more than 12,000 buildings have been destroyed or damaged in the region. The number of confirmed deaths has risen to 27 and some people are still missing.
More returnees
Ten days after the outbreak of the wildfires, residents were able to return to some of the affected areas for the first time. More than 11,000 people have regained access to areas that were previously closed due to the Palisades fire, reported KABC. Police officers and the National Guard checked to ensure that only authorized residents were allowed through. This was to prevent possible looting and break-ins.
Many burnt areas are still closed. The authorities referred to toxic substances in the fire debris, among other things. The search for possible victims in the disaster zone continues. In addition, the condition of the destroyed or damaged buildings must be checked.
Measures against price gouging
The Californian Attorney General Rob Bonta announced that he would take rigorous action against price gouging. He has sent more than 200 warning letters to hotels, landlords and homeowners accused of price gouging, reported the Los Angeles Times. Meanwhile, Californian Governor Gavin Newsom issued a decree against evictions if tenants offer shelter to those in need during the fire disaster.
Postponed trophy gala takes place
The Critics Choice Awards have been postponed twice due to the fire crisis. Now the presenters of the prestigious critics' awards have set a new date. The gala is to take place on February 7 in Santa Monica. It had originally been scheduled for January 12. With almost 600 members, the Critics Choice Association (CCA) is the largest critics' association for film and television in the USA and Canada.
