USA "Hellscape" in L.A.: 12,000 houses burnt to the ground
The death toll in the catastrophic fires around Los Angeles has risen to at least eleven. However, the authorities fear that the number could rise further as soon as investigators can safely reach the partially devastated areas.
11.01.2025, 06:16
SDA
Three fires were still out of control, including the particularly fierce "Palisades Fire" in the Pacific Palisades district. The fire department extended the evacuation order there to other areas in the early morning. Los Angeles County declared a local health emergency shortly beforehand due to the dangerous smoke development, as reported by the television station CNN.
Situation remains dangerous
Although the firefighting work made progress thanks to a brief drop in winds, weather experts are expecting stronger gusts again this weekend. "The situation is still very dangerous", said Deanne Criswell, head of the US Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Only the Hurst Fire and the Lidia Fire have been largely contained so far, while the Kenneth Fire is now 50 percent contained, according to Cal Fire.
The authority estimates that more than 12,000 buildings have already been destroyed or damaged by the fires. Around 58,000 more are at risk. Since Tuesday, around 15,000 hectares of land have gone up in flames. An evacuation order is still in place for more than 100,000 residents, and tens of thousands of other people have been warned.
Reproaches, but also good news
Meanwhile, the head of the Los Angeles Fire Department, Kristin Crowley, made serious accusations against the city administration. She complained to CNN that the 17 million dollar (16.5 million euro) cut to the fire department's budget was now having a negative impact on her agency's ability to fight the fires. "We can no longer maintain the current situation. We don't have enough firefighters". On Friday afternoon (local time), a meeting with Mayor Karen Bass is said to have taken place as a result.
But there was also good news for some: The house of US actor and avowed climate denier James Woods is still standing after all - after he was convinced that it had not survived the blaze. "A miracle has happened", wrote the twice Oscar-nominated film star ("Once Upon a Time in America") in a post on the online platform X.
"We managed to get to our property and our house, which we were told was lost forever, is still standing," he wrote. He also posted a video of the completely burnt area around his villa in the particularly affected district of Pacific Palisades and spoke of a "hellish landscape".
At the same time, Woods had claimed on social media just a few days ago that the fires had nothing to do with climate change and instead blamed California Governor Gavin Newsom and Mayor Bass, both Democrats, for the disaster.
Future US President Trump also railed against the governor a few days ago. Newsom has now invited the Republican to see the extent of the forest fires in Los Angeles in person. The Democrat wrote in a letter published on X that Trump could see the devastation with his own eyes, thank the heroic firefighters and meet affected citizens.
Investigation into causes continues
Meanwhile, thousands of firefighters continue to fight tirelessly against the flames. The causes of the fires are still unclear. "If it turns out that any of the fires were started deliberately, those responsible will be arrested, prosecuted and punished to the full extent of the law," said Dominic Choi from the police department. In addition to arson, faulty power lines are being investigated as a possible cause.
Insurance problems exacerbate the situation
According to analysts, the fires could become the costliest conflagration in US history. California's insurance commissioner Ricardo Lara called for insurance benefits to be paid out quickly to those affected. Some major providers had reportedly already restricted or withdrawn insurance cover in particularly high-risk areas in the spring, which could leave many homeowners unprotected.
