USA Los Angeles prepares for new fires
The worst seemed to be over for Los Angeles - but the weather forecast is raising concerns about a renewed flare-up of fires in the US West Coast metropolis.
20.01.2025, 03:34
SDA
The weather service has warned of the return of dangerous high winds, which could rekindle the fires that have been painstakingly contained. The "extreme fire weather" is expected to continue from late Monday (local time) until early Tuesday. US President-elect Donald Trump announced that he wanted to see the enormous damage caused by the fires for himself on Friday and promised help.
According to estimates, more than 12,000 buildings in the region have been destroyed or damaged by the wildfires so far. The number of confirmed deaths has risen to 27 and several people are missing.
Progress had been made in fighting the fires over the weekend. The fire department reported successes in the fight against the two fires, which are still burning. Tens of thousands of people were allowed to return to the affected areas after the authorities gave the go-ahead. However, a total of 39,000 people are still affected by evacuation orders.
Gusts of wind cause sparks to fly
The slight easing of the situation is unlikely to last: The weather service wrote on Platform X: "Destructive #SantaAna winds and extreme fire weather expected Monday through Tuesday." Meteorologists are predicting gusts of up to 130 kilometers per hour.
The weather service had previously warned that the wind could cause fires to spread rapidly. This is because the gusts drive sparks through the area, which could start new fires. Another major problem is that extinguishing fires from the air no longer works in strong winds, as has been repeatedly stated since the outbreak of the fires on January 7. The wind disperses the water before it can reach the ground. The very dry vegetation also favors the spread of existing and new fires.
"Pack emergency bags" - threat increases despite progress
Over the past few days, cooler temperatures and decreasing winds have come to the aid of the emergency teams. The "Eaton" fire near the city of Pasadena was 81 percent under control according to authorities, the "Palisades" fire on the western edge of Los Angeles 52 percent.
However, authorities are now once again urging people in the region to take precautions in the event of an emergency. Among other things, residents should pack emergency bags, charge their electronic devices and stay away from trees and power lines.
Meanwhile, President-elect Trump has promised to visit Los Angeles. He told supporters in Washington on the eve of his swearing-in ceremony: "I will be traveling there on Friday. We are praying for all of you." He promised to help the affected areas in California rebuild. "We're going to fix it up."
