A series of devastating wildfires in Los Angeles has claimed at least 11 lives over the past four days, with fierce winds intensifying the crisis. As winds began to weaken on Friday, criticism of emergency services and the overall management of the natural disaster grew louder.
The authorities have imposed a strict curfew from 6 PM to 6 AM in the evacuated areas of Pacific Palisades and Altadena, which have borne the brunt of the fires. The move aims to curb looting following the evacuations.
California Governor Gavin Newsom has ordered a “comprehensive independent investigation” into the water distribution services, which were criticized for failing to maintain pressure in hydrants during the initial stages of the disaster. Newsom called these lapses “deeply disturbing.”
“We need answers to understand what happened,” he stated in an open letter.
The fires, which have ravaged large parts of Los Angeles, have destroyed over 10,000 buildings and homes, leaving more than 14,000 hectares of land scorched. President Joe Biden likened the destruction to scenes from a war zone.
Currently, five fires are still active, with the largest consuming more than 8,000 hectares near Malibu and Pacific Palisades. Although the winds have subsided, new evacuation orders have been issued for the Pacific Palisades area.
Din Krisvel from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) stated that the situation remains “very dangerous.”
Before the curfew was enacted and law enforcement deployed to prevent looting, residents organized to protect whatever was left of their homes and neighborhoods.
