The Pentagon has deployed a military aircraft to assist Los Angeles firefighters in battling the massive wildfires that have engulfed the city.
At least five people have been confirmed dead. Following a state of emergency declared for Los Angeles, President Joe Biden issued a major disaster declaration for California and ordered additional federal assistance.
More than 180,000 people have been ordered to evacuate, including residents of Hollywood, with another 200,000 being warned they must leave their homes. Numerous film and entertainment stars have lost their homes due to the fires.
“Sunset Boulevard,” the famous street in West Hollywood, has been devastated as the fires destroyed it. Local media reports indicate that residents witnessed banks, bars, and supermarkets that had been local staples for decades being completely destroyed.
Meanwhile, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass is at the center of controversy, having been abroad in Ghana while the fires erupted, returning only on Wednesday. However, the polemics and criticism from residents are mainly focused on her decision—amid a city prone to wildfires—to cut funding from the Fire Department by $17.6 million and allocate those funds to homeless services.
As the fire continues to rage uncontrollably in the western part of Los Angeles, the home of Vice President Kamala Harris in Brentwood has also been placed under an evacuation order.
