On Friday, Californians demanded answers regarding the person who was responsible for vast devastation caused by the raging Los Angeles wildfires, as a mandatory curfew was enforced to looting and lawlessness.
At least 11 people lost their lives as flames ripped through neighborhoods, destroying thousands of homes in a disaster that US President Joe Biden compared to a “war scene.”
As Los Angeles residents cope with the devastating aftermath, outrage is growing over the officials’ readiness and response to the disaster, with criticism focused on the false evacuation alerts and the failure of hydrants to supply water to firefighters during the initial stages of the blaze.
On Friday, Governor Gavin Newsom ordered a “full independent review” of the city’s utilities, describing the lack of water supplies during the initial fires as “deeply troubling.”
We need answers to how that happened,” he wrote in an open letter.
Residents like Nicole Perri, whose home in the upscale Pacific Palisades burnt down, told AFP that officials “completely let us down.”
“They let us, the ordinary people, burn,” added Nicholas Norman, across the city in Altadena.
A sudden flare-up on Friday led to new mandatory evacuations in upscale neighborhoods on the fire’s eastern side, including the renowned Getty Center.
The acclaimed museum, built at a cost of $1 billion and constructed partly of fire-resistant travertine stone, boasts 125,000 artworks.
Meanwhile, as fears of looting grew, a sunset-to-sunrise curfew took effect in evacuated areas. Approximately two dozen arrests have already been made across Los Angeles, where some residents have organized street patrols and kept armed watch over their own houses.
“If we see you in these areas, you will be subject to arrest,” Los Angeles Police Department chief Jim McDonnell said. He said, violators face up to six months in prison or $1,000 fines.
The National Guard has been deployed to support law enforcement.
Five separate fires have so far burned more than 37,000 acres (15,000 hectares), destroying around 10,000 buildings, California’s fire agency reported.
The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed an additional fatality on Friday, bringing the overall death toll so far to 11.
“It reminded me of more of a war scene, where you had certain targets that were bombarded,” said Biden, as he received a briefing on the fires at the White House.
Winds calmed Friday, providing a much-needed if fleeting window of opportunity for firefighters battling blazes around the clock for a fourth consecutive day.
Firefighters reported progress at the largest blaze in Pacific Palisades and Malibu, stating they were gaining control, with eight percent of the fire’s perimeter now contained.
“Braveheart” actor Mel Gibson was the latest celebrity to reveal his Malibu home had burned down, telling NewsNation the loss was “devastating.”
Meanwhile, the Eaton Fire in the Altadena area was three per cent contained, with fire chief Jason Schillinger reporting “significant progress” in subduing the blaze.
A third fire, which erupted near the affluent Hidden Hills area, home to celebrities like Kim Kardashian, was 50% contained. However, emergency officials cautioned that the situation remains “very dangerous” and the respite from strong winds that fueled the fire is temporary.
“The winds have died down today, but… are going to increase again in the coming days,” said Deanne Criswell, administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Authorities have said it was too early to know the cause of the blazes.
Biden subtly criticized Donald Trump, accusing him of spreading false information about the wildfires, which then spread like wildfire on social media.
“You’re going to have a lot of agitators out there trying to take advantage of it,” Biden said of the fires.
Governor Newsom, who has been blamed for the disaster by the president-elect, invited Trump to visit Los Angeles and survey the devastation with him.
In the spirit of this great country, we must not politicize human tragedy or spread disinformation from the sidelines,” said Newsom.
Wildfires occur naturally, but scientists say human-caused climate change is altering weather and changing the dynamics of the blazes.
Two wet years in southern California have given way to a very dry one, leaving ample fuel on the ground primed to burn.
Emergency managers apologized for sending false evacuation alerts to millions of mobile phones, causing widespread panic. Kevin McGowan, director of the LA County Office of Emergency Management, expressed regret, saying “I’m deeply sorry.” LA Fire Chief Kristin Crowley attributed the issue to funding cuts, stating her department is “understaffed” and “under-resourced.”
