California Fires Won't Stop: Los Angeles Back in Flames
The "Hughes" fire burns the hills north of Los Angeles: 50 evacuated, highway closed and 4 firefighters in action
California Fires Won't Stop: Los Angeles Back in Flames
A devastating wildfire, dubbed the “Hughes,” is burning the hills and mountains near Castaic Lake, about 60 kilometers north of Los Angeles. The fire, which broke out Wednesday morning around 11 a.m. (20 p.m. EDT), has already forced more than 50 people to flee their homes, with 31 residents under evacuation orders and another 23 under evacuation advisories.
The rapid and devastating expansion
The flames, fueled by the Santa Ana winds blowing at 60-70 kilometers per hour, spread rapidly, covering an area of more than 32 square kilometers in just six hours, theequivalent to a football field burning every 2-3 seconds.
The affected area, mostly hilly and not densely populated, is now covered by a thick blanket of smoke. Despite the gravity of the situation, No damage to homes or structures has been reported at this time, as reported by Anthony Marrone, chief of the Los Angeles County Fire Department.
Massive interventions and obstacles to traffic
More than 4000 firefighters are working non-stop to put out the fire, using a combination of air and ground interventions. Thanks to more favorable weather conditions than two weeks ago, helicopters are able to carry out water drops even at night, as Captain Sheila Kelliher of the Fire Department explained.
Highway 5, which connects Northern and Southern California, was closed in both directions, causing disruption to traffic in the state. In addition, 500 inmates had to be evacuated from a penitentiary near the Castaic Lake area.
The Causes and Prospects for Help from the Federal Government
The fire "Hughes” is the latest in a series of devastating fires that have hit California in recent weeks, including those in Pacific Palisades and Altadena which left 27 deadThese fires were triggered and fueled by drought and Santa Ana winds, typical of the season, which will continue to blow at least until Friday.
The weather forecast calls for rain on Saturday, which could finally put an end to the three weeks of hell that the residents of Los Angeles have been subjected to. However, the emergency has already had a significant impact, so much so that it has attracted theattention of US President Donald Trump, which he announced possible budget changes to address the crisis.
In addition to specifying how serious the situation caused by the current emergency is, President Trump reiterated his thoughts on the management of the fires by the governor, Democrat Gavin Newsom. The latter has in fact been criticized by the new president for his management of the emergency and for the waste of water. «I will not give California any funds until they start using the water they have available.", Trump specified.
A tribute to those who have provided and continue to provide support and assistance
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences stated that the next Oscar night, scheduled for March 2, will be dedicated to the city of Los Angeles and to all those who risked their lives to fight the fires.
With flames still out of control and thousands displaced, these fires remain one of the most serious emergencies in recent California history.
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