LOS ANGELES, (TDI): Californians are demanding answers after the devastating wildfires that ravaged Los Angeles, killing at least 11 people and destroying thousands of homes.
A strict curfew was enforced on Friday to curb looting and prevent lawlessness as the city grapples with the aftermath.
US President Joe Biden compared the disaster to a “war scene,” with entire neighborhoods flattened by the flames. Amid the heartache, public anger has been rising over the handling of the crisis, particularly after a series of false evacuation alarms and reports of dry hydrants as firefighters fought the initial fires.
On Friday, Governor Gavin Newsom ordered a “full independent review” of the city’s utilities, calling the lack of water supplies during the early stages of the fires “deeply troubling.” He demanded answers in an open letter, emphasizing the need to understand what went wrong.
Residents like Nicole Perri, whose home in Pacific Palisades was destroyed, expressed frustration. “Officials completely let us down,” she said. James Brown, a retired lawyer from Altadena, shared similar sentiments, stating, “I don’t think the officials were prepared at all.”
Late on Friday, a flare-up of the fire prompted new mandatory evacuations in affluent neighborhoods, including areas near the Getty Center. The iconic museum, constructed with fire-resistant materials, holds a collection of 125,000 artworks.
Fears of looting have led to the implementation of a curfew from sunset to sunrise in evacuated areas. So far, around two dozen arrests have been made. The Los Angeles Police Department has warned that violators face up to six months in prison or a $1,000 fine. The National Guard has been deployed to assist with law enforcement.
Wildfires Cause Widespread Destruction
The fires have now consumed over 37,000 acres (15,000 hectares) and destroyed around 10,000 buildings. The Los Angeles County medical examiner’s office confirmed the death toll had risen to 11 on Friday.
Biden, who received a briefing on the fires, described the scene as “reminding me of a war zone, where certain targets were bombarded.” Winds calmed on Friday, giving firefighters a temporary reprieve as they battled the blazes for the fourth consecutive day.
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Firefighters reported progress on the largest fire in Pacific Palisades and Malibu, with eight percent of the perimeter contained. “Braveheart” actor Mel Gibson revealed that his Malibu home had burned down, calling the loss “devastating.”
In Altadena, the Eaton Fire was three percent contained, while another fire near the celebrity enclave of Hidden Hills was 50 percent contained. However, emergency chiefs warned that the situation remained dangerous, with winds expected to intensify again in the coming days.
Political Blame Game and Climate Change
The cause of the fires is still under investigation, but both political figures and experts have weighed in on the issue. Biden took a subtle jab at incoming President Donald Trump, who has spread misinformation about the fires. “You’re going to have a lot of demagogues trying to take advantage of it,” Biden said.
Governor Newsom, who has faced criticism from Trump, invited the president-elect to visit Los Angeles and view the devastation firsthand. “We must not politicize human tragedy or spread disinformation,” Newsom said.
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While wildfires occur naturally, scientists warn that human-caused climate change is making conditions more extreme, with recent years of drought providing ample fuel for the fires.
False Evacuation Alerts and Funding Cuts
Emergency officials apologized after millions of residents received false evacuation alerts on their phones, causing widespread panic. Kevin McGowan, director of the Los Angeles County Office of Emergency Management, expressed regret, saying, “I can’t express enough how sorry I am.”
Los Angeles Fire Chief Kristin Crowley attributed the department’s slow response to funding cuts, saying the fire service has been “understaffed” and “under-resourced” in recent years.
