An impressive fire forced thousands of people to evacuate this Tuesday, January 7, 2025, from the hills overlooking Los Angeles, which was experiencing violent winds spreading the flames and posing a ” mortal danger ”, according to the authorities.
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The fire broke out late in the morning in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood, populated with multimillion-dollar villas in the mountains northwest of the city. It has already devastated nearly 1,200 hectares. The authorities identify “ many structures already destroyed » explained California Governor Gavin Newsom during a press briefing Tuesday evening.
Around 30,000 people are under evacuation orders, according to authorities. No injuries have been reported at this time. Many residents evacuated in panic, with just a few belongings and their pets. Many found themselves stuck in traffic jams. “ I never thought wind could have such an effect on fire “, Gary told local channel KTLA. This resident of the neighborhood said he saw “ embers dragged 100 meters » in the air.
Firefighters had to clear the roadway with a bulldozer to access the neighborhood. The fire caused a huge cloud of smoke, visible from the entire megacity. The fire broke out at the worst time for Los Angeles, swept by violent gusts.
An abnormally dry winter
Warm Santa Ana winds, typical of the Californian winter, are expected to blow up to 160 km/h in the region this Tuesday and Wednesday, according to the US Weather Service. Enough to spread the flames very quickly and pose a “ mortal danger “.
More than 250 firefighters are currently mobilized, says Kristin Crowley, a Los Angeles fire official. Air assets will probably not be able to intervene during the night.
“ This is expected to be the strongest wind event in this region since 2011 “, warned Daniel Swain, specialist in extreme events at UCLA University. After two very rainy years which reinvigorated the vegetation, southern California suffered “ the driest start to winter on record “. In other words, anything that has grown back abundantly now acts as fuel for the fire.
Scientists regularly point out that climate change is increasing the frequency of extreme weather events. Donald Trumpwhich must succeed Joe Biden in a few days at the White House, threatened in September to cut federal aid usually received by California to fight wildfires.
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