Stronger winds are expected in fire-ravaged LA

Weaker winds have on Friday helped the firefighters in Los Angeles who tried to put out the devastating fires – but the calm is expected to be short-lived.

Since the fires broke out on Tuesday, many people have seen their homes burn on television. At least 10,000 buildings have been destroyed in the five fires that are still raging, according to the local fire department.

During Friday, weaker winds made it easier for the fire brigade, but only two percent of the two largest fires are under control. Other fires are fully or partially under control.

Stronger winds are expected to return during the weekend.

Authorities have blamed the strong winds and far-reaching drought as the cause of the spread, but political criticism is bubbling from several quarters. On Friday, California Governor Gavin Newsom ordered an investigation into why a large water reservoir was out of service and some fire hydrants were dry.

– When a firefighter arrives at a hydrant, we expect that there will be water, says Los Angeles fire chief Kristin Crowley, who has also criticized cuts within the fire department.

So far, eleven people have been confirmed dead in the historically devastating fires, according to a Los Angeles medical examiner. At the same time, 180,000 people have received an evacuation order.

The biggest fire is raging in the Pacific Palisades area, which is home to millionaires and celebrities. The authorities have not yet published calculations of the financial losses, but according to the forecasting company Accuweather, it is up to 150 billion dollars, corresponding to almost 1,700 billion kroner.