Santa Ana winds fuel Los Angeles fires… and fears of looting and rising prices
Wildfires gutted the homes of the rich and famous in Los Angeles
The fire spread over 60 miles… 40 thousand acres burned… and the losses amounted to 150 billion dollars.
Wildfires that have been raging in Los Angeles since Tuesday spread eastward on Friday, now reaching the affluent neighborhoods of Brentwood and Encino, where many celebrities live.
The American CBS network quoted officials as saying that the fires across the Los Angeles area killed at least 16 people, destroyed more than 12,000 buildings, burned more than 60 square miles, and displaced thousands of people.
The network reported that nearly a week after wildfires broke out across Los Angeles, about 40,000 acres are still burning, and the scope of the disaster has become shockingly clear.
According to the American CNN network, the Palisades fires burned 23,654 acres and were 11% contained, the Eaton fire burned 14,117 acres and were 15% contained, and the Kenneth fire burned 1,052 acres. It was 90% contained, and the Hearst fire burned 799 acres. 76% containment. The cost of the disaster is estimated at $150 billion.
According to the American magazine “Newsweek”, the Palisades Fire, the largest of four currently active fires in the county, destroyed a large portion of this neighborhood and caused the death of two people, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire).
By Sunday morning, the fire was only 11 percent contained, and the escalation means new neighborhoods and properties in the area are at risk.
By Sunday morning, the fires had covered 23,654 acres in Pacific Palisades, Topanga State Park and Tuna Canyon. The fire destroyed 513 buildings and damaged 63 others.
Celebrity victims
Among the victims who lost their homes in the fire were a number of celebrities, including singer, model, and actress Paris Hilton, actor Billy Crystal, and actor Miles Teller.
The list of celebrities who live in Brentwood and Encino includes Lakers basketball star LeBron James, who lives with his family in a Brentwood mansion worth $23 million.
Vice President Kamala Harris and her husband, attorney Doug Emhoff, own a home in Brentwood within the evacuation order area, and no one was home when the evacuation order was issued last Tuesday.
Actor and former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger lives in a six-acre mansion in Brentwood.
Schwarzenegger’s daughter, Katherine, and her husband, actor Chris Pratt, are also believed to live in Brentwood. The couple purchased a property on North Carmelina Street, within the evacuation order area, for $12.5 million in 2022.
Politician Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and his wife, actress Cheryl Hines, in their $6.2 million Brentwood mansion.
Singer Gwen Stefani also lives in a $14 million mansion in Encino. Singer Meghan Trainor owns a $17 million mansion in Encino.
Los Angeles County residents affected by wildfires should expect more power outages for public safety reasons, with strong Santa Ana winds expected, officials said.
Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony C. Marrone explained that power outages are critical to preventing new fires from breaking out.
As of Saturday afternoon, more than 27,000 customers were affected by power outages for public safety reasons. Santa Ana winds, combined with dry conditions, have created the perfect storm for the fires to spread since they broke out last Tuesday.
California Governor Gavin Newsom announced that he had doubled the number of California National Guard members assigned to help extinguish the wildfires in Los Angeles.
About 1,680 service members have been deployed to the area, the governor’s office said. About 1,000 members of local law enforcement help control traffic, while the remaining 680 service members help put out wildfires, according to officials.
16 thousand affected people need aid
The White House announced that more than 16,000 people had registered to receive assistance from the Federal Emergency Administration, as of the day before Saturday, amid the wildfires in Los Angeles.
Eligible survivors can apply for assistance in obtaining essential items, such as food and water
Baby formula, breastfeeding supplies, medications and other emergency supplies.
On Saturday, California Attorney General Rob Bonta warned residents against engaging in any activity related to raising prices, looting, and fraud amid the ongoing response to the wildfires raging in Los Angeles, stressing that they are violating the law and will be held accountable.
Bonta said businesses and landlords should not raise prices by more than 10%, and anything excessive is illegal and punishable by up to a year in prison and fines, warning: “California has laws to protect people who suffer a tragedy.”
Los Angeles Police said that 24 people were arrested inside the evacuation zones, while the National Guard was called in to reinforce security. Los Angeles County Police Chief Robert Luna said last Friday that a curfew had been imposed in all mandatory evacuation zones in an attempt to deter thieves.
California’s governor invited President-elect Donald Trump to visit the state to inspect the devastation caused by the deadly wildfires in Los Angeles.
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