The Los Angeles fires have taken a catastrophic turn and as of Sunday, and the number of fatalities has risen to 16, of which eleven are due to Eaton Fire and five from the Palisades Fire zone. According to officials the most destructive and the largest fire which is called the Palisades Fire, has Brentwood and Bel Air under evacuation orders.
Situation Overview of Los Angeles
The amount of engulfed land stands at 23,600 acres. The Eaton Fire stood at 14,000 acres. The aforementioned fires are a part of over a decade worth of devastating wildfires, resulting in the destruction of more than 12,000 business structures and residential spaces among other assets.
The damaging winds, coupled with dry weather, that the Southern California has seen recently are to blame. Most of Los Angeles has gone through a makeover resulting in extensive demolitions of neighborhoods alongside the loss of notable landmarks such as the art base Getty Center
Evacuations and Damage of Los Angeles
Evacuation orders have displaced around 1,53,000 residents while 57,000 buildings and structures remain under risk. Authorities expect that close to 1,80,000 people have been warned of evacuation due to the unpredictability of the fires. As a result of the evacuations, many residents have had to pack their essential belongings and leave their residences for safety at a moment’s notice.
The economic damage caused by these wildfires is said to be jaw dropping. Updates suggest that such damages may be within the bracket of 135 and 150 Billion Dollars, this would likely classify the scale as one of the most unfathomable damages in US history.
Response Efforts
To ensure effective fire containment, firefighters remain stationed on site while aerial units remain on standby to drop water and fire retardants. Ground units also joined efforts using hoses and hand tools. Resources have been borrowed from bordering countries, such as Canada, by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, ensuring maximum efficacy. As it stands, the deployment of over 5,000 firefighters is currently ongoing with the aim to cover as many battle zones as possible.
Local authorities are working actively to aid displaced residents and animals who have been impacted by the fires. They are coordinating with volunteers who are assisting in delivering clothes and food at local shelters, as well as with animal shelters and rescue organizations who are helping out with livestock and pets. Community centers were also opened to provide refuge to the ones who have lost their homes during the fire.
Leadership Challenges
Governor Gavin Newsom is under fire as resources are not managed properly in the fire crisis in Los Angeles. The situation has gotten so bad that Los Angeles Fire Chief Kristin Crowley has lashed out at city officials, claiming they have access to only a meagre water supply and ample funding for firefighting is not provided.
Los Angeles Mayor Bass has promised to analyze LA’s emergency plan after the fires are more close to control. She remarked “Once the fires are out, let us do another deep dive “, which reverberates the intention of rolling out an evaluation exercise for the crisis at hand while the sentiment about what needs to be done in future. However this commitment hasn’t calmed discontent from the public which has sought for her resignation and generated signatures for a petition in the excess of 76,000.
One also cannot ignore the economic component of this crisis. Chief Crowley emphasized how the fire department was not able to adequately prepare for or quickly extinguish wildfires due to budget cuts that amounted to $17.6 million. Such economic cuts have led to a dramatic difference in the resources and number of firefighters available as compared to 2010, at which point demand for such services had only started to double.
In the face of some of these contentious issues, Bass defended her own performance on the issue of budget cuts by averring that quite a number of them would not have made a lot of difference to the current emergency on the ground.
Adding insult to injury is the response of Governor Newsom, which is mostly criticized by political opponents where Governor Newsom is accused of not been able to obtain enough water for firefighting activities to commence.
Newsom has called for a probe into the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, wherein as per news reports, the fire hydrants were operated in conditions of low water pressure. This investigation attempts to shed more light on how these catastrophic failures arose, during an unprecedented wildfire season in California.
These wildfires in Los Angeles, raises the bigger matter of governance and resources versus public safety and what the implications are at a local level. These events as they unfold, are likely to influence how policies are made and decisions taken in California in future as adequate measures are taken to avert the occurrence of such unprecedented events in the times to come.
Community Resilience
Other than the rescue efforts, the communities have fared quite well during the crisis. Non-profit organizations have joined efforts, bringing appropriate resources such as food, clothing and various items to the needy. People who have been forced out of their houses have also been spotted at local race courses, being turned into temporary shelters, sorting out the clothes and essentials and thus displaying solidarity in face of a loss.
The reports about looting in the deserted areas compelled the Police to order a curfew during the night and set up checkpoints in order to maintain control. Unfortunately, these efforts have resulted in other forms of annoyance as this delayed residents from returning to their houses and inspecting the damage sustained.
Conclusion
The Los Angeles wildfires perfectly encapsulate and explain the severity of the threat, climate change and extreme weather conditions pose. While the fires continue to burn and efforts are still being taken to assist the few affected, this catastrophe will undeniably serve as a point of reference for the future not just in regard to the community but the environment. The landscape of Los Angeles has become a little uncertain, and the residents are advised to keep track of the evacuation orders and other relevant safety measures, as the complex fires rage on.
