Wildfires in Los Angeles continue: Firefighters inspect damaged homes
More than 100,000 people are under evacuation orders due to the ongoing wildfires in Los Angeles. Authorities are warning the public that the areas affected by the destruction and danger of the fires are 'not safe.' As the death toll from the fires rises, many parts of the city have suffered significant damage. Fire crews have been inspecting homes damaged by the blazes.
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Local authorities in Los Angeles provided an update on the latest developments regarding the fires during a press conference.
EVACUATION ORDERS FOR 105 THOUSAND CITIZENS
LA County Sheriff Robert Luna shared information that 105,000 city residents are still under evacuation orders due to the Palisades and Eaton fires, while 87,000 residents remain under evacuation warnings.
Luna stated that they understand how difficult it is for residents to stay away from their homes, but emphasized that the fire zones are still not safe, saying, "Some of these areas literally look like war zones. There are downed power poles, electrical wires on the ground, and fires that are still smoldering; it is definitely not safe."
Sharing that 29 people have been detained so far due to the fires, Luna said that 4 of them violated the curfew, while others were involved in looting and theft, including some who posed as firefighters.
ADVICE TO BE PATIENT
LA City Fire Chief Kristin Crowley also advised city residents fleeing the fire to be patient, warning that conditions in the fire zone still pose a threat to returning.
"NO ELECTRICITY, NO WATER"
Crowley stated, "There are still active fires in the Palisades area, and this situation poses an extreme danger to the public. Furthermore, there is no electricity, no water, gas pipes have ruptured, and there are unsafe structures in the area."
Stating that first responders are doing their best to bring the fires under control and allow people to return to their homes, Crowley shared that the ongoing Palisades fire is 11 percent contained, the Eaton fire is 27 percent contained, and the Hurst and Kenneth fires are 90 percent contained.
STATEMENT FROM TRUMP
At the press conference, LA Mayor Karen Bass stated that, contrary to claims, there is no hostility or lack of communication between the Democratic city administration and President-elect Republican Donald Trump, noting that they have been in contact with representatives of the incoming administration.
Pointing out that there has been no direct conversation with Trump, Bass said, "I participated in a meeting with the county administrator and the governor for the president-elect to come to LA, and we spoke directly with a representative of the new administration. It was a positive conversation."
LA County Supervisor Kathryn Barger shared that she had also sent a separate invitation letter to Trump to "see the devastation caused by these wildfires firsthand" and to meet with the affected residents.
While more than 37,000 acres have been reduced to ash in the fires, city officials announced that more than 12,000 buildings have been damaged so far, and 57,000 more structures are at risk of fire.
FIRE CREWS INSPECT DAMAGED HOMES
On the 5th day of the ongoing wildfires in Los Angeles, California, the destruction in residential areas was captured on camera.
