A new wildfire broke out on Wednesday evening in the Hollywood Hills, in the central Los Angeles area. The central part of the city was under threat, firefighters are already struggling with the strongest fire in Los Angeles history, and more than 100,000 people have been ordered to evacuate, writes The New York Times.
As of Wednesday evening, five people had died as a result of the wildfires, more than 100 sq. kilometers had burned, more than 100,000 people were under mandatory evacuation, and hundreds of thousands of consumers were left without electricity.
The largest of the fires—the uncontrolled Palisades fire has already destroyed more than 1,000 structures, becoming the most destructive in Los Angeles history, according to the state fire service Cal Fire.
By 9 p.m. on Wednesday, about 16 million residents of Southern California were under a red flag warning—the highest level of fire-related danger issued by the National Weather Service. The agency reported that “extremely critical” weather conditions caused by strong winds and dryness are expected to subside overnight. But conditions will remain “critically high” at least until Thursday and possibly until Friday, the report said.
Current U.S. President Joe Biden canceled his visit to Italy, arrived in California the day before, and declared a state of major disaster in the state. U.S. President-elect Donald Trump sought those responsible, placing the blame for the fires in California on Governor Gavin Newsom. “One of the best and most beautiful parts of the United States of America is burning to the ground. It’s ashes, and Gavin Newsom should resign. It’s all his fault!!!” wrote Trump on his social network Truth Social.
Photo: The New York Times