Los Angeles turns into a disaster area due to the intensity of the fires with death toll rises and massive destruction

Despite a decrease in winds on Friday, fires continued to spread in Los Angeles, whose sky was covered by thick smoke, as major blazes that have killed at least 11 people remain out of control in this large city in the US state of California.

“This is like the end of the world… This is unimaginable,” Oren Waters told AFP outside his charred home in Altadena, north of Los Angeles.

At least 11 people have died in the fires, according to a new toll from authorities.

Entire parts of the second-largest city in the United States have been destroyed, with more than 10,000 buildings collapsing, according to the California Fire Department.

US President Joe Biden said during a meeting at the White House that the scene resembles a war zone and bombing operations.

AFP journalists flew over Malibu and the Pacific Palisades, where luxury oceanfront resorts were reduced to charred hulks.

“It’s crazy… All these houses are gone,” said helicopter pilot Albert Azouz.

But winds eased on Friday, helping firefighters battle the blazes, with five major fires still active.

“We’re currently seeing a slight decrease (in wind strength), but this will be especially in the afternoon,” meteorologist Mike Wafford told AFP.

He pointed out that the winds will decrease significantly on Saturday until the evening.

However, conditions, with severe drought and winds expected to pick up again, remain worrying.

A new fire broke out Thursday afternoon north of the main Pacific Palisades fire, near the Hidden Hills neighborhood where reality TV star Kim Kardashian lives, but the new blaze was largely contained.

Across the California metropolis, hundreds of thousands have evacuated their homes.

In response to the increasing looting in the affected or evacuated areas, local authorities imposed a curfew in Pacific Palisades and Altadena on Friday from 6:00 pm to 6:00 pm, and military units were deployed.

Before this decision, citizens had started patrols to protect what remained of their neighborhoods.

“I didn’t save my house for some idiot to come and loot it… There’s no way that could happen,” Nicholas Norman told AFP.

“I did a typical American thing: I got my hunting rifle and sat here and turned on a light so they would know there were people here.”

“Let’s be clear, we won’t tolerate looting,” said California Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom.

Victims raise questions and criticize the authorities.

While her mother’s house in Altadena narrowly escaped the flames, unlike neighboring homes, Kalen Astor said, “California is a burning state,” decrying a shortage of firefighters.

She pointed out the need to allocate funds to support fire and earthquake fighting equipment.

Actor Mel Gibson is among those whose homes were destroyed.

He told News Nation he was devastated by the loss of his Malibu home.

The winds, which at times reached speeds of 160 kilometers per hour and carried embers for kilometers, have calmed down slightly.

But they haven’t completely died down, and the hills are suffering from a very severe drought.

Authorities said conditions were still very dangerous.

The cost of these fires could be the highest ever recorded. AccuWeather estimates the damage and losses at between $135 billion and $150 billion.

Although it’s too early to know the source of the fires, there has been criticism of the authorities for their preparedness and response.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Friday called for a “full independent review” of the city’s water services, describing the water shortages and loss of pressure in fire hydrants in the early moments as very concerning.

“We need answers to find out what happened,” he wrote in an open letter.

Fire Chief Kristen Crowley told Fox News affiliate KTTV that firefighters are still short on personnel, resources and funding.

Meanwhile, several evacuation alerts were mistakenly sent to residents’ phones on Thursday and Friday in Los Angeles.

“There is a tremendous level of frustration, anger and fear over the misinformation that was sent through the online alert system throughout Los Angeles County,” Kevin McGowan, director of the Los Angeles County Office of Crisis Management, said at a news conference.

“I cannot express enough how sorry I am,” he added.

On the other hand, the US Federal Aviation Administration announced the opening of an investigation after a drone collided with a water tanker plane and caused damage to it without resulting in any injuries.

the US Federal Aviation Administration warned that anyone flying drones in fire-affected areas – where there are temporary flight restrictions – could face up to a year in prison and a fine of up to $75,000.

Authorities have urged Californians to conserve water because three reservoirs supplying firefighting stations have been emptied due to the firefighting.

US President-elect Donald Trump spread misinformation on his social media network Truth Social by claiming that California is suffering from a water shortage due to Democratic government policies that divert rainwater to protect a species of fish that is not beneficial.

In fact, the majority of water consumed in Los Angeles, which comes from the Colorado River, is used primarily for agriculture.

The fires are affecting the film industry in Hollywood, as filming of several movies and TV shows has been halted, while the Universal Studios theme park in Hollywood has been closed.

The Oscar nominations announcement was postponed to January 19 instead of January 17, as well as the Critics’ Choice Awards ceremony, which was supposed to be held on Sunday.

Sporting events, including a Los Angeles Lakers basketball game, have also been postponed.

The winds currently blowing are known as Santa Ana winds, which are common in California’s fall and winter seasons, but this week, they have reached an intensity not seen since 2011, meteorologists said.

These winds are a nightmare for firefighters because California has had two very wet years that have revived the vegetation that is now drying up due to the dry winter the region is experiencing.

Scientists regularly point out that climate change is increasing the frequency of extreme weather events.