Los Angeles – The wild blaze of Los Angeles that has been raging for the last several days and has already claimed at least 24 lives is continuing unabated, calling into focus environmental concerns across the globe.
More than 150,000 residents have already been displaced and a large number of houses and infrastructure has been devastated in this fire.
While the real cause of the fire is yet to be determined, firefighters are continuously engaged in a relentless battle against the raging fire across Los Angeles.
It is being suspected that the Palisades Fire is an outcome of the New Years’ eve fire caused by firecrackers, which was brought under control in the area.
However the authorities believe that there must have been some remnants of the New Year fire which turned into the Palisades Fire bringing destruction and misery across Los Angeles. It is also being suspected that the weather conditions and some of the environmental factors present in Los Angeles led to the rapid spread of the blaze.
It is to be mentioned that Los Angeles had been facing drought-like conditions over the last several months and most of the plants and trees in the area were in such a condition that they quickly caught fire and supported its spread. .
According to the wildlife officials, lack of rain over the last couple of months had created a situation which was ripe for the spread of wildfires.
Besides, the seasonal Santa Ana winds, which are an annual feature of this region, helped in quick spread of the fire across the wild area. According to the meteorological Department, speeds of up to 70 MPH were recorded which helped in spreading the fire far and wide.
The Los Angeles wildfire has already left a trail of destruction and has even claimed human lives.
Dalyce Curry, 95, known for her role in The Blues Brothers, became the latest victim of the wildfire on Monday as her house in Altadena caught fire. Thousands others have been displaced and most of them are seeking refuge in the shelters set up by the US government.
As for the rough estimates this wildfire has caused losses of up to $250 billion and these are still counting. Houses have been destroyed and the infrastructure has been significantly impacted by the blaze.
The smoke being emitted from this wildfire has also led to serious health and respiratory issues amongst the local population. The health authorities have already issued an advisory asking the people to stay indoors and avoid venturing out in the open.
The US government has initiated a disaster response team to rescue and save the residence in Los Angeles.
Evacuation plans have been put in place in areas where the blaze is threatening humans. The government has also set up special shelter homes where basic amenities are being provided to those who have been displaced due to the wildfires. These shelter homes are providing food, water and medical facilities to the people.
The authorities have pushed into service more than 14,000 firefighters who are being supported by 84 aircrafts.
These firefighters and aircraft are engaged in fighting the blaze. Authorities from the nearby states of Arizona and Nevada have also sent in aid to Los Angeles. Meanwhile, Mexico and Canada have also mobilized support for those affected by the wildfire.
The firefighters have stated that strong winds that are blowing in the region are making their job tougher as bringing down the fire continues to be a major challenge for them.
With thousands having been displaced from their homes it is being anticipated that there can be burglaries and robberies in the affected areas. To deal with this situation the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) has increased patrolling in the affected areas. Already complaints of theft have been reported in some of these areas which are being investigated by the department.
Meanwhile, it is being lamented that the local electricity authorities had been unable to shut down the power of the factory areas which could have brought down the risk of further spread of wildfire.
In view of the devastation caused by the wildfire the authorities are already contemplating use of fire resistant building material in the area which is more prone to wildfires.
Environmentalists are raising the issue of climate change and blaming the Los Angeles wildfire on the changing weather conditions. They are also calling for concentrated efforts to deal with global warming being caused due to the reckless human activity across the globe.
Meanwhile, the authorities are claiming that as of now they are focused on bringing down the blaze and preventing loss of property and life in the affected areas. Providing shelter and safety to those who have been displaced in the wildfire is also on the top priority of the authorities.
The complete damage that has been caused by the fire will only be assessed once the situation is brought under control, the authorities said.
