Control Over Devastating Fire in Los Angeles . damage $250 to $275 billion.
Los Angeles ( Web News )
A devastating fire that had been raging in the forests of Los Angeles, California for the past three weeks has finally been brought under control. The fire resulted in the death of 30 people and left thousands homeless. According to global media, the Palisades and Eaton fires in Southern California’s Los Angeles County were the most destructive fires in the history of the second-largest city in the U.S. The fire spread over an area of more than 150 square kilometers, destroying over 10,000 homes, with damages estimated to be in the hundreds of billions of dollars.
The fires, which started in two forested areas, were named the Palisades Fire and Eaton Fire, while other locations were also affected intermittently. California’s firefighting agency, Cal Fire, updated its website on Friday, reporting that both fires have now been completely contained.
According to the statement, evacuation orders had already been issued for local residents, preventing further severe risks from the fires, which had been burning for several days. The fires started on January 7, and although they continued to spread intermittently to other areas, the exact cause has not yet been determined, with investigations ongoing.
A subsequent analysis suggested that human-induced climate change, leading to reduced rainfall, contributed to the drought conditions that made the fire more intense, with powerful Santa Ana winds further fueling the flames. Researchers concluded that global warming increased the likelihood of such fires by about 35%.
The fires in the affluent coastal areas of Malibu, the Palisades, and Altadena in Los Angeles County led to the destruction of thousands of buildings, forcing residents to evacuate their homes. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass issued a statement yesterday, saying that the recovery process has been accelerated. She emphasized that efforts are being made to bring affected individuals back to their homes as soon as possible and to rebuild the affected areas. She also ensured that safety measures were being implemented to make the Palisades area secure for residents to return.
Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell stated that the presence of law enforcement officers in the area would be ten times greater than before the fires. A private meteorological firm, AccuWeather, has estimated the damage at between $250 billion and $275 billion.