(Dan Tri) - A wildfire has spread rapidly in Los Angeles, destroying many homes and causing traffic congestion. About 30,000 people had to evacuate under huge columns of smoke that covered much of the urban area.
Firefighters battle a fire in Los Angeles, California (Photo: Reuters).
At least 3,000 acres (1,182 hectares) of the Pacific Palisades area, located between the coastal communities of Santa Monica and Malibu, have been burned, according to US officials, who warned of an extremely high risk of wildfires due to strong winds after a long dry spell.
Witnesses said several homes were ablaze and flames nearly destroyed cars as people fled the hills of Topanga Canyon, where the fire spread from there down to the Pacific coast.
"We feel very fortunate that there are no reports of injuries at this point," Los Angeles Fire Department Chief Kristin Crowley said at a news conference, adding that more than 25,000 people living in 10,000 homes were at risk.
Firefighters on the plane scooped water from the sea to extinguish a nearby blaze. Television footage showed flames burning several homes and bulldozers clearing abandoned vehicles from the road to allow rescue vehicles to pass.
US: 30,000 people in Los Angeles evacuated due to terrible wildfire
As the sun sets, towering orange blazes illuminate the hills leading into Topanga Canyon.
The fire scorched some trees on the grounds of the Getty Villa, a museum that houses priceless works of art. But the museum said the collection was safe, largely thanks to preventative efforts such as trimming vegetation around the buildings.
With only one main road leading from the canyon to the coast and only one coastal highway leading to safety, traffic was blocked, forcing people to flee on foot.
Cindy Festa, a resident of Pacific Palisades, said the fire was “very close to cars” when she evacuated the canyon. Many people had abandoned their vehicles on the road.
Before the fire broke out, the US National Weather Service issued its highest level warning of extremely severe wildfire conditions for much of Los Angeles County from January 7-9, with forecast wind gusts of 80-130km/h.
With low humidity and dry vegetation due to lack of rain, conditions are considered "the worst possible for wildfire weather," the National Weather Service's Los Angeles office said on the X platform.
Governor Gavin Newsom, who declared a state of emergency, said the state was sending crews, fire trucks and aircraft to other parts of Southern California due to the risk of widespread wildfires in the area.
"Hopefully we're wrong, but we do expect there to be additional fires burning at the same time," Newsom said at a press conference.
The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) said a second fire, dubbed the Eaton Fire, then broke out about 50 kilometers (31 miles) inland, in the foothills above Pasadena, burning 80 hectares (200 acres).
The strong winds also changed President Joe Biden’s travel plans, forcing Air Force One to stay in Los Angeles. He was scheduled to take a short flight inland to the Coachella Valley to attend a ceremony to declare two new national reserves in California, but the event has been postponed and will be held at the White House at a later date.
“I have offered all federal assistance necessary to help extinguish the devastating Pacific Palisades fires,” President Biden said in a statement. He also announced that a federal grant has been approved to help California reimburse for fire response costs.
Pacific Palisades is home to many Hollywood stars. Actor James Woods told the X platform that he had evacuated in time but added: "Right now, I don't know if our house is still intact."
Actor Steve Guttenberg told KTLA that some of his friends had difficulty evacuating because many people abandoned their cars in the middle of the road.
"It's important for people to come together and not worry about personal property. Get your loved ones out and leave now," said actor Guttenberg.
Source: https://dantri.com.vn/the-gioi/my-30000-nguoi-o-los-angeles-phai-so-tan-vi-chay-rung-khung-khiep-20250108160034203.htm
Comment (0)