Los Angeles it is a city under siege. The relentless flames of three forest firesfueled by fierce winds and stubborn drought, have transformed the urban landscape into an inferno of smoke and ash. The Copernicus satellite images, with their starkness, show the extent of the devastation: hectares of vegetation reduced to ash, neighborhoods transformed into skeletons of houses, and a toll of death and destruction that continues to grow.
At least 24 people lost their livesamong which Dalyce Curry, 95, was identified, found in the ruins of her home in Altadena, as reported by CNN. It is feared that the number could rise as search operations continue among the rubble, with around 14 people still missing.
The largest fire, in the neighborhood of Palisadeshas already burned over 9,000 hectares, destroying approximately 5,300 structures. In total, the fires are estimated to have destroyed more than 12,000 buildings, forcing 105,000 people to evacuate and placing another 87,000 on alert. Ken Haskettof the Los Angeles County Fire Department, said: “We estimate that well over 5,000 homes were destroyed in Palisades alone. It’s something… I haven’t seen since I was born. These are fuels that haven’t burned since the 1950s.”
Firefighters, engaged in a relentless battle, managed to gain ground over the weekend, taking advantage of a temporary decrease in winds. But the respite was short-lived: weather forecasts indicate a return of strong winds starting Sunday evening, with a red flag warning extended until mid-week. The Storm Prediction Center he issued an “extremely critical” fire weather warning for Monday and Tuesday, with winds expected between 45 and 70 miles per hour.
2:45am CST #SPC Day2 #FireWX Extremely Critical: portions of the ventura valley to the san bernardino mountains in southern california https://t.co/LEoXKVkNcs pic.twitter.com/QFqkaewOkC
— NWS Storm Prediction Center (@NWSSPC) January 13, 2025
This situation risks nullifying the progress made and further fueling the flames, putting new areas at risk and hindering the return of displaced people to their homes. The authorities have in fact underlined that, despite the apparent end of the emergency in some neighborhoods, conditions remain dangerous due to downed power lines, gas leaks and still active fires.
As rescue teams continue to work tirelessly, the Los Angeles community rallies around the victims. The Fire Department, overwhelmed by a wave of generositylaunched an appeal to channel donations towards centralized collection centers, to ensure efficient distribution of aid.
Meanwhile, Los Angeles schools are preparing to reopen, except for those located in the hardest-hit areas, like Pasadena and Malibuwhich suffered extensive damage. Students and school staff will be provided with masks to protect themselves from smoke, while outdoor activities will be limited.
But what caused these devastating fires? The authorities are investigating the possible causes, including the electrical transmission tower in Eaton Canyon. Southern California Edison, the local power company, said its equipment was unlikely to have caused the fire, but the investigations are still ongoing. Another possible cause is related to Edison electrical equipment that may have contributed to the Hurst fire.
In addition to the immediate causes, experts point out the role of climate change in increasing the frequency and intensity of forest fires. California, in particular, has been hit by a severe drought in recent months, which has created ideal conditions for the flames to spread. Since early October, parts of Los Angeles County have seen less than 0.1 inch of rainfall, compared to the 4 to 5 inches normally expected.