Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

A VW van among burned-out homes in Malibu, California Mark J Terrill/AP/PA

Los Angeles fire evacuees told not to return to homes for at least a week

There are fears over electrocution, landslides and exposure to toxic materials.

TENS OF THOUSANDS of people ordered to flee their homes as wildfires tore through Los Angeles have been told they would not be allowed back for at least a week, with fears over electrocution, landslides and exposure to toxic materials.

Frustration is mounting among evacuees, who are angry over rules that prevent them from returning, even to homes that survived the deadly blazes.

“There was a group chat where everyone was complaining, getting mad, saying, ‘why do they keep on locking us out of our homes?’” Ronnen Miz told local broadcaster KTLA.

But with 40,000 acres (16,000 hectares) burned in two ferocious fires, the situation is just too dangerous, officials said.

Electricity, gas and sewage lines are wrecked, there is toxic waste everywhere, and there is a growing threat of hazardous mudslides or landslips, officials said at a news conference.

“It’s going to be a while,” said Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna.

“I’m going to say at minimum, at least another week, and that’s an estimate, but I believe it’s going to be longer than that.”

According to the latest coroner’s tally, at least 27 people have died in wind-driven fires that ripped through the upmarket enclave of Pacific Palisades and the more mixed community of Altadena.

Luna said search teams were continuing to comb the rubble looking for victims, with the number of dead expected to rise.

Authorities were also holding people back from some areas “because we believe there may be deceased victims” he said.

Teams from the Environmental Protection Agency began inspections as they work to remove pesticides, fuel and lithium batteries from the wreckage before any debris clean-up can take place.

Los Angeles County Director of Public Works Mark Pestrella said apparently unaffected structures could be hit by landslides, and any substantial rain could be dangerous.

“In the event that we have major rain, we do expect that all of the street areas and all the communities will be impacted by debris flows that could be hazardous to human health.”

Hillsides have been destabilized by the fires, and by the huge volumes of water that firefighters used in a bid to tame them.

Photographs from the Pacific Palisades area showed one home — undamaged by the fire — that appeared to have broken in two after the flames were extinguished when part of a hillside collapsed.

US tennis great Pam Shriver revealed a cache of major trophies from her illustrious career were stolen after she evacuated from the fire.

Shriver, 62, packed five US Open trophies, five French Open plates, five Wimbledon trophies and one Australian Open trophy into her car as she fled her Brentwood home and headed to a hotel on Friday.

Some time later, she found the car — and its irreplaceable contents — had been stolen.

“It’s really sad on so many levels that when people are at their lowest and in their most difficult times, people are doing things like this,” Shriver told ESPN.

Gusting winds that have rattled the region for more than a week, spreading the fire over a wide area, had subsided yesterday, giving firefighters a much-needed boost as they mopped up hotspots.

© AF P2025

Unsure of what exactly is happening with the earth’s climate? Check out our FactCheck Knowledge Bank for essential reads and guides to finding good information online.

Author
View 34 comments
Close
34 Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic. Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy here before taking part.
Leave a Comment
    Submit a report
    Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
    Thank you for the feedback
    Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.

    Leave a commentcancel

     
    JournalTv
    News in 60 seconds