The wildfire in Los Angeles (LA), California, USA, which is considered the worst forest fire in American history, shows no signs of going out for five days and is spreading toward the city. The death toll increased to 16, more than 12,000 buildings were burned, and property damage to date has exceeded $150 billion (approximately 221 trillion won). The area affected by forest fires amounts to a quarter of Seoul (156.3 km²). The extinguishment rate in the Palisades area, where the fire is the most intense, is only 11%, and the strong wind warning has been extended until the 12th, leading to speculation that the weekend will be the critical moment. President Joe Biden said of the local situation, “It’s like a war scene,” and added, “There are many people missing, so the casualties may increase.”
● Strong winds increase tensions over the spread of forest fires
According to the New York Times (NYT) and the Washington Post (WP) on the 11th, the biggest reason why it is currently difficult to extinguish the Los Angeles wildfire is strong winds. The wind, which had subsided somewhat, began to blow strongly again that day, and the strong wind forecast was extended until 2 p.m. on the 12th. The U.S. National Weather Service said strong gusts of 40 to 80 kilometers per hour on average and up to 100 kilometers per hour are expected to hit the area, and combined with dry air, the risk of fires has increased. Strong winds are expected to continue until the 15th.
As the fire spreads, the area for evacuation of residents is also expanding. Due to the fire in the Palisades area, employees at the nearby world-renowned ‘Getty Museum’ were evacuated. The Getty Museum possesses many famous works, including Van Gogh, Rembrandt, and Monet. However, it has been reported that no works have suffered damage to date. Brentwood, where Vice President Kamala Harris’s home is located, was also included in the evacuation zone as the forest fire spread nearby. The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) also switched to a remote learning system until the 17th as the fire spread near the campus. To date, more than 160,000 people have received evacuation warnings.
Los Angeles authorities are trying their best to prevent the damage from spreading. A public health emergency was declared, saying that smoke and fine dust from the fire could have a negative effect on the respiratory system, and in some areas, including Pasadena, a ban on drinking tap water was imposed due to damage to reservoirs and pumping stations. In the Palisades and Eaton areas, a night curfew was imposed from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. the next day due to concerns about looting.
WP analyzed that the increased damage from forest fires is the result of forest changes occurring more frequently than before due to climate change and the continuation of drought. It was reported that the damage was increased by the fact that single-family homes were scattered in areas where fire suppression was difficult, and that the water supply in the Los Angeles area was not developed enough to handle large-scale fires.
● Trump blames Democratic governor for wildfire damage
US President-elect Donald Trump appears to be turning the Los Angeles wildfires into a political issue just a week before his inauguration. He blamed the California government for the forest fires, saying, “It is the fault of Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom.” On his social media, Truth Social, he said, “Incompetent politicians don’t know how to put out a fire. He criticized Governor Newsom as “grossly incompetent” and demanded that he resign immediately. They also argued that Governor Newsom prioritized environmental policy over public safety and blocked a bill that would have pumped millions of gallons of water into wildfire areas.
Governor Newsom countered, “Don’t politicize the tragedy, but visit Los Angeles and see the situation for yourself.” He then said that President-elect Trump’s claims were “complete fiction” and “Please stop spreading false information.” Governor Newsom is one of the Democratic Party’s next leading presidential candidates and is called a ‘Trump sniper.’ The two are famous enemies in American politics.
As the forest fire is difficult to contain, criticism of the Los Angeles authorities’ response to the fire is growing. Los Angeles City Fire Department Chief Christine Crowley criticized, “The city authorities have not provided sufficient funds for firefighting activities,” and added, “When firefighters open a hydrant, they naturally assume there will be water.” Actor Mel Gibson, whose home in the Malibu area was destroyed by the fire, said through He took aim at Governor Newsom, who is famous for maintaining a neatly swept-back hairstyle. Gibson supported President-elect Trump in last year’s U.S. presidential election.
Reporter Choi Ji-seon [email protected]
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