US President Biden compares Los Angeles wildfires to a war scene

New Delhi, Jan 11: At least 11 people have lost their lives, and over 10,000 homes and structures have been destroyed as wildfires continue to devastate Southern California.

Among the most destructive is the Palisades Fire, spanning more than 21,500 acres, with only 8% containment as of Friday. Authorities have expanded evacuation orders and implemented an overnight curfew to safeguard evacuated properties from looting—an issue President Joe Biden directly addressed during remarks earlier this week.

Describing Los Angeles as a "war scene," Biden warned that the death toll could rise. "It is likely it will increase, whether significantly or not, we don't know yet," he said. His comments also highlighted the broader challenges facing the firefighting efforts, including climate change, which he identified as a major contributor to the wildfires' ferocity.

Biden said to the media that there was "clear evidence of looting" in evacuated neighborhoods and expressed concern for affected communities. "There's clear evidence that people are going into these survivors' communities and looting," he emphasised, adding that additional police officers and military personnel had been deployed to address the situation.

The outgoing President Biden while speaking to the media raised issues like logistical hurdles like water shortages in some fire hydrants, an issue that has sparked massive public criticism.

Sympathising with Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, who has faced scrutiny for the city's preparedness, Biden remarked, "Gimme a break," acknowledging the difficulties of managing resources during such a crisis.

He further assured the public that "every single thing we are doing" is being communicated to the incoming administration to ensure continuity in efforts to combat the fires and their aftermath.

The Palisades Fire is one of six major blazes currently ravaging the region. The Eaton Fire, burning across more than 14,000 acres, remains only 3% contained and has destroyed close to 1,000 structures. The Kenneth Fire, impacting just over 1,000 acres, is 50% contained, while the Hurst Fire, covering 770 acres, has reached 70% containment. The Lidia Fire, located in the hills north of Los Angeles, is nearly under control at 98% containment, burning across 395 acres. However, the newest Archer Fire, which started on Friday, is proving a significant challenge. Although it has burned only 19 acres so far, it remains completely uncontrolled.

California Governor Gavin Newsom has called for an independent investigation into the critical water shortages that hampered firefighting efforts. "We need answers on how this happened," he said, referring to reports that dry hydrants left firefighters struggling to maintain pressure.

Firefighters are reporting from ground zero, according to most of the local media, that they have "lost most of the hydrant pressure."

Experts say that the combination of high winds, unseasonably dry conditions, and the simultaneous outbreak of multiple fires created what officials have described as a "perfect storm."

However, many experts are working on issues of whether the devastation could have been mitigated. Analysts point to inconsistent vegetation management, ageing infrastructure, and insufficient urban planning as factors that exacerbated the impact of the wildfires.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass promised a thorough review of the city’s response. "Rest assured…we will absolutely do an evaluation to look at what worked, and what didn’t work, and to correct—or to hold accountable—anybody, department, individual, etcetera," she said. The investigation will likely examine systemic issues such as resource allocation, infrastructure resilience, and preparedness measures in fire-prone areas.

In Los Angeles County, a local health emergency has been declared due to degraded air quality that has fire ash and smoke. The ash and smoke have blanketed the area, posing major health risks.

Vulnerable populations, including older adults, children, and those with respiratory conditions, have been advised to stay indoors with windows and doors closed, use air purifiers, and wear masks when venturing outside. Even pets are being kept indoors to avoid exposure.

The fires have disrupted vital health services, with healthcare facilities forced to evacuate patients and staff.

A review by CNN of government reports and interviews with experts revealed that while some level of destruction was inevitable, better planning and resource management could have mitigated the damage.

Meanwhile, local administration and fire officials are bracing for more strong winds on Sunday, raising fears that the blazes could spread further. A red flag warning remains in effect, signalling critical fire conditions.