More than 1,100 buildings have burned and at least five people have died as wildfires rage across Los Angeles.
The biggest fire has engulfed nearly 4,856 hectares in Pacific Palisades, an affluent neighbourhood between the beach towns of Santa Monica and Malibu.
Jamie Lee Curtis, Mandy Moore, Maria Shriver and other celebrities were among tens of thousands of people forced to evacuate their homes to escape the out-of-control wildfires raging across Los Angeles.
Dozens of stars took to social media to reach out to fans after the evacuations. Some reported that their homes were likely lost.
County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone said that all residents in the community are at risk due to winds that are fanning the fire. He also reported that five people have died as a result of the wildfires.
California is on fire
Residents of California are preparing for a large-scale evacuation because of the strongest fires. For several days they sit without light and hot water, cold water supplies are enough for several days.
Local authorities have already sent them a warning about the need to prepare for evacuation. The locals are moving to hotels and other houses that can be found on Airbnb. Accommodation in most cases is free of charge. Hotel and accommodation owners are taking this step against the backdrop of the fires.
Houses in the closest proximity to the fire zone are now without electricity and hot water. There is still cold water, but the authorities warn that its reserves will be enough for 3-4 days. According to local residents, many questions arise to the authorities of California. For example, a few months ago, fire service employees were massively laid off, and people were denied insurance for their homes. There was also no water in fire hydrants.
Forest fires have been raging in southern California since January 7. According to the authorities, the fire threatens at least 28 thousand homes, while the flames continue to spread, new hotbeds appear. In the prestigious area of Pacific Palisades, where, as NBC notes, many film stars live, about 1 thousand houses have already been destroyed. According to the latest data, the area of the fire there is 15.8 thousand acres.
As the US National Weather Service points out, strong Santa Ana winds that carry dry air, combined with dry weather, have created ideal conditions for the fires to spread in Southern California. Temperatures in Los Angeles are around plus 17 degrees Celsius.
