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New wildfires in Los Angeles have prompted evacuation orders in the high-rise neighborhoods of Brentwood and Bel Air, as the region is aided by strong winds that could create more problems for emergency responders battling multiple blazes in the county.
As the crisis enters its fifth day, the death toll from the fire has reached 11. The Palisades Fire, which started early Tuesday morning, has burned 22,000 acres and is still only 11 percent contained, officials said.
The fire is believed to be the most damaging in LA history.
Helicopters dropped water on Saturday at Mandeville Canyon, the iconic home of actor and former California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Brentwood’s evacuation order raised concerns about landmarks, including the Getty Center, home to an art collection that includes works by Van Gogh, Rembrandt and Monet.
Karen Bass, the mayor of LA, said the Palisades fires are “slowly contained” with 11 percent contained. But she warned the area is “extremely vulnerable” to dry and strong Santa Ana winds expected to return Saturday afternoon. She urged residents not to try to “fend off the fire” and to evacuate immediately.
The National Weather Service has warned that recent strong storms will hit the coast of Topanga and Malibu. More “wind events” of 60 to 70 mph are forecast between Monday night and Wednesday.
Bass and California Gov. Gavin Newsom are trying to fend off criticism of the fire response. Firefighters in Pacific Palisades were frustrated this week when they discovered reservoirs were running out of water — a major problem that has forced helicopters and airplanes to drop water on fires during high winds. The city’s reserve tanks rushed out as firefighters on the ground battled the blaze without air support.
Newsom said on Friday that he had ordered an investigation into the causes of the water supply problems. Newsom called the problems “very serious,” adding that they “may have undermined efforts to protect some homes and evacuation corridors.”
The city’s water and power authority, on the other hand, said that all claims that the fire hydrants were broken before the fire are misleading and false.
“Water pressure has dropped due to the unprecedented and high demand for water to fight the wildfire without aerial support,” the Department of Water and Power said in a statement.
Firefighters from other US states and Mexico came to LA to assist more than 7,500 emergency workers from California. The National Guard was deployed to the Palisades to protect the area from looters.
The city has declared a 12-hour curfew from 6:00 p.m. in areas where evacuation orders have been issued. “Not only do we have to protect ourselves from fire, but we have to make sure that no one goes out there and tries to steal,” Bass said. About 20 robbers have been arrested so far.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms announced it will lead the investigation into the cause of the Pacific Palisades fire. The federal agency said fire investigators are on the scene.
Firefighters were able to extinguish the sunset fire, which threatened several landmarks, including the Hollywood Hills and the Hollywood sign. They also extinguished the Lydia fire, north of Los Angeles, and said two others were 80 percent contained. Cal fire.
