In southern California’s Los Angeles County, several large fires have been extinguished, burning the western and northern suburbs of the city since Tuesday. About 1,000 inmate firefighters are participating in the operation, the Washington Post website reported on Sunday. This element has already killed at least 16 people. Meteorologists warn of the return of strong winds.
A fire in East Los Angeles, mostly in Eaton, has killed 11 people. The remaining five confirmed deaths were reported in Pacific Palisades, west of the Capital Region. About 16,000 hectares were burned and more than 12,000 hectares were destroyed. buildings.
According to the information of the fire service, as reported by the American media, on Saturday, a little more than 10 percent of the Palisades fire was contained and about 27 percent contained. Eaton, which quickly became one of the deadliest wildfires in California. The fire in Mandeville Canyon, west of Los Angeles, was difficult to contain due to terrain conditions. Firefighting continues, including in the exclusive Brentwood District in the western part of the city.
As of Saturday evening local time, more than 150,000 people were under evacuation orders. people in the Los Angeles area.
Burning Houses in Pacific PalisadesPAP/EPA/ALLISON DINNER
The wind is blowing again
Right now, the biggest concern for firefighters is the Santa Ana wind – a dry, desert breeze. Forecasters say that the wind speed is more than 50-58 kilometers per hour. As a result, the highest red alert has been declared in the eastern part of Los Angeles County.
“We fear that the wind intensity will increase Sunday evening and continue through Wednesday,” said Rose Schoenfield of the American Meteorological Institute, according to a link to the Los Angeles Times website. – In general, this is not good, – he added.
Almost 1,000 fire fighters extinguished the fire
American and international firefighting teams, including those from Canada and Mexico, are involved in extinguishing the fire.
The fire is also being extinguished by about 1,000 firefighters serving time in the prison. The program for inmate firefighters (and inmate women, because women also participate) has been in operation in California for nearly 80 years. Smithsonian Magazine explained that inmates who want to participate must meet security requirements (they cannot be convicted of rape or other sexual crimes, arson or escape) and undergo two weeks of training. There are also only fire brigades of prisoners located in the so-called fire camps – you can spend up to seven years there. Although the number of inmate firefighters has fluctuated over the years, they often make up about one-third of California’s fire force.
Firefighters battle a fire in the Woodland Hills neighborhood of Los Angeles PAP/EPA/ALLISON DINNER
They take a small amount. Currently, it is a maximum of $10.24 per day, reports the New York Times website. For each hour of emergency work, they will receive an additional $1. Thus, on a day-to-day basis, inmate firefighters earn less than California’s minimum wage ($16.50 an hour) and much less than other services. Firefighters working for the city of Los Angeles earn more than $85,000 a year.
In addition, inmate firefighters receive up to two days of probation for each day they serve in the fire service. Prisoner firefighters work voluntarily, they cannot be forced to participate in operations. They don’t drive fire trucks – they use “hand tools”, they also work as support workers for other emergency service workers – reports the “NYT” portal. They are often called to forest fires. They try to extinguish the fire by cutting it with shovels, axes and saws.
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Criticism of authorities
Criticism of state and city authorities for the correct response to the events of recent days continues. Part of the local community accuses the mayor of Los Angeles, Karen Bass, that the city authorities did not warn the residents in time and were not sufficiently prepared to fight the fire.
After the outbreak, Los Angeles Fire Chief Christine Crowley announced that the city council had cut this year’s budget for the service she oversees by $17 million. He stressed that this has a measurable impact on the effectiveness of fighting current fires.
See also: Only ruins. Los Angeles after the fire of “hell”
The most emotive issue is the city’s hydrants, where water either did not flow at all or lasted only a few hours. The governor of California, Gavin Newsom, ordered an investigation into the case and announced the punishment of those responsible for the incident. For this reason, the democratic authorities of the city and region, including the opponents of the republican party. On Sunday, the US president-elect spoke about it again. Donald Trump wrote on social media: “The fires are still burning in Los Angeles. Incompetent politicians don’t know how to put them out.”
Main photo source: PAP/EPA/Allison DINNER
