California firefighters are battling ferocious wildfires that have decimated parts of Los Angeles County. Experts warn that strong winds could exacerbate the situation significantly over the coming days. American meteorologists have told millions to be on alert as wind, aridity, and parched vegetation may fuel “extreme fire growth” in the coming days, leaving residents fearing further devastation.
The fierce Santa Ana winds pose a severe threat to landmarks like the University of California, Los Angeles and the renowned art collection housed within the Getty Museum, per AP reports. In an act of preservation, volunteers have removed underbrush and dampened the grounds around the museum to protect its trove of ancient artifacts from impending fire damage.
Despite these efforts, firefighters face an uphill struggle to contain the rapidly spreading fire. The conflagration has mandated mass evacuations surpassing 150,000 individuals, with the vast blaze in the upscale Palisades neighbourhood expected to push eastward.
The National Weather Service in LA issued a cautionary note on Saturday: “Moderate to locally strong Santa Ana winds will affect the typical Santa Ana Wind Corridors on Saturday to Sunday and again Monday through Wednesday. These winds combined with dry air and dry vegetation will keep the fire weather threat in the area.
“Continue to practice fire safety by avoiding work that creates sparks, reporting any smoke, and staying informed. Gather items you will need, should you be evacuated.”
Firefighters battled against the flames in Mandeville Canyon on Saturday as the fires, which have claimed at least 11 lives, closed in on the home of Arnold Schwarzenegger and other celebrities, not far from the Pacific coast. Helicopters dumped gallons of water as the fire tore downhill, while firefighters on the ground used hoses in an attempt to beat back the fire as thick smoke blanketed the area.
LA County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath said the area “had another night of unimaginable terror and heartbreak, and even more Angelenos evacuated due to the northeast expansion of the Palisades Fire.” But firefighters could soon face an even more serious scenario, as the light breezes of recent days are forecast to turn into strong winds – which have been described as the ‘nemesis’ of those tackling the blazes.
Those winds have been largely blamed for turning the wildfires into infernos that leveled entire neighborhoods around to city where there has been no significant rainfall in more than eight months. So far, the fires have consumed an area larger than the city of San Francisco, scorching over 145 square kilometres of earth.