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30 October, 2019

California wildfires: 200,000 people displaced, extreme red-flag warning issued

Californian firefighters are battling more than a dozen fires across the state that have displaced hundreds of thousands of people.

CNN International reports 17 fires are actively burning across California, with more than 94,000 acres (more than 380 square kilometres) burned, thus far.

The outlet reports around 200,000 people have been displaced near the San Francisco Bay area near the Kincade Fire. More than a million people were without power over the weekend, across the state, while 40 public schools across Sonoma County are reportedly closed, at time of publishing.

According to The Guardian’s live coverage on Tuesday, a major blaze that broke out in Getty broke out in west Los Angeles early in the morning, sending some of LA’s well-known residents, including the Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James, in search of safety. As of Tuesday afternoon, firefighters had only 5 per cent of the fire contained, the news outlet reported.

Taking to Twitter, the Mayor of Los Angeles, Eric Garcetti, thanked James for sending a taco truck “to support our [Los Angeles Fire Department] firefighters, first responders, and partner agencies working to fight the #GettyFire”.

Thank you, @KingJames, for generously sending a taco truck to support our @LAFD firefighters, first responders, and partner agencies working to fight the #GettyFire. pic.twitter.com/rgTSMgWXLU
— Mayor Karen Bass (@MayorOfLA) October 29, 2019

Early Wednesday, the Los Angeles Times reported that investigators were looking at utility lines near where the Getty fire began as the possible cause of the blaze.

Mayor Eric Garcetti announced that video shows a branch breaking from a eucalypt and falling on a power line operated by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, sparking the flames.

The #GettyFire was likely caused by a tree branch that broke off during the high wind conditions and subsequently landed on nearby powerlines, which resulted in sparking that ignited nearby brush. #LAFD #LAPD #LADWP Details: https://t.co/8bBGPrDN54 pic.twitter.com/3yauqgBmdH
— Erik B. Scott (@PIOErikScott) October 29, 2019

In anticipation of violent and damaging winds, on Tuesday, the National Weather Service (NWS) reportedly issued a red-flag warning for Los Angeles and neighbouring Ventura county through the day and an extreme red-flag warning for Tuesday through Thursday.

The NWS predicts Southern California could see the highest winds of the season, with peak winds expected on Wednesday packing gusts of up to 80 miles per hour (128 kilometres per hour) in the mountains.

The Los Angeles art museum, the Getty Museum, said on Twitter that it remains “safe” from the Getty fire, but would remained closed through Friday, 1 November, to assist with the emergency response to the blaze.

Tuesday update: The #GettyCenter and #GettyVilla remain SAFE from the #GettyFire.
Both sites will be CLOSED through Fri, Nov 1, to assist with emergency response and in consideration of high winds predicted to begin tonight. pic.twitter.com/zaDGcdZmL4
— Getty (@GettyMuseum) October 29, 2019

Featured image: ‘Getty Fire’, by Los Angeles County Fire Department Air Operations Section/Twitter

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