Hollywood Evacuated, Homes Destroyed, Criticism Ravages California Fires

Several fires continue to ravage the US state of California, particularly Los Angeles County. So far, there have been five fatalities, more than 1,500 homes destroyed and hundreds of people evacuated.

The state of California, in the United States, is being ravaged by several large fires. One of the most worrying situations is in Los Angeles.

In Los Angeles County, the fire has already forced the evacuation of more than 130,000 people and destroyed around 1,500 homes, including those of several celebrities. There are still thousands of homes without electricity.

On Wednesday night, authorities ordered residents of the historic Hollywood neighborhood to evacuate their homes after a new fire broke out hundreds of feet from Hollywood Boulevard. At issue, the Los Angeles Fire Department explained, is an "immediate threat to life."

Schools were also closed and recreational centers were turned into shelters for people who had to be evacuated. During the day, black clouds of smoke blocked the sun across large swathes of the city of Los Angeles and ash fell even in neighborhoods several miles from the affected areas.

So far, there are reports of five fatalities in the Altadena and Pasadena areas.

In light of the catastrophe, a state of emergency was declared by Los Angeles County and California Governor Gavin Newsom, who received the green light from US President Joe Biden to obtain federal aid in fighting the fires.

Joe Biden has decided to cancel an official trip to Italy scheduled for this Thursday, which would likely be his last visit abroad before Donald Trump takes office on January 20. According to White House spokeswoman Karine Jean, the outgoing US president "has made the decision to cancel his upcoming trip to Italy to focus on managing the overall federal response in the coming days."

Despair and criticism of firefighters from those who lost everything in Los Angeles

Makeshift beds and blankets provided by the American Red Cross are all survivors of the Pacific Palisades and Malibu fires have left in the wake of the devastation, with mandatory evacuations across the city.

"They told us to leave at nine at night," Ray, who escaped the fire with her husband and teenage daughter, told Lusa. "At five in the morning our house was in ashes," he added.

They left in their pajamas and coats, with their cell phones, and only had time to save their pet, a ten-year-old pygmy goat. The animal cannot sleep in shelters, so they will have to stay inside the car.

Ray was emotional, but also angry at the firefighters, who she said did nothing to save the homes. "They wouldn't let us use high-pressure hoses because they said there was little water," he said. "They wanted to use it in Pacific Palisades," he charged.

Los Angeles residents have also begun receiving boil water notices in recent hours, due to the intensity of water use by firefighters, which is reducing pressure in pipes and could make drinking water dangerous.