The governor of California, Gavin Newsom, declared this Tuesday the state of emergency within the framework of the fires that have affected the west of the American city of Los Angeleswhich are forcing tens of thousands of people to evacuate their homes.
“I have declared a state of emergency to support communities affected by the Pacific Palisades fire. Southern California residents: remain alert, take all necessary precautions and follow local emergency guidelines,” he said. through his profile on the social network X. For his part, the interim mayor of Los Angeles, Marqueece Harris-Dawson, has also declared a state of emergency in the American city. “We will have all the necessary resources at our disposal,” he stated.
The fire is spreading rapidly in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood, although authorities have warned that the worst may come in the next few hours due to a strong wind storm. According to the California Department of Fire Protection, the flames are burning about five football fields per minute in the state.
In this situation, More than 62,000 people have lost power in Los Angeles County and more than 30,000 people have been evacuated. The fire has burned about 1,220 hectares, most of them in the Palisades.
The president of the United States, Joe Biden, has indicated that his team is in contact with state and local officials about the wildfires and has offered “all necessary federal aid to help put out the terrible fire.” “Tonight, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has approved a fire management relief grant to support affected areas and help reimburse the state of California for the immediate costs of extinguishing the fires,” reads a statement from the White House. Biden, who has indicated that his Administration will do “everything possible to support the response,” has urged the residents of Pacific Palisades and the surrounding areas of Los Angeles to which Stay alert and listen to local officials.
