And imprisoned in the battle of fire
The California Department of Corrections confirmed to the BBC that almost 800 incarcerated people are joining CalFire to slow the spread of wildfires, as part of a voluntary program.
CalFire has now deployed about 4,700 of its own first responders, so that’s a surprisingly significant number of inmates supporting the response.
The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation operates statewide firefighter training camps for prison inmates, which support authorities’ disaster response.
1,800 imprisoned volunteers
More than 1,800 incarcerated volunteer firefighters are housed in these camps, officials said. They typically earn little to no money, according to rights groups.
President Biden announced that the federal government will cover “100% of the cost of measures to protect life and property in Southern California for six months.”
“I have told the Governor and officials to spare no expense and do whatever it takes to contain the fires and protect families,” he wrote to X.
I’m announcing that the federal government will cover 100% of the cost of measures to protect lives and property in Southern California for six months.
I’ve told the Governor and officials to spare no expense and do whatever they need to contain the fires and protect families.
— President Biden (@POTUS)
The course of the fire
; Forward progress of the Kenneth fire has been stopped, and the fire is currently holding at 960 acres with 0% containment. Approximately 400 Firefighters will remain on scene through the night, continuing to provide structure protection and knock down hot spots.…
— VCFD PIO (@VCFD_PIO)
The Kenneth County fire, which broke out Thursday afternoon on the border of Los Angeles and Ventura counties, is the latest to break out in Southern California. Within a few hours the fire reached almost 1,000 acres and caused mandatory evacuations. It is currently bordered. The Ventura County Fire Department said about 400 firefighters would remain on the scene overnight, and no structural damage was reported. Evacuation orders have been downgraded to caution warnings in Los Angeles County, while corresponding warnings in Ventura County have been lifted. A man was arrested by citizens about 30 minutes after the fire started, and the Los Angeles Police Department confirmed that arson is suspected.
In just 24 hours, weather service Accuweather has nearly tripled its preliminary estimate of total damage from the California wildfires. According to its latest estimate, losses could reach 150 billion. dollars instead of 57 billion dollars yesterday. “These fast-moving, wind-driven wildfires created one of the costliest disasters of its kind in modern U.S. history,” said AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Jonathan Porter. The fires have broken out in areas that are home to some of the most expensive properties in the United States.
Fire officials say more than 5,300 properties have been damaged by the Palisades fire, while between 4,000 and 5,000 homes and infrastructure may have been damaged or destroyed by the Eaton fire. The insurance industry is also bracing for a big hit, with analysts from firms such as Morningstar and JP Morgan predicting policyholder losses of more than $8 billion. dollars.
2024 the hottest year on record
As wildfires continue to burn in California, the European Union’s Earth observation program, the Copernicus Climate Change Agency, has revealed another global warming milestone: 2024 was the hottest year since records began in 1850.
It was also the first year that global temperatures reached more than 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.
The Paris Agreement aims to “keep the increase in global average temperature well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels and continue efforts to limit the increase to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels”.
California was no exception. Last year, the US state experienced a remarkably warm summer. It has also faced a lack of rainfall in recent months.
The dry conditions, combined with the natural Santa Ana winds, can cause the kind of fast-moving and dangerous wildfires we’re seeing right now in Los Angeles and neighboring Ventura County.
