Wildfires in the US continue to burn: 16 people reported dead. Efforts to extinguish wildfires in the US state of Los Angeles, California, continue. Officials said that fires are still burning in some areas of the city. This comes as the confirmed death toll in these fires has risen to 16. The number was confirmed by Los Angeles health officials.
The fire first broke out on Tuesday in a mountainous forest area in the coastal city of Malibu, west of Los Angeles, but later spread to other areas due to strong winds and flooding. Now, although it has been several days since the wildfire broke out, firefighters have still not been able to control it.
The head of the Los Angeles Fire Department said that winds and a severe shortage of water have made it difficult to fight the fire.
Officials have previously said that Los Angeles’ water system is not designed to handle wildfires. They have urged residents to use less water. The governor of California has recently ordered an independent investigation into how water shortages have hampered firefighting efforts.
Fear of looting and curfew
It is worth noting that these wildfires have forced tens of thousands of residents from various areas of Los Angeles to leave their homes. Many people have been displaced, especially from the Palisades and Eaton areas. This has also raised concerns about looting by vandals in these areas. Los Angeles police have declared a nighttime curfew in these areas in view of this. Police Chief Jim McConnell has said that anyone who engages in theft or vandalism will be arrested.
He said 200 police officers would be deployed to patrol the areas. Mr. McConnell said no one except security personnel and firefighters would be allowed to move around during the curfew.
Security sources have already reported a number of arrests in the areas.
However, the arrests were not linked to the looting of homes.