Rescuers have not yet been able to quell the fire.
Five major forest fires are burning in Los Angeles County (California, USA), in which at least 10 people have died. About 10,000 buildings have been burned to the ground.
The BBC reports this.
Firefighters continue to battle the flames, which are spreading rapidly due to dry weather and strong winds. Meanwhile, police are fighting looters. California National Guard troops are helping law enforcement maintain public order.
Los Angeles Sheriff Robert Luna says many of the affected areas are difficult to reach due to the danger, so the death toll is “definitely going to change.”
He says the situation looks as if “an atomic bomb had fallen on these areas.”
The fire has reached Hollywood itself. The flames are threatening the “Walk of Fame” and the Hollywood Bowl concert hall. Airplanes are dropping fire extinguishers and water on the hills.
Authorities have not yet assessed the damage from the fires. The private company AccuWeather believes that economic losses could exceed 150 billion dollars.
The causes of the fires are still unknown, an investigation is underway. Arson and electrical damage are among the possible causes, while trash burning and fireworks are also being considered.
Los Angeles police said they have arrested a man suspected of attempting to start an arson in the Woodland Hills area. He was taken into custody, but details have not been released.
Recall that a wildfire and powerful storm winds that quickly fanned the flames have created serious danger in the Los Angeles area where celebrity homes are located, forcing dozens of people to urgently evacuate.
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