World
January 16, 2025 10:12
los angeles, california - The wildfires in Los Angeles continue to rage for 9 days, leading citizens to take armed patrols due to inadequate firefighting efforts. The situation has escalated to the point where people are defying curfews and taking security measures into their own hands.
Wildfires that started on January 7 in Los Angeles are still ongoing despite efforts to extinguish them. With only 1 firefighter per 1000 people in the city, citizens have started patrolling armed. Ross Gerber, a resident who opposes the curfew, has stated that he can't take it anymore...
The wildfires in Los Angeles have claimed the lives of 25 people so far and more than 12,000 structures have been destroyed. Meteorologists warn that the weather conditions in the region could lead to fire tornadoes and the Santa Ana winds, which have fueled the fires, could intensify again.
With over 37,000 acres burned, residential areas turned to ashes, and small businesses affected by the fires, the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce has announced a disaster relief and assistance fund for the affected businesses. However, firefighting efforts have been hampered by budget cuts, leaving fire trucks idle for months.
The lack of adequate firefighting resources in Los Angeles, where there is only 1 firefighter for every 1000 people, has been exposed with the documentation of the need for 3,500 firefighters for the city's 4 million residents. Freddy Escobar, president of the Los Angeles Firefighters Union, warned that reducing staff or closing stations would result in fatalities.
Authorities have advised residents to stay indoors with windows and doors closed for health safety, use air purifiers or run air conditioners in recirculation mode. If necessary to go outside, they should wear N95 or P100 masks and goggles. A notice posted on social media by officials stated that hazardous material inspections are being conducted on burned properties, and until the inspections are completed, residents are prohibited from clearing or cleaning the fire debris.
ARMED CITIZENS PATROL THE STREETS
With nighttime curfews in place, residents in Los Angeles have reportedly started patrolling their neighborhoods armed to protect their homes against looters.
According to a report in the Wall Street Journal, a group of residents in Altadena and Palisades, where looters have been active, have begun armed patrols to prevent further damage and exploitation by the looters.
Among the armed patrollers is Ross Gerber, chairman of Gerber Kawasaki Wealth and Investment Management, who was quoted saying, 'I can't take it anymore,' regarding the protection measures imposed by the police.
Creating his own neighborhood watch, 53-year-old Gerber patrolled the area with his friend, questioning anyone they did not recognize. He even provided a special water truck to stand guard next to vacant homes in case fires broke out.
Despite initially being blocked from entering the area, the water truck was allowed entry after Governor Gavin Newsom intervened, Gerber said. Another resident, lawyer Aaron Lubeley, expressed feeling like 'we are in the Wild West.'
Returning to his $1.8 million home that he built with his own hands after being evacuated, Lubeley and his family kept watch by sleeping in their car to prevent any harm to their neighbor’s property. Lubeley's wife pleaded with him to end the vigil, but he said he could not live with the guilt of not protecting a neighbor's home if something happened.
BIDEN'S 'MILLIONS OF DOLLARS' WORTH OF ARTWORK DESTROYED
Approximately 200 works of art belonging to Hunter Biden, the son of US President Joe Biden, were turned to ash in the wildfires ravaging the city.
A lawyer close to the Biden family stated that the artworks were stored near Hunter Biden's home in Palisades and were worth 'millions of dollars.'
Hunter Biden's paintings, which he started as part of his struggle with addiction, had an average price of $85,000 in a previous auction.