World
January 12, 2025 09:12
los angeles, united states - The devastating fires that turned Los Angeles into ashes and caused the deaths of 16 people have sparked anger in the US. Billionaires who hired private firefighters to protect their properties are under criticism for not following water restrictions in the region.
The beginning of 2025 brought disasters to the United States. An attack with a vehicle in New Orleans, the explosion of a Tesla car in front of Donald Trump's hotel in Las Vegas, and an attack on a nightclub in New York have created shock waves one after another. Now, the country is grappling with one of the most horrific fires in its history.
The Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner reported that 11 people died in the Eaton fire and 5 people in the Palisades fire, bringing the total death toll to 16. The rapidly spreading wildfires, which started on January 7th and spread quickly due to strong winds, have already turned more than 37,000 acres to ashes. Over 12,000 structures have been damaged or rendered unusable in the fires.
The wildfire disaster has sparked visible anger in the US. While the responsibility for the magnitude of the disaster is unknown, several allegations have surfaced.
Some news reports in the US media claim that fire trucks were directed to the upscale areas where the wealthy own luxury homes, while other areas were deprived of rescue efforts. The lack of water in the fire hydrants has also become a topic of discussion.
Some celebrities, including Kim Kardashian, are accused of wasting vital water resources that could be used to save homes. Local residents have blasted these 'lavish celebrities' on their social media accounts.
According to information in the British newspaper Dailymail, strict water conservation measures have been in place in the area where luxury mansions are located since 2022. Ordinary residents in the area can only water their gardens twice a week and for only eight minutes each time.
However, it seems that these restrictions do not apply to the celebrities' vast estates. For example, Kim Kardashian, who lives in a $60 million house in The Oaks, was fined by city officials for using 232,000 gallons more water than allotted to her. Other celebrities like Sylvester Stallone and comedian Kevin Hart have also been fined for water wastage.
One of Kim Kardashian's neighbors said in an interview with the newspaper, 'Everyone in the area was told to save water, but they continued to water as they could afford the fines.'
The anger of the residents in the area was further fueled by billionaires hiring private firefighters for $2,000 an hour to protect their properties.
Chris Dunn, the owner of 'Covered 6,' a company that provides security and first response services to Hollywood elites, said to Mail on Sunday, 'My phones have never stopped ringing. Demand has never been this high.' An unnamed property owner defended the practice, stating, 'What happened this week shows that you cannot rely on the city to protect your property. I have money, so why not?'
Meanwhile, Los Angeles Fire Chief Kristin Crowley emphasized that the department has seen a 55% increase in call volumes since 2010, but despite this, the number of firefighters has decreased.
In the wildfires engulfing Los Angeles, the homes of many stars such as Anthony Hopkins, Billy Crystal, John Goodman, Adam Brody, and Paris Hilton have turned to ashes. Mel Gibson also announced the loss of his Malibu house when he went to Austin for a podcast recording with Joe Rogan.