Los Angeles’ Bel Air neighborhood faces severe wildfire risks, with at least 16 fatalities reported. The Getty Museum has enhanced its defenses to protect its extensive art collection as the Palisades Fire threatens wealthy areas. Criticism is directed at Mayor Karen Bass for underfunding firefighting efforts and leaving critical reservoirs empty, raising concerns about water availability during fires. Currently, 153,000 residents are under evacuation orders, and over 57,000 structures remain at risk. Fire officials highlight low water pressure and inadequate resources as ongoing challenges during the crisis, prompting state investigations and calls for accountability in water management and firefighting funding.
Los Angeles’ upscale Bel Air neighborhood is increasingly at risk from raging wildfires, with 16 people dead.
California’s Getty Museum has beefed up its defenses to protect priceless art, but it has also been revealed that the Palisades Reservoir was empty when the fire started.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has been criticized for keeping the Santa Ynez Reservoir “shut down,” but there’s also anger over celebrities’ use of the water.
The prospect of drier winds is raising new concerns about the Palisades Fire, which is pushing flames into wealthy neighborhoods in Bel Air and Brentwood.
The wildfire has already claimed about 16 lives, burned more than 37,000 acres and destroyed 12,000 structures. At least 13 people remain missing, officials said.
In total, an estimated 153,000 residents are under mandatory evacuation orders, and approximately 57,000 structures remain at risk.
The Getty Center, an acclaimed museum located in the mountains of Los Angeles, is currently under evacuation alert as the fire continues to rage.
Its collection includes 125,000 works of art and 1.4 million documents, including paintings by Monet, Rembrandt, Turner, and Van Gogh.
California’s Santa Ynez Reservoir, pictured here empty due to the 2022 drought, was said to be “out of service” when wildfires began raging in LA in recent days. being said
At least 16 people have been killed in wildfires sweeping across California, authorities say – helicopter seen spraying water near Mandeville Canyon
Los Angeles’ ultra-exclusive Bel Air neighborhood is feared to be facing a new threat – LAFD emergency vehicle pictured parked next to Bel Air Church as Palisades fire rages
There are also concerns about the risk to the 125,000 art worms housed at the Getty Center Museum in the mountains of LA, where smoke can be seen billowing above them.
The Palisades Fire burned south of Encino Reservoir in Los Angeles on Saturday.
“The Getty’s staff, art collection and building are safe from the Palisades fire,” the museum said in a statement. The threat continues. ”
Reported protective materials include fire-resistant travertine stone, as well as cement and steel, which authorities hope will help protect the artifacts from any damage.
According to the museum, the gallery can be closed with safe-style double doors.
Meanwhile, the death toll from the bushfires rose to 16 as workers scrambled to stop the blaze from spreading before another strong wind blows and threatens to push the blaze through the city’s most famous landmark. .
The Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office said in a statement Saturday night that five of the deaths were from the Palisades fire and 11 from the Eaton fire.
The confirmed death toll was 11 so far, but officials say that number will rise as teams with cadaver dogs carry out systematic grid searches in cleared areas. He said he expected that.
Authorities have established a center where people can report missing persons.
There were also concerns that winds could push the fire toward the J. Paul Getty Museum and the University of California, Los Angeles, and new evacuation orders put even more homeowners at risk.
Flames cross fire road above Mandeville Canyon during yesterday’s Palisades Fire
Air tanker drops Phoscheck fire retardant into Mandeville Canyon during Palisades fire
Firefighting helicopters draw water from Encino Reservoir in Los Angeles – questions have been raised in recent days about not having enough water available
Crews from California and nine other states are part of an ongoing response that includes 1,354 fire trucks, 84 aircraft, and more than 14,000 personnel, including firefighters newly arrived from Mexico. are.
Meanwhile, California Governor Gavin Newsom has ordered state officials to figure out why a 117 million gallon (440 million liter) reservoir has become inoperable and some fire hydrants have run dry.
Los Angeles Fire Chief Christine Crowley said city leaders failed in their responsibility by not providing adequate funding for firefighting efforts.
She also criticized the water shortage, saying, “When firefighters come to the hydrant, we expect there will be water.”
The Los Angeles Times first reported that the reservoir had been closed for repairs in recent weeks after damage to the cover used to maintain water quality occurred.
Airlifting of the reservoir began in February last year after debris entered the water supply due to a tear in the water supply cover, and it is said that it was subsequently drained in April and bids for repairs were invited, but the status of the response is unclear. It remains as it is.
Fire hydrants on high-altitude streets have also run dry and firefighters are struggling with low pressure.
Los Angeles Mayor Bass, 71, cut vital firefighting funding by £14.4 million ($17.6 million) weeks before the latest devastating fires, making her the “most hated woman in America.” .
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass is under fire over her response to California’s wildfires, with some criticizing one of the state’s major reservoirs being empty.
Los Angeles Fire Chief Christine Crowley said city leadership failed the department by not providing adequate funding for firefighting efforts.
California Governor Gavin Newsom (pictured with a hat) said questions need to be answered on the water – on January 8th in Pacific Palisades as he was seen with Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass. be able to
The Democratic mayor went on a taxpayer-funded trip to Ghana last Tuesday, despite warnings from weather experts that Santa Ana’s 80 mph wind gusts could spark devastating wildfires. was.
Fire Chief Crowley also criticized her, saying: “We are asking for adequate funding to ensure our firefighters can do their jobs so they can serve our communities. Budget cuts have made our job impossible.”
Newsom called the drop in water pressure “extremely concerning” and wrote in a letter to the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power and the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works: “We need answers as to how this happened.” said.
“We appreciate the governor’s letter and believe the study will identify new capabilities needed for water systems to help fight wildfires,” LADWP spokeswoman Ellen Chen said in a statement.
But LADWP union leader Gus Corona said: “It is completely unacceptable that this reservoir has been empty for nearly a year for minor repairs.”
“This work should have been done in-house and not outsourced to a contractor. I truly believe it was avoidable.”
“I’m glad the governor stepped in and investigated why this happened and held people accountable.”
