LA fire evacuees: No chance of return until at least Thursday

Kathmandu: Tens of thousands of people forced from their homes by enormous fires raking Los Angeles will not be able to return for at least four days, officials said on Sunday.

Frustrated evacuees have formed lines at checkpoints hoping to get into no-go zones barricaded off amid the Palisades Fire and the Eaton Fire.

Many are desperate to get back to homes they had to flee with just a few moments’ notice to pick up medicines or clothes they did not have a chance to grab. Others simply want to find out if their houses have survived.

Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone said that the gusting winds forecast this week mean the fire emergency is far from over. ‘They can’t go home, simply because it’s not safe’ said Marrone in a press conference.

‘It’s our collective priority to be able to get residents back in their homes just as quickly as possible, That conversation is not going to occur until the end of the predicted red flag event that’s on its way’ said Marrone.

Los Angeles City Councilor Traci Park said she understood the anguish of those affected, but conditions were simply too dangerous. ‘These are hard decisions, and I know that many of my constituents are disappointed and frustrated, but safety must remain our top priority’ said Park’.

Around 100,000 people remain under compulsory evacuation orders in multiple fire zones, down from a peak of 180,000 last week. Areas hit by fires have been devastated, with whole streets reduced to cinders, and infrastructure badly mangled.

Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said his deputies would continue to keep people out of the zones. ‘A lot of these areas still look like they were hit by a bomb, there are live electrical wires, gas lines and other hazards’ said LA County Sheriff Luna’.

RSS/AFP