On Friday, National Guard soldiers were patrolling Altadena after it was largely reduced to ashes by wildfire.
The arrival of these men in uniform is too late for the residents of this devastated suburb of Los Angeles.
“We didn’t see a single firefighter while we were throwing buckets of water to defend our house against the flames” on Tuesday night, said Nicholas Norman, 40.
“They were too busy over in the Palisades saving the rich and famous’s properties, and they let us common folks burn”, said the teacher.
But the fire did not discriminate.
In the upscale Pacific Palisades neighborhood, the first to be hit by the flames this week, wealthy residents share the same resentment toward the authorities.
Nicole Perri, a frustrated employee, complained that firefighters’ hydrants were running dry or leaking pressure. “Our city completely let us down,” she said.
Her lavish Palisades residence was completely destroyed. In a state of shock, the 32-year-old stylist wants to see accountability.
She told AFP, “There should have been measures that could have prevented this.”
“We’ve lost everything, and I just feel zero support from our city, our horrible mayor and our governor”.
– Not prepared –
At least 11 people have died in Los Angeles from multiple fires that are still roiling city, according to authorities.
Around 10, 000 buildings have been destroyed, and well over 100, 000 residents have been forced to evacuate.
So far authorities have largely blamed the intense 100 mile (160 kilometer) per hour winds that raged earlier this week, and recent months of drought, for the disaster.
But this explanation alone falls short for many Californians, thousands of whom have lost everything.
Despite severe weather warnings in the previous days, Karen Bass, the city’s mayor, has received harsh criticism for her visit to Ghana, where she was in the country.
READ ALSO: Los Angeles Fire: More Than 10, 000 Homes, Businesses Destroyed, At Least 11 Dead
The anger has only grown even more severe due to budgetary cuts to the fire department and a number of false evacuation warnings that were sent to millions of people this week.
“I don’t think the officials were prepared at all”, said James Brown, a 65-year-old retired lawyer in Altadena.
According to him, “There will have to be a real evaluation here, because hundreds and hundreds of thousands of people have already been completely displaced.”
“It’s like you’re in a war zone”.
– ‘ Point fingers ‘ –
Mayor Bass and California Governor Gavin Newsom, both Democrats, have separately called for investigations.
Republican president-elect Donald Trump has fanned the flames of controversy, blaming California’s liberal leadership and encouraging his followers to do the same.
Some Altadena residents have been frustrated by Trump’s highly politicized attacks, which included making false claims about why fire hydrants have dried up.
“That’s textbook Trump: he’s trying to start a polemic with false information”, said architect Ross Ramsey, 37.
“It’s too early to point fingers or blame anybody for anything”, he told AFP, while clearing ashes from the remains of his mother’s house.
We should concentrate on the people who are attempting to save their lives and how to assist them, according to the statement. From there, we can point fingers and figure out the situation using actual data and facts.
Source: Channels TV
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