Los Angeles investigates fire blame as curfew enforced

Californians demand accountability for Los Angeles wildfires devastation, as officials face criticism over preparedness and response.

Californians on Friday (January 10, 2025) demanded to know who is at fault for the vast devastation caused by the raging Los Angeles wildfires, as a strict curfew went into force to prevent looting and lawlessness.

At least 11 people died as flames ripped through neighbourhoods and razed thousands of homes in a disaster that U.S. President Joe Biden likened to a "war scene."

While Angelenos grapple with the heart-rending ruin, anger has risen over officials' preparedness and response, particularly for a series of false evacuation alarms and after hydrants ran dry as firefighters battled the initial blazes.

Governor Gavin Newsom on Friday (January 10, 2025) ordered a "full independent review" of the city's utilities, describing the lack of water supplies during the initial fires as "deeply troubling."

"We need answers to how that happened," he wrote in an open letter.

Residents like Nicole Perri, whose home in the upscale Pacific Palisades burnt down, told AFP that officials "completely let us down."

"I don't think the officials were prepared at all," said James Brown, a 65-year-old retired lawyer across the city in Altadena.