Los Angeles fire evacuees told they can’t return for a week

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Tens of thousands of people ordered to flee their homes as wildfires raged through Los Angeles were told Thursday to stay home for at least a week amid fears of electrocution, landslides and toxic exposure. Will not be allowed.

Frustration is growing among evacuees, who resent laws that prevent them from returning — even to homes that survived the deadly fire.

“There was a group chat where everyone was complaining, freaking out, saying, ‘Why are they locking us out of our homes?'” Ronan Mays told local broadcaster KTLA.

But with 40,000 acres (16,000 hectares) burned in two devastating fires, the situation remains critical, officials said.

Power, gas and sewer lines are broken, toxic waste is everywhere, and there is an increasing risk of dangerous mudslides or landslides, officials said at a news conference.

Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said it will take some time.

“I would say at least, at least another week, and that’s an estimate, but I’m sure it’s going to be longer than that.”

At least 27 people have died in wind-driven fires that swept through the upmarket Pacific Palisades and more mixed communities of Altadena, according to the latest coroner’s figures.

Luna said search teams are continuing to comb through the debris to find victims, with the death toll expected to rise.

He said authorities were blocking people from some areas “because we believe there could be victims”.

Unstable hill.

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) teams began inspections Thursday as they work to remove pesticides, fuel and lithium batteries from the wreckage before any debris can be cleared.

Los Angeles County Public Works Director Mark Pestrella said seemingly unaffected structures could be hit by landslides and any heavy rain could be dangerous.

“In the event that we have a large rainfall event, we expect that all street areas and all communities will be affected by debris flows that can be hazardous to human health.”

The hillsides have been destabilized by the fires, and by the large volumes of water that firefighters have used to try to contain them.

Photos taken from the Pacific Palisades area show a house – unscathed by the fire – torn in two after the flames were extinguished when part of the hillside collapsed.

Pam Shriver

US tennis great Pam Shriver revealed on Thursday that her collection of major trophies from her illustrious career had been stolen after being pulled from a fire.

Shriver, 62, packed five US Open trophies, five French Open plates, five Wimbledon trophies and an Australian Open trophy into her car as she drove from her Brentwood home to a hotel on Friday.

Not long after, he found the car – and its irreplaceable contents – had been stolen.

“It’s really sad on so many levels that when people are at their lowest and at their most difficult time, people are doing things like this,” Shriver told ESPN. told SPN.

Hot spot

Strong winds that have buffeted the region for more than a week, fanning fires across a wide area, eased on Thursday. was gone, giving firefighters a much-needed boost as they contained the hotspot.

The battalion’s work from across the U.S. was being bolstered by inmate crews, who worked alongside regular firefighters to cut containment lines and clear brush.

Jacob Castro, who has served 29 years for his crimes, said he is grateful for the opportunity to help with firefighting efforts and to repay his debt to society.

“I have done the first thing in my life that I am proud of,” he told AFP.

“I love doing this, helping the community while making up for the bad decisions I’ve made in life,” said Castro, a popular firefighter at one of the fire training camps run by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Have a position.

“This is your chance to redeem yourself.”