Los Angeles Wildfires Linked to New Year’s Blaze, 24 Dead and $150 Billion in Damages

Islamabad:A devastating wildfire that broke out in Los Angeles last week appears to have been linked to a blaze that started on New Year’s Eve. According to archived radio transmissions, videos, and satellite imagery reviewed by *The Washington Post*, the current fire originated in the same area where the New Year’s Eve fire had started. Firefighters had successfully contained that fire after a four-hour struggle.

Local authorities investigating the recent fire incident in Los Angeles have expressed similar conclusions. When *The Washington Post* spoke to local residents, many indicated that the fire department’s response to Tuesday’s fire was slower than their response to the New Year’s Eve blaze.

Michael Golner, a professor at the University of California’s Department of Mechanical Engineering and a fire scientist, suggested that embers from the earlier fire might have reignited, leading to the forest fire.

Meanwhile, some victims believe the fire was intentionally started by someone. Local citizens and business owners have announced that they will file lawsuits against unidentified individuals in order to seek compensation for the damages caused. Authorities have warned that determining the exact cause of the fire could take several weeks or even months.

One individual claimed to have seen flames rising at 12:20 a.m. and stated that this fire was caused by “fools” who often celebrate New Year’s Eve by going to the mountains and forests to set off fireworks.

Experts, based on available information and evidence, believe the fire could have been caused by the residual embers of the New Year’s Eve blaze, which smoldered despite being put out. Once the winds picked up, sparks from the embers spread quickly through the dry brush, causing the fire to accelerate and spread towards residential areas.

The tragic toll from these wildfires has reached 24 deaths, with the blazes named the “Palisades Fire” and “Eaton Fire” in Southern California. In addition, multiple other locations have been affected by fires. Experts suggest that the combination of drought and strong winds has made controlling the fire even more challenging, and has contributed to its rapid expansion.

Over 37,000 acres of land have been burned so far, with 12,000 residential homes, businesses, and office buildings being destroyed. Experts estimate that the total damages from these fires could reach $150 billion, making it one of the most catastrophic disasters in modern American history.