Los Angeles fire evacuees told not to return home as landslides pose new threat

[craig nigrelli]

HERE IN THE U-S — A NEW THREAT LOOMS IN FIRE-RAVAGED SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA: LANDSLIDES.

AUTHORITIES SAY LEVELED STRUCTURES NO LONGER HOLD the earth IN PLACE IN SOME PARTS OF THE HILLSIDE.  WATER FROM FIRE HOSES AND BROKEN PIPES HAS SATURATED THE GROUND,   CREATING A DANGEROUS SITUATION.

THIS AS OFFICIALS IN LOS ANGELES ARE TELLING RESIDENTS,  FORCED TO EVACUATE BY THE DEADLY WILDFIRES OVER THE PAST WEEK, **NOT** TO GO HOME YET.

THEY’RE URGING THE EVACUEES TO WAIT AT LEAST ANOTHER WEEK TO RETURN — WHETHER THEIR HOME WAS DESTROYED OR SPARED — SO EMERGENCY RESPONDERS CAN REMOVE TOXIC WASTE FROM INCINERATED NEIGHBORHOODS AND CUT OFF POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS ELECTRICITY AND GAS LINES.

ALSO, THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY HAS TO REMOVE HAZARDOUS MATERIALS FROM DAMAGED AND DESTROYED HOMES BEFORE DEBRIS CAN BE HAULED AWAY AND UTILITIES ARE FULLY RESTORED.

THE DEADLY FIRES HAVE NOW CLAIMED THE LIVES OF AT LEAST 27 PEOPLE AND MORE THAN 82-THOUSAND ARE **STILL** UNDER EVACUATION ORDERS AS THE PALISADES AND EATON FIRES CONTINUE BURNING,  WITH NO END IN SIGHT.

THEY’VE SCORCHED A COMBINED AREA OF ABOUT 60 SQUARE MILES AND DESTROYED THOUSANDS OF HOMES.

AS OF CAL FIRE’S LATEST UPDATE… THE PALISADE FIRE REMAINS 22 PERCENT CONTAINED WHILE THE EATON FIRE IS NOW 55 PERCENT CONTAINED — UP FROM 45 PERCENT. IT APPEARS FIREFIGHTERS HAVE MADE SOME PROGRESS IN BATTLING THE INFERNOS OVER THE PAST DAY.