Hundreds of homes were destroyed and thousands of residents forced to flee as a series of ferocious wind-driven wildfires raged across Southern California today.
More than 500 mobile homes were gutted and 10,000 people evacuated by a blaze that ripped through a Los Angeles suburb in what officials said was one of the worst fires to ravage the city in nearly half a century.
The fire, which erupted late Friday in the densely populated district of Sylmar, came as firemen continued to battle a fire in the celebrity enclave of Montecito, 160 kilometres to the north.
Fires also broke out in the cities of Yorba Linda and Corona, south-east of Los Angeles, reportedly destroying at least 20 homes and forcing the closure of several important transport routes.
The Los Angeles fire, fuelled by seasonal winds of up to 130km/h, erupted late on Friday and has scorched 3,200 hectares.
Ground zero of the firestorm was a mobile home park near Sylmar where more than 500 residences were reduced to a smouldering wasteland.
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, blaming the spread of the fire on "absolutely atrocious" winds, said the blaze was one of the worst in the city's history.
"We have never lost in recent times anything close to this number (of homes)," Mr Villaraigosa said.
Los Angeles County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky said the fire, which was 20 per cent contained by 8pm local time on Saturday, was the worst since a 1961 blaze in wealthy Bel Air that destroyed more than 480 homes.
"This is as bad a fire as I can remember since the 1961 fire," Mr Yaroslavsky said.
Los Angeles Police Department chief William Bratton described the devastation as "absolutely incredible".
"Words cannot describe it," Mr Bratton said. "This is a very established, residential, middle-class community and the idea that 500 of these families are now without a home is incredible."
About 2,000 firemen, using helicopters, bulldozers and fire engines, were battling the fire, attempting to halt its advance as a state of emergency was declared across Los Angeles County.
Six people, including five firemen, were confirmed injured.
The Sylmar fire was one of several burning across Southern California on Saturday, and authorities were tracking a large fire near Yorba Linda, 64kms south-east of Los Angeles, and neighbouring Corona.
Vast plumes of smoke from the Yorba Linda blaze could be seen across the Los Angeles skyline and about 60 residences had been damaged or destroyed. The fire has consumed more than 800ha.
Meanwhile, hundreds of firemen were making progress against the fire which tore through the millionaires' playground of Montecito after erupting on Thursday. A total of 111 homes had been gutted by the fire, which has burnt about 728ha and was 40 per cent contained.
* AFP
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Learn more about Qasr Al Hosn
In 2013, The National's History Project went beyond the walls to see what life was like living in Abu Dhabi's fabled fort:
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COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
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Ferrari
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Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants
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Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
The Bio
Favourite place in UAE: Al Rams pearling village
What one book should everyone read: Any book written before electricity was invented. When a writer willingly worked under candlelight, you know he/she had a real passion for their craft
Your favourite type of pearl: All of them. No pearl looks the same and each carries its own unique characteristics, like humans
Best time to swim in the sea: When there is enough light to see beneath the surface
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The National Archives, Abu Dhabi
Founded over 50 years ago, the National Archives collects valuable historical material relating to the UAE, and is the oldest and richest archive relating to the Arabian Gulf.
Much of the material can be viewed on line at the Arabian Gulf Digital Archive - https://www.agda.ae/en
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Game Changer
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Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed
Rating: 1/5
