• Calm winds have provided a temporary respite for firefighters battling five major wildfires around Los Angeles.
• The fires have claimed at least 11 lives and destroyed thousands of homes, with damage estimates ranging from $135 billion to $150 billion.
• California's Governor Gavin Newsom has deployed the National Guard and imposed a nighttime curfew in high-risk areas amid rising crime fears.
• Funding shortages and preparation failures have drawn criticism, prompting calls for a comprehensive review of the city’s emergency response.
• Potentially costly, these wildfires highlight the exacerbating effects of climate change on fire conditions in California.

As winds subsided around Los Angeles on January 10, firefighters seized a window of opportunity to combat five major blazes that have devastated neighborhoods and claimed at least 11 lives. President Joe Biden, describing the scene as reminiscent of a "war zone," referred to the scale of destruction, which could lead to total damages between $135 billion and $150 billion according to estimates from AccuWeather ([Le Monde](https://www.lemonde.fr/en/united-states/article/2025/01/11/us-weather-service-estimates-total-los-angeles-fire-damage-between-135-150-billion-so-far_6736927_133.html)).

The wildfires have ravaged over 35,000 acres (14,000 hectares) in California, prompting immediate action from Governor Newsom, who has mobilized the National Guard and imposed strict curfews in evacuated zones to prevent looting. “This curfew will be strictly enforced,” stated Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna, emphasizing a zero-tolerance approach to crime during this crisis ([South China Morning Post](https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3294346/winds-fuelling-los-angeles-wildfires-calm-down-accusations-fly-were-underfunded)).

Biden's comments were mirrored by residents like Hester Callul, who lamented the total loss of her home in Altadena, stating simply, “I lost everything.” The flames have affected high-value neighborhoods, such as Pacific Palisades and Malibu, where containment efforts progressed to approximately 8% as of Friday, but emergency officials acknowledged that the danger was still ever-present. Notably, actor Mel Gibson disclosed that his Malibu home was among the casualties, describing the loss as “devastating.”

In the wake of the crisis, criticism of governmental preparedness has intensified. Fire chief Kristin Crowley pointed to funding deficits, indicating that the department remains “understaffed” and “under-resourced.” As a response to these issues, Newsom ordered an independent investigation into the city’s water supply, expressing concern over reported loss of pressure at hydrants that hampered firefighting efforts. “We need answers to how that happened,” he urged ([South China Morning Post](https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3294346/winds-fuelling-los-angeles-wildfires-calm-down-accusations-fly-were-underfunded)).

Additionally, false evacuation alerts sent to millions further exacerbated public distress, with officials expressing remorse over the communication errors. “I cannot express enough how sorry I am,” stated Kevin McGowan, director of the Los Angeles County Office of Emergency Management. Compounding the challenges, an illegal drone incident resulted in damage to a firefighting aircraft, highlighting the multifaceted difficulties responders face.

With scientists attributing increased wildfire risks to human-induced climate change, these wildfires serve as a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities faced by California. The interplay of preceding wet years yielding to dry conditions left excess fuel available for fires, prompting murmurs of accountability from multiple levels of government. Biden cautioned against misinformation surrounding the fires, indicating that certain political figures might misuse the tragedies for their agendas.

For real-time updates and further developments surrounding this unfolding crisis, visit the original articles from SCMP and Le Monde.