115,000 Filipinos in wildfire-affected areas in SoCal urged to evacuate when necessary
The Philippine Consulate in Los Angeles is closely monitoring several wildfires in Southern California which could affect as many as 115,000 members of the Filipino community.
In a statement, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Wednesday advised Filipino communities along the path of fast-moving wildfires in Ventura County and in Los Angeles County to “take the necessary precautions and evacuate their homes if ordered to by local authorities.”
“We join our kababayans in the Philippines and in the United States in praying for the members of the Filipino Community and their neighbors in Ventura and Los Angeles counties that they will be spared from the raging infernos that are threatening their lives and their homes,” Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano said.
He expressed concern over the latest wildfires in California and urged Filipinos in the affected areas to closely monitor developments, listen to instructions from authorities, and be ready to evacuate, if necessary.
“Kababayans affected by the fires should not hesitate to get in touch with the Philippine Consulate General in Los Angeles if they need assistance,” Cayetano said as he expressed hope that the fires would soon be contained.
In a report to the DFA main office, Consul General Adel Angelito Cruz said there are an estimated 25,800 members of the Filipino Community in Ventura County where the socalled Thomas Fire, the biggest of the three wildfires, continues to wreak havoc while there are 89,400 in San Fernando Valley, which is being threatened by the so-called Creek Fire.
Quoting reports from the US, Cruz said more than 27,000 people have already been evacuated from affected areas in Ventura County, which was placed under a state of emergency after the still raging Thomas Fire gutted more than 45,500 acres and destroyed around 150 buildings and houses.
Cruz further said the Consulate General is monitoring the Creek Fire and the Rye Fire in Los Angeles County which have already consumed more than 11,500 acres. The two wildfires also remain out of control.
Exactly two months ago, a series of wildfires hit several counties in Northern California that resulted in the death of 44 people, 185 injured and about 9,800 structures destroyed.
Touted as the “most destructive wildfire in the history of California,” the incident also caused several Filipino-American families to evacuate from their homes in areas like Napa Valley, Sonoma, Mendocino and Solano, among others. Devastating infernos SANTA PAULA, United States (AFP) – More than a thousand firefighters were struggling to contain a wind-whipped brush fire in southern California on Tuesday that has left at least one person dead, sent thousands fleeing, and was choking the area with thick black smoke.
The Ventura County Fire Department said more than 27,000 people had been told to evacuate as the fast-moving fire in the coastal county north of Los Angeles grew to 45,000 acres (18,200 hectares). More than 150 homes and businesses had already been destroyed.
California Governor Jerry Brown declared a state of emergency over the area, announcing: “This fire is very dangerous and spreading rapidly.
“It’s critical residents stay ready and evacuate immediately if told to do so.”
The northern part of Los Angeles county was engulfed in thick smoke, leaving the air almost unbreathable as ash fell on the streets. Mayor Eric Garcetti warned residents to remain vigilant for fresh outbreaks.
“This is an extreme weather event and these winds can spread embers far and/or kick small new fires up quickly. We expect five days of this,” he tweeted.
A Red Cross evacuation center which had hosted 600 people Monday night was expecting that number to rise to around a thousand by Tuesday, spokesman Fred Mariscal said.
Lexus Deloni, a 20-year-old caregiver who had brought her two young girls, aged one and two, said she had only 45 minutes to evacuate after returning home from a 12-hour shift in the city of Ojai, an hour-and-a-half drive from LA.
“I’m making sure they are eating, drinking, having fun, playing with them,” she said, as a man dressed as Santa Claus arrived, much to the delight of the youngsters.
Apocalyptic images Prospects for containment depended on improving weather conditions.
“Really, Mother Nature is going to decide when we have the ability to put it out,” Ventura County Fire Chief Mark Lorenzen told a news conference.
Strong seasonal gusts known as the Santa Ana winds had registered speeds of up to 55 miles per hour (80 kilometers per hour), the National Weather Service said, predicting they could hit upwards of 80 miles per hour.
“The fire is pushing quickly towards the city of Ventura,” Lorenzen said, and has reached the eastern city limits. The oceanside city has a population of around 100,000.
The fire chief said one death had been reported. “As the individual was evacuating from the fire, the car overturned,” he said.
Authorities said more than 1,000 firefighters were currently fighting the “Thomas Fire” – a blaze captured in apocalyptic images with flames sometimes taking on the appearance of a volcanic eruption.
“Fixed wing aircraft and helicopters are expected to attack the fire at daybreak,” the Ventura County website said.
Two other large blazes broke out Tuesday – the Creek Fire, which has so far swallowed 11,000 acres (around 4,500 hectares) and the more contained Rye fire, spread over 1,000 acres.