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IN IMAGES – Three wildfires have resulted in the evacuation of tens of thousands of people in California. To the north, the city of Paradise is partly destroyed by the flames when, further south, the resort of Malibu is on alert.
At least nine people died in a fierce fire raging in northern California since Thursday, while further south, the popular Malibu resort is threatened by another rapidly spreading home.
● "Camp Fire" ravage Paradise
Paradise, a town of 26,000 people north of Sacramento, was partially destroyed by the camp fire, which broke out Thursday morning. Fueled by high winds, the disaster spread at high speed, covering the city with thick smoke and ashes. It ravaged more than 280 square kilometers, according to California Fire Department Cal Fire.
Butte County Sheriff's men found five victims in the town, whose residents had all been ordered to evacuate. "The first findings indicate that the victims were in their vehicles" and were trapped by the flames as they tried to escape, specify the services of the sheriff in a statement. "Because of their burns, they could not be immediately identified," which will require an autopsy, they add.
Three deaths were discovered Friday outside a house and another at home. Dozens more were missing.
In addition, dozens of houses were destroyed, as well as a hospital, a petrol station, numerous vehicles and several restaurants. From the Blackbear Diner, there remained only the sign "Welcome to Bearadise", noted a photographer from AFP.
The city of Paradise destroyed by the flames. JOSH EDELSON / AFP
"The magnitude of the destruction we've seen is truly incredible and heartbreaking," said Mark Ghilarducci of the California Governor's Emergency Services Office at a news conference in Toronto. live on Facebook. The state of emergency was declared in Butte County and evacuation orders were issued for several cities.
Authorities now fear that the fire, fanned by winds of 60km / h that could strengthen Friday morning, causes the same devastation in the nearby city of Chico where live 93,000 people.
● "Woosley Fire" threatens the city of Malibu
Nearly 600 km further south, near Los Angeles, the city of Malibu was on high alert because of a violent fire called "Woolsey Fire" which had started the day before about twenty kilometers to the north. "Please leave," Peter Foy, a Ventura County official, told a news conference.
The fire is progressing rapidly near Malibu. ERIC THAYER / REUTERS
Some 75,000 inhabitants are subjected to evacuation orders in the face of the "Woolsey Fire" threat, which has already consumed about 40 square kilometers of land. The evacuations concern the north of the seaside resort, famous for its white sand beaches. Part of the city's population of 12,000 is without electricity, and local TVs showed long lines of cars on Friday leaving the city via the coastal road, the only exit route to Los Angeles.
Several celebrities, many to live in this opulent region, had to evacuate, like Kim Kardashian, the actress Alyssa Milano and the Mexican director Guillermo del Toro.
The fire was declared near the town of Thousand Oaks, where a former soldier opened fire on Wednesday night in a bar, killing twelve people before committing suicide. The emergency services had to cope with both incidents within hours of each other. "We live in very stressful times," said Ventura County Manager Linda Sparks. "Many first aid members have not slept and as there are other fires in the state of California, we have not received as much help as we wanted." According to the authorities, this fire did not kill anyone.
"Woosley Fire" threatens the city of Malibu – Watch on Figaro Live
● 4,000 hectares destroyed by "Hill Fire"
Another fire, "Hill Fire", burned nearly 24 square kilometers of land west of Thousand Oaks, but its activity declined on Friday, according to firefighters.
Hill Fire continues to grow. KEVORK DJANSEZIAN / AFP
California has been hit since the end of 2017 by many particularly violent fires, which have killed more than a dozen people. In September, the "Mendocino Complex" was under control after almost two months of struggle. It had ravaged nearly 190,000 hectares, becoming the largest forest fire in California in recent history of this state. The previous record was December 2017, with the fire "Thomas" and its 114,078 hectares burned to ashes.
In July and August, eight people, including three firefighters, were killed in the "Carr" fire in the Redding area. It had destroyed 93,000 hectares before it could be extinguished after six weeks of struggle.
Impressive images of the fire, seen from the sky – Watch on Figaro Live
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