Intense Wildfires Disrupt Life in Los Angeles
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Los Angeles, Jan 11 (NationPress) Intense wildfires continue to burn across numerous areas of Los Angeles County, causing significant disruptions, including the closure of schools and the cancellation of entertainment, sports, and community events.
The Los Angeles Unified School District, the second-largest public school district in the United States, shut down schools on Thursday and Friday to protect students and staff from hazardous air quality. Superintendent Alberto Carvalho highlighted that traveling to school posed greater risks than staying home, particularly for children with respiratory issues.
Some campuses located near evacuation zones also faced power outages and low attendance prior to the closures being announced.
"We had to evacuate, so our lives are a mess, and the whole city is at a standstill," stated Pacific Palisades resident Kenneth, who only provided his first name to Xinhua. "However, at least we're still alive."
Currently, six wildfires are actively burning across Los Angeles County, engulfing nearly 36,000 acres. Among the most significant is the Palisades fire, which has scorched over 21,300 acres and damaged or destroyed more than 5,300 structures so far.
On the eastern side of Los Angeles, fires in Eaton Canyon and Highland Park have impacted schools and homes, with reports of damage affecting two elementary schools and parts of Palisades Charter High School. The Eaton Fire has ravaged nearly 14,000 acres, damaging or destroying up to 5,000 structures.
Meanwhile, the entertainment industry is experiencing significant setbacks due to the fires, power outages, and toxic air quality. Numerous film and TV productions currently underway have been called off, along with many premieres and events due to the uncertain spread of the fires and hazardous air conditions.
On Tuesday, Amazon MGM Studios and Universal Studios canceled their respective premieres for 'Unstoppable' and 'Wolf Man'. Paramount and Max followed suit by scrapping their Wednesday events for 'Better Man' and 'The Pitt'.
Apple TV+ opted to cancel the January 13 premiere of 'Severance Season 2', citing safety concerns for attendees and staff. Similarly, Sony/Tri-Star postponed the premiere of their comedy film 'One of Them Days', featuring Keke Palmer and SZA, while NBCUniversal canceled an all-day press event for several shows, including 'The Traitors' and 'Poker Face'.
Netflix also withdrew a planned music event for Emilia Perez, and Roadside Attractions canceled the January 9 premiere of 'The Last Showgirl', starring Pamela Anderson and Kiernan Shipka.
In the music realm, the iHeartRadio ALTer EGO festival, scheduled for Saturday and featuring bands like Fontaines D.C. and St. Vincent, was canceled. Event organizers expressed concern for the affected community and gratitude to first responders.
The annual Oscar Nominations Announcement, AFI Awards luncheon, and the BAFTA Tea Party were also postponed, reflecting a broader impact on award-season events, according to Xinhua news agency.
The fires have also disrupted the sports landscape, leading the Los Angeles Lakers to postpone their Thursday home game against the Charlotte Hornets, while the Rams' playoff game against the Minnesota Vikings was moved to Glendale, Arizona.
The NFL is closely monitoring air quality and its effects on training schedules for the Rams and Chargers. Several college sports events, including a basketball game at Pepperdine University, were also postponed as campuses like Pepperdine's Malibu location faced restricted access due to the fires.
As of Friday, the wildfires have destroyed more than 12,300 structures and claimed at least 11 lives, with officials cautioning that the true death toll will remain uncertain until it is safe for investigators to enter neighborhoods. Over 100,000 individuals are under evacuation orders, with tens of thousands more under warnings.
