Biden Speaks on Looting and Theft in Los Angeles During Wildfires

President Joe Biden announced on Friday that the devastating wildfires sweeping through Los Angeles, California, have turned parts of the city into what he likened to a war zone. He also confirmed reports of looting and theft amid the chaos.

In a speech from the White House, Biden stated that scenes from Los Angeles resembled those of a battlefield under bombardment. He added that there is clear evidence of theft taking place as people take advantage of the disaster’s turmoil.

Biden condemned attempts to exploit the wildfires for spreading what he called misinformation, emphasizing the importance of accurate information during a crisis. Meanwhile, the fires continue for the fourth consecutive day to engulf several suburbs of the country’s second-largest city.

The blazes first erupted on Tuesday in an area about 40 kilometers north of downtown Los Angeles. Strong winds have steadily expanded their reach, turning them into a catastrophic threat.

So far, the wildfires have led to:

• • 10 fatalities

• • The destruction of 10,000 homes and buildings, along with extensive farmland

• • Over 137,000 people forced to evacuate their residences

Los Angeles authorities reported that 58,000 buildings remain at risk. Officials have issued evacuation orders for nearly 153,000 residents, urging them to leave for their own safety. Another 166,000 individuals have been cautioned to be on standby for possible evacuation.

The Chief of the Los Angeles Police Department reaffirmed that the fires pose an imminent threat to tens of thousands of structures, highlighting the daunting challenges that local and federal authorities face in containing the disaster.

Initial estimates indicate that these California wildfires could rank among the most expensive natural disasters in American history, with preliminary losses exceeding $135 billion. A report by the U.S.-based weather forecasting service AccuWeather suggests total damages may range between $135 billion and $150 billion, underscoring the magnitude of destruction in a region famous for some of the country’s most valuable real estate.

These wildfires are being described as the worst in Los Angeles’s recorded history. President Biden characterized them as “the largest and most destructive wildfires in California’s history,” reaffirming that “climate change is a real and urgent challenge.”

Biden, who has declared a major disaster in California, held meetings with senior officials last Thursday afternoon to discuss the federal response to the catastrophe.