“They prioritized affluent area”: Wildfires Leave Altadena in ashes amid criticism of authorities
The Los Angeles suburb of Altadena, reduced to rubble by a wildfire, was patrolled by National Guard soldiers on Friday—a move residents deem too late.
“We didn’t see a single firefighter while we were throwing buckets of water to defend our house,” said Nicholas Norman, a 40-year-old teacher. Accusing authorities of prioritizing affluent areas, he added, “They were too busy over in the Palisades saving the rich and famous’s properties, and they let us common folks burn.”
The devastation spared no one. In the upscale Pacific Palisades neighborhood, residents expressed similar discontent. “Our city has completely let us down,” said Nicole Perri, whose luxury home was destroyed. Outraged at failing hydrants, she demanded accountability: “Things should have been in place that could have prevented this.”
Wildfires across Los Angeles have killed at least 11 people, destroyed 10,000 buildings, and displaced over 100,000 residents. Officials attribute the disaster to high winds and drought, but many Californians reject this as insufficient. Mayor Karen Bass faced backlash for visiting Ghana despite dire warnings, while budget cuts and botched evacuation alerts fueled anger.
“This feels like a war zone,” said retired lawyer James Brown, 65. Both Mayor Bass and Governor Gavin Newsom have called for investigations, but Republican president-elect Donald Trump’s politicized criticism has frustrated some survivors.
“It’s too early to blame anyone,” said architect Ross Ramsey, 37. “Let’s focus on helping people rebuild. Then we can evaluate with real facts and data.”
