Operations were bolstered by teams from across the western United States and from neighboring countries.
Mexican firefighter Benigno Hernandez Cerino said he and his countrymen were honored to help.
“Our mission is to support our brothers and sisters in Los Angeles, and to do the best possible job to help them prevent fires,” he told AFP.
Elon Musk, who along with president-elect Donald Trump has sharply criticized authorities’ handling of the fires, sent several Cybertrucks with Starlink satellite internet terminals to assist.
Hollywood responds
The body that awards the Oscars said it was cancelling its ritzy nominees’ luncheon, as Hollywood tries to navigate the somber mood at a time it would usually be celebrating award season.
It also moved its Academy Awards nomination announcement online.
Major studios and streamers including Netflix, Disney, Amazon, Warner and Universal parent company Comcast have all announced eight-figure donations.
A dozen city sports clubs among them the Lakers, and the Dodgers baseball team, have pledged $8 million toward wildfire relief.
Fire investigation experts combed the wreckage looking for clues to what caused the blazes, with residents desperate for answers and social media overflowing with unsubstantiated videos showing everything from hikers to power lines seemingly at fault.
But urban sprawl puts people more frequently in harm’s way, and the changing climate — supercharged by humanity’s unchecked use of fossil fuels — is exacerbating the conditions that give rise to destructive blazes.
© 2025 AFP
