Californians brace for fire season as crews battle blaze near LA | DW News

Apocalyptic scenes from California in summer 2020, the most destructive wildfire season in the state's history. By the end of the year, nearly 10,000 individual blazes had claimed 33 lives and burned an area large enough to fit Berlin 12 times. California is no stranger to battling wildfires, even so no one expected the sheer size, speed and ferocity of the flames in 2020. Now Californians are bracing for the next fire season – a season that started early, it appears, because of a deliberate act. Police arrested an arson suspect after a wildfire broke out near Topanga State Park north of Los Angeles. Facing steep and difficult terrain, fire crews were supported by helicopters and air tankers. On the ground, local authorities gave evacuation orders to hundreds of homes under threat. The area's dense vegetation hasn't seen a major burn in more than 60 years. That helped drive the flames despite cool conditions and almost no wind. DW's Stefan Simons reports from Pacific Palisades.

Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/user/deutschewelleenglish?sub_confirmation=1

For more news go to: http://www.dw.com/en/ Follow DW on social media: ►Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/deutschewellenews/ ►Twitter: https://twitter.com/dwnews ►Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dwnews Für Videos in deutscher Sprache besuchen Sie: https://www.youtube.com/dwdeutsch

#California #ForestFires #LosAngeles