More than 12,300 homes and businesses have been destroyed and at least 24 people have died due to the devastating fires that plague the state of California, according to official figures from the authorities. Although the efforts of the firefighters local, state and federal have managed to partially contain some of the fires bigger, the flames continue to represent a significant danger not only to the affected communities, but also to the energy infrastructure of the region.
According to FOX Businessthe fireswhich have remained out of control since last Tuesday, January 7, could interrupt the flow of energy in California and in other western states USA. The oil refineries located in the areas of Los Angeles and Long Beachalthough not directly threatened by the flames, face indirect risks due to the proximity of several key pipelines that have been closed as a precaution.
The president of Lipow Oil AssociatesAndy Lipow warned that supplies of crude oil, gasoline, diesel and natural gas could be affected if the fires continue to advance. According to Lipow, the five refineries located in the Los Angeles area handle 60% of the refining capacity of California and 40% of West Coast refining capacity, which includes Alaska and Hawaii.
The closure of pipelines in affected areas could not only interrupt the supply of refined products to other states, but also cause excess inventory in refineries, forcing reductions in operating rates. Lipow noted that the Kinder Morgan West Line Pipelinewhich has since been closed, is responsible for supplying approximately 60% of the refined products consumed in Snowfall and two thirds of the refined products used in Arizona.
The crisis in the state of California It continues to worsen, with more than 12,300 structures destroyed or damaged and at least 24 dead. Weather conditions, marked by strong gusts of wind and extremely low humidity, have intensified the spread of the flamesaffecting more than 8 million people who are in critical risk areas. Authorities warn that the situation could worsen in the coming days, with forecasts indicating the persistence of the Santa Ana winds and the lack of relief in the dry climate.
According to ABC News, the fireswhich began last Tuesday, have been fueled by gusts of wind that reached speeds of between 56 and 88 kilometers per hour, with peaks of up to 113 kilometers per hour in the mountains near Los Angeles. These conditions led to National Weather Service to issue a red flag warning, which will remain in effect at least until Wednesday. Additionally, humidity in the region has dropped to levels as low as 10%, creating an ideal environment for rapid fire spread.
He most devastating fire until now it has been Pacific Palisades, that has consumed more than 9,600 hectares and threatens homes in areas such as Brentwood and the Mandeville canyon. According to The Wall Street Journalthis firewhich was only 11% contained as of Sunday morning, has forced residents to evacuate and left many families facing the loss of their homes.
During the weekend, the firefighters They made significant progress on other fires in the region. The fire in Altadena and Pasadenaknown as the fire of Eatonhad been contained by 27% after consuming more than 5,600 hectares. For its part, the fire of Lydialocated in the Los Angeles National Forest, was completely contained, while the fire of Hurstin the San Fernando Valley, reached 76% containment. However, authorities warned that the winds could reignite flames in areas that have not yet been affected.
