Country-wide indignation ensued after some Hollywood celebrities have been accused of ignoring water-saving regulations to maintain their expensive gardens as fires ravaged Los Angeles and fire hydrants ran dry.
The restrictions, in place since 2022, limit the time that regular residents can water their lawns to twice a week for only eight minutes per session. However, entertainment personalities, such as Kim Kardashian, have exceeded their water allocation by hundreds of thousands of gallons and are being penalized as a result.
Despite being fined, neighbors have accused her and other celebrities, such as Sylvester Stallone and Kevin Hart, of continuing to use excessive amounts of water.
“Everyone was told to cut back on water precisely for this situation, to preserve it to fight fires. They carried on watering because they could afford the fines,” a resident told local media.
Netizens are angry after celebrities are accused of breaking water-saving rules to maintain their massive Los Angeles gardens
“These celebrities have a sense of entitlement,” the angry neighbor explained to the Daily Mail, echoing the sentiments of many who felt the disastrous fires revealed the worst aspects of celebrity and rich people’s culture.
The most wealthy hired expensive private firefighting teams, charging up to $2,000 per hour, to safeguard their properties from the encroaching flames, rubbing salt into the wound.
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Chris Dunn, owner of Covered 6, a private firefighting team, explained to the outlet that his phone has been ringing constantly since the tragedy began, with demand reaching unprecedented levels.
A wealthy resident explained his position, stating that most people would do the same if they had the money: “This week’s events have shown you can’t trust the city to protect your property. I have the money, so why not?”
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The use of private companies comes as public hydrants are running out of water, with up to 20% of Los Angeles’ water taps going dry.
“Right now, we’re not utilizing the hydrants,” Kristin M. Crowley, chief of the Los Angeles Fire Department, explained. “We need answers to ensure this does not happen again, and we have every resource available to fight these catastrophic fires.”
Feelings of helplessness grow as containment efforts continue to struggle to slow the flames’ advance
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The calamitous nature of the disaster, comparable only to the tragic events of 2018’s Camp Fire, which ravaged more than 150,000 acres in Northern California, has left many with a sense of impotence, seeking outlets for their anger and sadness as they lose everything to the merciless flames.
From arsonists adding fuel to the fire to “out-of-touch” celebrities asking for money via fundraisers—despite their massive fortunes—the situation has sparked outrage across social media.
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Progress has been slow, with the Palisades Fire, the biggest of the three, being only 14 percent contained as of Monday morning (January 13).
The second largest, the Eaton Fire, has been 33 percent contained, and the smallest, the Hurst Fire, is about to be completely put out with 95 percent containment.
“We keep getting stalled by mother nature,” lamented Joe Everett, assistant chief of the Los Angeles Fire Department, at a news conference. “I know you want to get back in your houses, and we’re coming up with plans to do that,” he continued.
Two seasons of heavy rainfall, followed by one of extreme drought, created the ideal conditions for the flames to spread, according to experts
Image credits: The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
According to climate experts, this year’s Los Angeles wildfires were caused by a perfect combination of factors that made it easier for the flames to expand and grow to massive proportions.
