Wealthy LA residents hire costly private fire teams amid crisis
Wealthy residents of Los Angeles are hiring private firefighting teams to protect their estates from fires. These services can cost up to £1,650 per hour. Meanwhile, the fire continues to rage, having already claimed 24 lives as reported by the "New York Post".
The California fires are destroying the wealthiest neighborhoods of Los Angeles, and affluent residents are opting to hire private firefighting companies. In the USA, companies offer "on-call" services, providing their own water resources, trucks, and firefighting equipment. According to the New York Post, the cost of such services reaches £1,650 per hour. California authorities have admitted that the fire department was not prepared for such a massive disaster. Rescuers from Mexico and Canada are coming to help.
Chris Dunn, owner of the company Covered 6, said in an interview with the Daily Mail that his "phone doesn't stop ringing" as Hollywood elites seek his services. Private firefighting companies often collaborate with the government, but now they are also offering individual home protection services.
An American journalist noted that one house was equipped with water sprinklers and continually soaked the roof. The mentioned specialists guarded the mansion all night, looking out for potential flare-ups. Other companies wrap trees and shrubs with thick fireproof materials.
Some residents, like millionaire Keith Wasserman, have faced criticism for hiring private firefighters. Wasserman publicly sought help to protect his home in Pacific Palisades. He argued that he would pay the firefighters any amount, which sparked outrage among internet users. People accused him of putting innocent lives at risk, insisting that his house was surely insured. He faced such a large wave of negative comments that he decided to delete his social media account.
Critics accuse the wealthy of diverting resources from public services, which are overwhelmed. Among those criticised is Kim Kardashian, who reportedly used enormous amounts of water to irrigate her garden. The raging fires in Los Angeles have resulted in 24 deaths, and more than 100,000 people have had to leave their homes, leaving them under the care of public firefighters.
According to the "New York Post", Rick Caruso, a well-known real estate investor, also hired private firefighters, which met with negative reactions. Internet users criticise such actions, emphasising that resources should be available to all, not just the wealthiest.
