The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals' Pasadena courthouse will be closed through January 17
California courthouses have been closed down in the wake of the wildfires ravaging Los Angeles County, reported Reuters.
Chief US Circuit Judge Mary Murguia ordered the closure of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals’ Pasadena courthouse through January 17 “given the continuing high winds and the ongoing uncertainty related to the Southern California wildfires,” the court said on January 9. The court confirmed parties had been informed that proceedings scheduled for January 13-17 would be held remotely.
The San Francisco courthouse would stay open, and the court would continue to accept e-filing requests.
Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Superior Court also shut down its Pasadena courthouse as it was located near the Eaton Fire. The court closed its Hollywood Courthouse and the Sylmar Juvenile Courthouse as well.
The LA wildfires, which began burning on January 7, were described by California Governor Gavin Newsom as possibly the worst natural disaster in US history, according to Reuters. Six fires raged through the county, killing at least 24 people to date and forcing 100,000 to evacuate.
As per officials, 12,000 structures have been damaged or destroyed. On the western side, the fire has devastated 23,713 acres (96 sq km) of land and is 11 percent contained. The Eaton Fire in the east ravaged 14,117 acres (57 sq km) and is 27 percent contained. The Hurst Fire in the north is 89 percent contained. The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said that the three other fires have been completely contained.
Nonetheless, the National Weather Service forecasted that winds of 50 to 70 miles per hour (80 to 112 kph) would blast through Santa Ana through Wednesday.
“These winds combined with low relative humidities and low fuel moistures will keep the fire threat in all of Los Angeles County very high,” Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone said in a press conference statement published by Reuters.
On January 8, the fires were declared a major disaster by US President Joe Biden; the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) also declared a public health emergency for California.
HHS said that if asked by the state, its Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response would send responders, medical equipment, and supplies. Biden said that the government would reimburse all the recovery costs for the next six months.
Newsom also issued an executive order that suspended environmental regulations for destroyed homes and businesses temporarily. To date, firefighters have been dispatched from seven other US states as well as from Canada and Mexico to help contain the wildfires.
