California continues to burn with thousands of hectares in smoke and a damage count that is becoming immense, while the rescuers are trying to fight, but with difficulty, the advance of the flames. The weather bulletins that announce a worsening of the wind starting from the next few days, with the alert that remains high, do not help.
From his home in Los Angeles, the restaurateur from Sinnai, Vincenzo Porcu (47 years old) draws a merciless balance, while hundreds of homes and businesses have been destroyed: «A desolate spectacle», says Porcu, «the town of Palisades continues to burn with over 24,000 hectares destroyed and the damage limited to only 15%. For now the winds have calmed down and help is arriving from all over the world, but it is not enough. The relief machine is in total chaos».
More problems are emerging, with insufficient air and ground forces to fight the inferno in the hills around the city: «The firefighters are short of funds and their equipment is out of order, with water cannons without pressure and only planes trying to secure the areas most at risk».
But the situation is not much better north of Palisades, with three other active fires: "Not far from here," continues the restaurateur, "another 15,000 hectares of woodland and recently built homes have ended up in ashes. Ditto in Pasadena, where the picture is dramatic. In short: we are surrounded by fire and people are desperate, while anger is growing over government funding cuts to firefighters."
Porcu then talks about the fate of the many Sardinian emigrants: "Unfortunately, there are those who have lost everything but are alive and ready to fight for reconstruction. I consider myself lucky, because I live far from Palisades and the areas most at risk. At this time I continue to be busy, offering our food and wine specialties to rescuers and evacuees. Generosity is stronger than anything."
