The Philippine Consulate in Los Angeles is closely monitoring several wildfires in Southern California which could affect as many as 115,000 members of the Filipino community.

 In a statement, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Wednesday advised Filipino communities along the path of fast-moving wildfires in Ventura County and in Los Angeles County to “take the necessary precautions and evacuate their homes if ordered to by local authorities.”

“We join our kababayans in the Philippines and in the United States in praying for the members of the Filipino Community and their neighbors in Ventura and Los Angeles counties that they will be spared from the raging infernos that are threatening their lives and their homes,” Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano said.

The DFA Secretary expressed concern over the latest wildfires in California and urged Filipinos in the affected areas to closely monitor developments, listen to instructions from authorities and be ready to evacuate, if necessary.

 “Kababayans affected by the fires should not hesitate to get in touch with the Philippine Consulate General in Los Angeles if they need assistance,” Cayetano said as he expressed hope that the fires would soon be contained.

 In a report to the DFA main office, Consul General Adel Angelito Cruz said there are an estimated 25,800 members of the Filipino community in Ventura County where the so-called Thomas Fire, the biggest of the three wildfires, continues to wreak havoc while there are 89,400 in San Fernando Valley, which is being threatened by the so-called Creek Fire.

 Quoting reports from the US, Cruz said more than 27,000 people have already been evacuated from affected areas in Ventura County, which was placed under a state of emergency after the still raging Thomas Fire gutted more than 45,500 acres and destroyed around 150 buildings and houses.

 Cruz further said the Consulate General is monitoring the Creek Fire and the Rye Fire in Los Angeles County, which have already consumed more than 11,500 acres. The two wildfires remain out of control.

 Exactly two months ago, a series of wildfires hit several counties in Northern California that resulted to the death of 44 people, 185 injured and about 9,800 structures were destroyed.

Touted as the “most destructive wildfire in the history of California,” the incident also caused several Filipino-American families to evacuate from their homes in areas like Napa Valley, Sonoma, Mendocino and Solano, among others.

‘Out of control’ Southern California fire explodes as growing blazes force tens of thousands to flee

Tags: California wildfires