“See they not that We are visiting the land, curtailing it of its sides? And Allah pronounces a doom—there is no repeller of His decree. And He is Swift in calling to account.”
—Holy Qur’an, Chapter 13:41 (Maulana Muhammad Ali translation)
Governors declared states of emergency in California as wildfires raged, scorching acres and destroying thousands of homes and businesses.
In California, fierce wildfires continue raging in Los Angeles County. Included were the Palisades (west of L.A.), Eaton (north of Pasadena), Hurst (San Fernando Valley), Lidia (off the Antelope Valley Freeway, in the Sierra Pelona Mountains) and Sunset Fires (Hollywood Hills),
All in L.A. County, according to CAL FIRE, the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. Preliminary estimates state the cost of the fires and economic losses could top $150 billion.
“This Firestorm is the big one in magnitude. Hurricane force winds are usually accompanied by rainstorms, but these are hurricane force winds that are combined with extremely dry drought conditions,” said Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass.
“To those who fled their homes, especially those who have lost your homes, our hearts are breaking for you, and we stand with you,” the mayor stated.
At presstime, the Hurst Fire, which started on Jan. 7 and covered 799 acres, was 89 percent contained, and the Lidia Fire, which started on Jan. 8, over 349 acres, was 40 percent contained, according to fire officials.
Since it began on Jan. 9, the Palisades Fire burned 23,707 acres with 11 percent containment, according to CAL FIRE. The Eaton Fire scorched 14,117 acres, with 27 percent containment. There were 16 deaths, 11 in the Eaton Fire and five in the Palisades Fire, which spread to Brentwood and Encino.
According to CALFIRE, more than 12,000 structures have been damaged or destroyed in the Palisades and Eaton fires as of Jan. 12.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom proclaimed a state of emergency to further support the Palisades Fire-impacted communities and secured a Fire Management Assistance Grant for vital resources.
He also approved the deployment of Military Police Forces—the law enforcement branch of the California National Guard—which will be stationed at traffic control points to ensure the safety of the surrounding community and build the capacity of local law enforcement to support their respective areas, he said.
Twenty people had been arrested on suspicion of looting in the various burn areas, according to LA County Sheriff Robert Luna. Los Angeles City and County declared local emergencies to respond to the Palisades Fire.
President Joe Biden and the federal government approved additional resources for the state of California to battle it, according to Mayor Bass’ office. She expressed sympathy and concern about the deaths and sent condolences to the families who lost loved ones and those who lost property.
Lives have been impacted, property and possessions destroyed, and people are in shock. People of various racial and economic backgrounds have been impacted by the fires.
However, what is happening is not by happenstance but is a divine sign that the Judgment of Almighty God Allah is intensifying in America as taught by the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad and the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan. Both Divine Servants of Allah have warned the people of America that God is using the forces of nature to humble America.
“The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan has been warning America. He has been warning us. He has been warning everyone that the sins of this country have reached the nostrils, the eyes, and ears of God, and that we’re living in the Time of Judgement.
And, the plagues of Judgment are rain, hail, snow, water, earthquakes and famine. All types of disease and earthquakes in diverse places, we will see hit this country,” said Nation of Islam Western Regional Student Minister Abdul Malik Sayyid Muhammad, who is based in Los Angeles.
The Palisades Fire forced evacuations of at least 179,000 and over 400,000 were without power, according to the website poweroutage.us. Preliminarily, structures destroyed were “into the thousands,” according to L.A. County Fire officials. The fire affected Malibu, Topanga Canyon and Santa Monica also.
“At one point, we’ll be able to do a more thorough search of these impacted areas—some of them look like a bomb was dropped in them,” said L.A. County Sheriff Robert Luna, during a Jan. 8 fire briefing. Canines and other things would help, but hopefully not discover too many fatalities, he prayed.
“We’re in that hour where America is being judged by Almighty God. And so, we believe that nothing happens but by either Allah’s Active Will or His Permissive Will,” said Student Min. Abdul Malik Sayyid Muhammad. “It’s a humbling thing that we have to beg for mercy.
This is a sign to all of us. It is not a time to make mockery of the suffering of any people, but we better heed the warning and get ourselves ready, for the worst is yet to come,” he continued, echoing the Divine guidance and insight of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad and the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan.
“L.A. County and all 29 fire departments in our county are not prepared for this type of widespread disaster,” said L.A. County Fire Department Chief Anthony Marrone, during a news conference on Jan. 8. “The LA County Fire Department was prepared for one or two major brush fires, but not four, especially given the sustained winds and low abilities,” he added.
L.A. Fire Chief Kristin M. Crowley stated that “extreme fire behavior” continues to challenge firefighting efforts in the Palisades area. In addition, 60 mph wind gusts were expected to resume.
“Safe to say that the Palisades Fire is one of the most destructive fires in the history of Los Angeles,” stated Chief Crowley.
“The scripture says that these are just the beginning of sorrows. We were warned, Saviours’ Day, almost every Saviours’ Day for the last seven years by the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan: ‘Watch the weather,’ and you know, the scientists are at their wits end.
They could call it global warming. They can call it whatever they want. We know who controls rain, snow, hail and earthquakes. We know who controls the sun, and so we’re witnessing that end,” said Student Min. Abdul Malik Sayyid Muhammad.
He said that Minister Farrakhan has a tender heart and hates to see the suffering of any people, particularly Black people. “And this is horrific. These fires are so out of control, and the wind, 90 mile per hour winds taking embers, and the people are saying that it looks like it’s raining fire,” he added.
The Palisades Fire forced drivers along Sunset Boulevard, near the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH), to abandon their vehicles as it quickly exploded in size. As a result of the traffic jam on Palisades Drive that prevented emergency vehicles from getting through, a bulldozer was brought in to push the abandoned cars to the side and create a path, reported NBC News.
“We’ve been warned, and again, this is the beginning of sorrows. And we were taught by the Honorable Elijah Muhammad and the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan and in ‘The Fall of America’ that Allah will curtail America on all of her sides, driving the people to the middle,” said Student Min. Muhammad.
“But there’s a window of time to get out of this if America would just repent for what she has done to Black and Indigenous people. There’s still a window of opportunity, and that’s what we’re seeing,” he added, referencing the Teachings of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad and the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan.
Akeilah Ra’eesah Muhammad and Associated Press contributed to this report.