Controversy has erupted in Los Angeles after private firefighting teams were called to protect affluent neighborhoods from devastating wildfires, while nearby areas were left to burn, sparking questions about social inequality and the role of private firefighting services.
Local authorities reported on Tuesday that the wildfires in Los Angeles had caused at least 25 deaths, destroyed more than 12,000 buildings, and burned over 155 square kilometers of land.
In the midst of the devastation, a stark contrast became evident in the upscale Pacific Palisades neighborhood, where some buildings remained largely untouched by the flames, standing just streets away from charred remains in other areas.
The protected properties, part of the Palisades Village Shopping Center, were safeguarded by a private firefighting team hired by the shopping center's owners.
U.S. media outlets reported that the private firefighting crew, rushed in from neighboring Arizona, was deployed after the fire began spreading on the night of Jan 7 and into the early morning hours of Jan 8.
This revelation contradicted earlier denials by the Los Angeles Fire Department about the presence of private firefighters. The use of such private teams has since been linked to other wealthy areas, extending beyond just the shopping center.
Privately leased water trucks, each carrying about 12 tons of water, were seen stationed on the streets of the shopping center, standing by to combat the flames.
In the U.S., private firefighting services are typically hired through fire departments or insurance companies, not directly by individuals or businesses, with fees reaching up to 2,000 U.S. dollars per hour.
The revelation has sparked outrage, particularly among residents who lost their homes in less affluent areas. Many are questioning why private firefighting teams were able to prevent the spread of the fire, while city crews struggled to contain the flames.
The Los Angeles Fire Department reported that 20 percent of fire hydrants in the affected areas were either dry or had low water pressure, raising concerns about the coordination between private and public firefighting efforts, as well as their potential impact on public safety.
There are growing concerns about whether the private firefighting efforts obstructed evacuation routes or delayed the response of official fire crews. t remains unclear whether these private teams may have contributed to the slow response in areas that were not directly protected.
Controversy erupts as private firefighters called into rich neighborhoods to fight LA wildfires
China will take further steps to expand high-standard opening-up and create a new landscape of win-win cooperation in 2026, which marks the start of the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030), Commerce Minister Wang Wentao said in a recent interview with China Media Group.
Wang said opening up and cooperation for mutual benefit are integral to Chinese modernization. This year, China will actively expand voluntary opening up.
The country will steadily open up such areas as value-added telecommunications, biotechnology and wholly foreign-owned hospitals, while accelerating comprehensive pilot and demonstration programs for expanded opening-up in the services sector, he noted.
"We will expand the scope and regions of unilateral opening-up and ensure the implementation of zero-tariff treatment on 100 percent of tariff lines for all African countries that have diplomatic relations with China. We will vigorously promote the effective implementation of policies for special customs operations of the Hainan Free Trade Port, further enhance the level of trade and investment liberalization and facilitation, optimize the regional layout and coverage of pilot free trade zones, and support these zones in carrying out more robust institutional opening-up trials in areas such as market access, environmental standards and government procurement, so as to better leverage their role as comprehensive pilot platforms for reform and opening-up," said Wang.
Wang said China will promote the orderly planning of cross-border industrial and supply chains.
Efforts will be made to deepen economic and trade cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative, enhance integration and connectivity across production and supply chains, and encourage cooperation in areas including green development, the digital economy, green minerals, new infrastructure and new energy so as to help build global production and supply chain partnerships that are equal, inclusive and constructive, he noted.
"We will give play to the platform role of overseas economic and trade cooperation zones, expand overseas marketing networks and explore international markets through outward investment, achieve mutual promotion between investment and trade, and advance the integrated development of trade and investment. We will also improve the overseas comprehensive service system and the national-level overseas comprehensive service platform," said the minister.
In addition, China will participate constructively in global economic governance, according to the minister.
In 2026, Wang said, China will pursue flexible and pragmatic approaches to negotiate trade and investment agreements with more willing countries and regions, while strengthening economic and trade cooperation under multilateral frameworks such as BRICS, G20 and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, to further promote mutual benefit and win-win outcomes.
China to expand high-standard opening-up to foster win-win cooperation: minister
