CA - Pacific Palisades - 30,000 People Ordered to Evacuate From L.A. Wildfires #2

[JennieM]

13m ago

Nearly 90,000 households lost electricity in Southern California.​

Utilities shut off power to prevent their lines from sparking new blazes in the region.

On Tuesday afternoon, the areas facing the greatest fire risk were inland areas north of Los Angeles, including densely populated Thousand Oaks, Northridge and Simi Valley, home to more than 300,000 people, forecasters said.

Death toll rises to 25 amid new Los Angeles warnings and thousands still under evacuation orders – as it happened

Firefighters expect difficult and treacherous day as red flag warning forecasts winds of up to 75mph

www.theguardian.com

 

[JennieM]

1 min ago

LA Fire Department among the most understaffed in America, CNN Investigates reports​

From CNN's Blake Ellis, Melanie Hicken, Kyung Lah and Anna-Maja Rappard

A CNN analysis of the most recent data available from the 10 largest US cities and other comparable departments shows the Los Angeles Fire Department is less staffed than almost any other major city.

Less than a month before the fires swept across Los Angeles County, a group of longtime firefighters gathered at City Hall to plead for more resources, according to the report by CNN Investigates.

“I’m going to say what people can’t say,” said Freddy Escobar, president of the city’s fire union and a veteran firefighter. “If we cut one position, if we close one station … the residents of Los Angeles are going to pay the ultimate sacrifice, and someone will die.”

Experts have said no fire department in the world would have been able to take on such a perfect storm of conditions that resulted in LA’s devastating blazes – which have burned more than 40,000 acres, destroyed more than 12,000 structures and caused at least 24 deaths.

But images of residents in some neighborhoods trying to save homes with garden hoses and no firefighters in sight have sparked a new debate over whether city officials should have planned better and invested more in the LAFD, and what should be done to become better positioned for the next emergency.

Despite being located in one of the most fire-prone areas in the country, the LAFD has less than one firefighter for every 1,000 residents, the data shows.

That compares to cities such as Chicago, Dallas and Houston, where staffing is closer to two firefighters for the same number of residents. Of the largest cities, only San Diego has fewer firefighters per capita.

https://edition.cnn.com/weather/live-news/los-angeles-wildfires-palisades-eaton-california-01-14-25-hnk/index.html?t=1736895245082

 

[SouthAussie]

Auto fire is 25 percent contained.

Incidents | CAL FIRE

www.fire.ca.gov

View attachment 557647

Smaller fires breaking out in places ... this LA Times article says the Scout Fire has burned two acres and has the potential to burn five.
Another fire, the Stone fire, was contained in a little over an hour.
Both in Riverside County.

Fires break out amid windy conditions in Riverside County, triggering evacuations

Two new fires have started in Riverside County amid Santa Ana winds, sparking more evacuations in Southern California.

www.latimes.com

 

[SouthAussie]

1 min ago

LA Fire Department among the most understaffed in America, CNN Investigates reports​

From CNN's Blake Ellis, Melanie Hicken, Kyung Lah and Anna-Maja Rappard

A CNN analysis of the most recent data available from the 10 largest US cities and other comparable departments shows the Los Angeles Fire Department is less staffed than almost any other major city.

Less than a month before the fires swept across Los Angeles County, a group of longtime firefighters gathered at City Hall to plead for more resources, according to the report by CNN Investigates.

“I’m going to say what people can’t say,” said Freddy Escobar, president of the city’s fire union and a veteran firefighter. “If we cut one position, if we close one station … the residents of Los Angeles are going to pay the ultimate sacrifice, and someone will die.”

Experts have said no fire department in the world would have been able to take on such a perfect storm of conditions that resulted in LA’s devastating blazes – which have burned more than 40,000 acres, destroyed more than 12,000 structures and caused at least 24 deaths.

But images of residents in some neighborhoods trying to save homes with garden hoses and no firefighters in sight have sparked a new debate over whether city officials should have planned better and invested more in the LAFD, and what should be done to become better positioned for the next emergency.

Despite being located in one of the most fire-prone areas in the country, the LAFD has less than one firefighter for every 1,000 residents, the data shows.

That compares to cities such as Chicago, Dallas and Houston, where staffing is closer to two firefighters for the same number of residents. Of the largest cities, only San Diego has fewer firefighters per capita.

https://edition.cnn.com/weather/live-news/los-angeles-wildfires-palisades-eaton-california-01-14-25-hnk/index.html?t=1736895245082

At one point (in 2020) about 1% of Australia's population were volunteer firefighters. That percentage has decreased a bit now, unfortunately.
It is not a bad thing to have. Volunteer firefighters to assist the paid firefighters.
The need for firefighters is very erratic. Long periods of few fires, then all of a sudden a huge need for many.

Value beyond money: Australia’s special dependence on volunteer firefighters | Western Sydney University

www.westernsydney.edu.au

 

[JennieM]

3m ago
The National Weather Service said on Tuesday afternoon that “winds are weaker than expected today, but looking for one more enhancement late tonight and Wednesday.”

“Not quite out of the woods yet,” reads a post on X.

Death toll rises to 25 amid new Los Angeles warnings and thousands still under evacuation orders – as it happened

Firefighters expect difficult and treacherous day as red flag warning forecasts winds of up to 75mph

www.theguardian.com

 

[ispywithmylittleeye]

Yes, I think so- at least in some areas.

Going history nerd....

Perhaps the most questionable allied tactic of WWII was deliberately attempting to create "fire storms" in select German and Japanese cities. With the goal of destroying the entire city, the attacks were planned for favorable meterological conditions. The bombers were loaded with special incendiary bombs that could not be put out with water.

When everything was optimal / or "optimal" 1000(+) allied heavy bombers overwhelmed air defenses and wave after wave bombed the cities of Dresden, Hamburg and Tokyo. The deaths in each city were on par with the atomic bombs.

As you suspected the growing fires merged into a super fire which then led to "Fire Storms" with extremely high winds. Survivors and rescuers told tales of super winds dragging people into burning buildings, fleeing people over come by fire while running, and finding deep shelters full of dead as the fire storm had sucked the air from their lungs.

So..... I think the same thing "fire storms" could be happening in some instances in SOCAL- thankfully minus the tens of thousands of deaths.

In defense of the allies..... the Germans had also fantasized about cataclysmic bombing. After a "live rehearsal" raid against Rotterdam, the Germans were ready to create their own version of the apocalypse in the UK. But.... with light bombers in relatively small numbers, active air defense, and stone buildings, the Germans could never come close to creating fire storms.

That is a fascinating piece of history and aligns with what I was explained from a geologist studying the area. He said often areas that burn are ' firefoot prints' that create their own weather patterns just like you stated and that throughout history they will burn over and over. Mother nature has her own plans as it seems. I saw and experienced winds that knocked you darn near off your feet and toppled cement planters over .
This is probably not the least bit surprising to our Hero's out there fighting these fires.

 

[JennieM]

4m ago
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department announced the repopulation of communities impacted by the Eaton Fire effective on Tuesday, January 14, at 3 p.m.

Evacuation orders have been lifted south of Canyon Crest Road and west of Lincoln Avenue in the Altadena region.

The remaining areas of the community are still closed.

Death toll rises to 25 amid new Los Angeles warnings and thousands still under evacuation orders – as it happened

Firefighters expect difficult and treacherous day as red flag warning forecasts winds of up to 75mph

www.theguardian.com

 

[JennieM]

2 min ago

13 people remain missing in Palisades Fire within LAPD jurisdiction​

From CNN's Taylor Romine
At least 13 people are still considered missing in relation to the Palisades Fire within the jurisdiction of the Los Angeles Police Department, Cmdr. Steve Embrich said Tuesday.

A total of 35 people were reported missing, with 20 of those found safe and two found deceased, he said.

While the 13 people remain unaccounted for, they are not presumed to be dead, he added.

https://edition.cnn.com/weather/live-news/los-angeles-wildfires-palisades-eaton-california-01-14-25-hnk/index.html?t=1736898619474

 

[JennieM]

28 min ago

Very little fire activity around the Palisades Fire perimeter​

From CNN's Michelle Watson
There’s very little fire activity around the Palisades Fire perimeter, LA County Fire Battalion Chief Christian Litz said Tuesday at a news conference.

“I’m happy to say that there’s very little activity around the fire’s perimeter when it comes to visible flames,” Litz said, “however, we do have a lot of heat along the edges, so we’re working very hard to mitigate any of those sources so we don’t have any unwanted activity.”

The Palisades Fire is 17% contained, according to Cal Fire.

https://edition.cnn.com/weather/live-news/los-angeles-wildfires-palisades-eaton-california-01-14-25-hnk/index.html?t=1736898619474

 

[SouthAussie]

We have seen so much devastation from the Palisades fire ... but Cal Fire is saying that the Eaton fire is actually the 2nd most destructive fire in California history. The first being the 2018 Camp Fire.


The Eaton Fire, one of two major wildfires burning in the Southern California region, is now the second-most destructive wildfire on record in California, according to Cal Fire.

About 30 percent of the damage assessment is complete for the Eaton Fire.

Eaton Fire becomes second-most destructive wildfire in California history

The Eaton Fire, one of two major wildfires burning in the Southern California region, is now the second-most destructive wildfire on record in California, according to Cal Fire. The fire, which started the night of Jan. 7 near Altadena, has torched 14,117 acres and over 7,000 buildings, and...

www.nbclosangeles.com

 

[JennieM]

now
As Los Angeles residents await the worst of the forecasted wind event, the city warns people against using items like leaf blowers and barbecue grills. In a post on X, Unified LA, the city’s outlet for emergency public information said:

Strong Santa Ana winds pose a heightened fire risk. Please avoid using leaf blowers, grills, and any equipment that generates sparks during these winds. It only takes a small spark to ignite a major wildfire. Protect our community and stay safe.”

Peak Santa Ana winds are expected between three AM and three PM on Wednesday, according to the National weather service.

Death toll rises to 25 amid new Los Angeles warnings and thousands still under evacuation orders – as it happened

Firefighters expect difficult and treacherous day as red flag warning forecasts winds of up to 75mph

www.theguardian.com

 

[JennieM]

less than 1 min ago

84-year-old man identified as Eaton Fire victim​

From CNN's Jillian Sykes
An 84-year-old Altadena man is the latest victim to be identified from the Eaton Fire.

Zhi Feng Zhao was identified by the County of Los Angeles Department of Medical Examiner (DME). His place of death was listed as his residence.

30 min ago

At least 25 people dead from Los Angeles fires​

From CNN's Taylor Romine
At least 25 people are dead as a result of fires in Los Angeles, the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner said in an update Tuesday.

Eight people died in the Palisades Fire and 17 people died in the Eaton Fire, the update said.

https://edition.cnn.com/weather/live-news/los-angeles-wildfires-palisades-eaton-california-01-14-25-hnk/index.html?t=1736902770120

 

[JennieM]

2 min ago

ATF on scene investigating the cause of Palisades fire​

From CNN's Amanda Jackson, Jessica Flynn and Josh Campbell

ATF teams investigate in the hills above the Pacific Palisades on Tuesday.

Authorities are in the hills above the Pacific Palisades for the second day in a row investigating the cause of the Palisades fire that swept through the area last week.

An ATF agent is seen joining other investigators in aerial video recorded by CNN affiliate KABC. There is no leading theory at this time as to the cause of the Pacific Palisades fire, a source told CNN’s Josh Campbell on Monday.

The ATF’s National Response Team arrived this weekend and started their assessments Monday, including surveying various aspects of the fire to determine possible place of origin, which could then help determine the cause.

https://edition.cnn.com/weather/live-news/los-angeles-wildfires-palisades-eaton-california-01-14-25-hnk/index.html?t=1736904738250

 

[JennieM]

11m ago
A new fire was burning in Riverside County, between Indian Hill Road and the Santa Ana River.

The Scout fire has burned two acres, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

The flames began around 1:10 p.m. in the Santa Ana River bottom.

Death toll rises to 25 amid new Los Angeles warnings and thousands still under evacuation orders – as it happened

Firefighters expect difficult and treacherous day as red flag warning forecasts winds of up to 75mph

www.theguardian.com

 

[LinasK]

I'm with you 100%. Fireworks should absolutely be banned in So Cal.

In ALL of California in my opinion. My city in Nor Cal sells them as a fundraiser for the schools.

 

[JennieM]

2m ago
California governor, Gavin Newsom, issued an executive order on Tuesday barring “opportunist speculators” from taking advantage of the victims affected by the Los Angeles-area fires with “unsolicited cash offers to buy their properties.”

“The last thing these victims need are greedy speculators taking advantage of their pain with low-ball offers,” Newsom said.

The order makes these types of offers illegal for three months in specific zip codes, which include the Altadena region.

Death toll rises to 25 amid new Los Angeles warnings and thousands still under evacuation orders – as it happened

Firefighters expect difficult and treacherous day as red flag warning forecasts winds of up to 75mph

www.theguardian.com

 

[Dotta]

"Los Angeles insurance giant
makes chilling prediction after devastating fires.

The companies cancellations are not a sign that wildfires aren’t insurable, Zukerman said, adding,

'it is a sign that insurance companies need to be allowed to charge the prices that match the increased risk in order to insure'.

Now,
the question is how much more expensive California insurance will get,
and whether more carriers might cut back on their business in the state as additional - and costly - wildfires break out.

Starting this year,
the California Department of Insurance
will allow insurance companies to use wildfire catastrophe models to inform new pricing.

The companies will also be able to pass on some of what they pay for reinsurance
- insurance for insurance companies -
to their customers, under the new policy."

Los Angeles insurance company makes prediction after devastating fires

A California home insurance CEO issued a chilling statement addressing the status of home insurance amid the ongoing wildfires burning hundreds of acres across the state.

www.dailymail.co.uk

 

[MassGuy]

L.A. fire officials could have put engines in Palisades before the fire broke out. They didn’t​

As the Los Angeles Fire Department faced extraordinary warnings of life-threatening winds, top commanders decided not to assign for emergency deployment roughly 1,000 available firefighters and dozens of water-carrying engines in advance of the fire that destroyed much of the Pacific Palisades and continues to burn, interviews and internal LAFD records show.

Fire officials chose not to order the firefighters to remain on duty for a second shift last Tuesday as the winds were building — which would have doubled the personnel on hand — and staffed just five of more than 40 engines that are available to aid in battling wildfires, according to the records obtained by The Times, as well as interviews with LAFD officials and former chiefs with knowledge of city operations.

The department only started calling up more firefighters and deploying those additional engines after the Palisades blaze was burning out of control.

No extra engines had been placed in the Palisades, where the fire broke out about 10:30 a.m. on Jan. 7, officials said. The department pre-positioned nine engines to the San Fernando Valley and Hollywood that were already on duty, expecting that fires might break out there. Officials said they moved more engines “first thing in the morning” to also cover northeast L.A.

L.A. fire officials could have put engines in the Palisades before the fire broke out. They didn't

Fire officials made the critical decision to forgo calling in scores of extra firefighters and equipment in the hours before the fire, according to internal documents reviewed by The Times.

www.latimes.com

 

[iamshadow21]

With a platform comes influence. This young man used his to save lives.

What happened on Tuesday, Jan. 14 during the Eaton, Palisades firestorms in Southern California

Coverage of the Eaton and Palisades fires, including stories about the unprecedented losses, issues firefighters faced and the winds.

www.latimes.com

 

[SouthAussie]

With a platform comes influence. This young man used his to save lives.

What happened on Tuesday, Jan. 14 during the Eaton, Palisades firestorms in Southern California

Coverage of the Eaton and Palisades fires, including stories about the unprecedented losses, issues firefighters faced and the winds.

www.latimes.com

Thank you. Fabulous article (I went to the full article linked at your provided link).

Edgar McGregor is the young man's name. 24 years old, he has a following of about 7,500 local people of all ages. He is described as dispassionate, as opposed to being an alarmist. He studied climate science at San José State University, interned at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and currently works for Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation.

He watches the weather conditions closely ... and he told his Altadena followers not to sleep that night, get their important documents together, park their cars in the driveway facing toward the road, get ready to go.

Then later said fire had ignited in Eaton Canyon, this is not a drill. People listened, they prepared, they left. They saved themselves, their children, their cats, their dogs. And they have the highest of praise for Edgar and his early warning.