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

[dotr]

 

[Herat]

Pier - Pacific Park® | Amusement Park on the Santa Monica Pier

pacpark.com

Live cam from the Santa Monica Pier. This is just a handful of city blocks from the evacuation area. It looks like the sky is kind of blue. The wind must be going away from the pier. You can see the smoke in the distance when the camera pans out. What kind of shocks me is the amount of people strolling the pier so close to the red mandatory evacuation area. 8 city blocks from the red area in this map. ( you have to zoom in and you can see the pier)

California Fire Map: Active Wildfires

A map of wildfires currently burning in California

www.latimes.com

The wind is blowing from north-east to south-west, so it is blowing out to sea.

You can tell there is considerable smoke from the Easton Fire from the park cam view currently looking back into Santa Monicia. However, it's far enough away it looks like a dense bank of smog instead of billowing black plumes of smoke.

The cameras are currently turned away from views of Palisades Fire.

 

[dotr]

Ontario ready to deploy more than 150 firefighters to California

More than 150 Ontario firefighters are standing by and ready to be deployed to California as the state battles deadly wildfires, which Premier Doug Ford is describing as 'devastating.'

www.cp24.com

''More than 150 Ontario firefighters are standing by and ready to be deployed to California as the state battles unprecedented wildfires, which have displaced more than 100,000 residents and left five people dead.''

“Ontario will always stand ready to serve. I’ve directed officials to send every available water bomber to fight these fires,” Ford said in a post on X Thursday morning, calling the situation on the U.S. west coast “devastating.”
The province says two waterbombers and pilots, 165 urban firefighters, and 20 additional emergency response personnel are available to head west, should they be called upon.''

 

[Herat]

Ontario ready to deploy more than 150 firefighters to California

More than 150 Ontario firefighters are standing by and ready to be deployed to California as the state battles deadly wildfires, which Premier Doug Ford is describing as 'devastating.'

www.cp24.com

''More than 150 Ontario firefighters are standing by and ready to be deployed to California as the state battles unprecedented wildfires, which have displaced more than 100,000 residents and left five people dead.''

“Ontario will always stand ready to serve. I’ve directed officials to send every available water bomber to fight these fires,” Ford said in a post on X Thursday morning, calling the situation on the U.S. west coast “devastating.”
The province says two waterbombers and pilots, 165 urban firefighters, and 20 additional emergency response personnel are available to head west, should they be called upon.''

Yay, Canada ! Our wonderful neighbors.

Yesterday I was watching the 2 Canadian Quebecois CL-417 water bombers on the Paradise Fire. Using the Van Nuys airport for fueling. Today's news says there are also 3 Chinook helicopters and a Sikorsky S-76 reconnaisance craft from British Columbia on the fire

Quebec, B.C. aircraft battle devastating California fires - Skies Mag

Canadian-made CL-415 water bombers from Quebec and CH-47 Chinook helicopters from Coulson Aviation in B.C. are playing a vital role.

skiesmag.com

 

[Herat]

Replying to myself…my cousin texted me this morning that her house survived. I’m so relieved for her. But heartbroken for those not as fortunate.

Based on our local experience with the Almeda fire in 2020, destroying about 2300 homes and many businesses, people will rebuild, if they have insurance. It looks like a war zone now in L.A., but in a few years it will look normal again. So there is hope for recovery.

Based on my family's experience with the Caldor Fire in 2021 in the Tahoe region, having your home "saved" is still a disaster. Smoke damage to drywall, curtains, rugs, and furnishings cannot be cleaned and they have to be removed because of the toxins and burned chemicals in household fire smoke damage. Often the houses have to be stripped to the studs. If you happened to have fire insurance, it likely will not nearly cover the cost of this. In my family's case, all bedding had to be tossed, including mattresses, and very little clothing could be saved. That's a couble economic disaster if you have certain kinds of clothing and equipment you need for your job, like expensive safety boots and protective winter clothing and then you have to buy new mattresses and window coverings. Even worse if your vehicle is damaged, too.

 

[Tricia]

If anyone is near the fires and can discuss what they know please contact me ASAP at [email protected]
Thank you,
Tricia

 

[Warwick1991]

Having lived in California and become familiar with its construction norms, I think that major changes should be made. While landscaping, tree species and firebreaks are very important, construction materials are critical, especially in areas with minimal side yards.

Wood framing covered with stucco has been the norm for housing and smaller commercial buildings, but the wood framing is still vulnerable to combustion. Roofing materials play a major role, too. For earthquake resistance, wood frame construction is very appealing, with the ability to resist seismic forces. It is relatively inexpensive and lighter in weight.

IMO, densely populated areas with wood frame construction are major contributors to the spread of fire. Asphalt shingles, even when they are labeled as fire resistant, can burn. Years ago, southern Florida moved mainly to reinforced concrete masonry construction to resist hurricane winds. That kind of construction is also far more fire resistant and can also be designed to resist earthquakes. Other building components can also be fire resistant. I know that more recent California building codes have evolved to require fire resistant exterior details for new buildings with wood framing, but I think even greater fire resistance needs to considered. Of course, this is very expensive in an era when building is far less affordable.

Since these terrible fires will continue due to climate change, I think housing in California should at some point be required to use non-combustible walls, such as concrete masonry, and roofing such as clay, concrete tile, metal or other non-combustible materials. It is very expensive, but perhaps even more expensive to rebuild regularly. JMO

 

[SouthAussie]

Omg. LA Fire Chief believes fire started accidentally in a back yard as “time lapsed video showed an innocuous trail of smoke rising from the back garden in the outskirts of LA”

We have had bushfires start here (in Australia) by something as small as a spark from machinery. Then the high winds catch the embers, and off it goes.

I see that a large California fire in 2019 was started by a spark from a hammer.

2019 (not today's fires): Spark from hammer caused California’s largest wildfire, agency says

 

[SouthAussie]

The wind is blowing from north-east to south-west, so it is blowing out to sea.

You can tell there is considerable smoke from the Easton Fire from the park cam view currently looking back into Santa Monicia. However, it's far enough away it looks like a dense bank of smog instead of billowing black plumes of smoke.

The cameras are currently turned away from views of Palisades Fire.

I spoke with a friend in San Pedro a little earlier. He said that while they are safe and the fires are not too near them, the air quality is really bad. Due to the direction of the winds.

 

[Lusitana]

I've seen big fires my whole life, since I have always lived in a country where every Summer lots and lots of acres burn, but I've never seen anything like this, everything in Pacific Palisades has been burnt.

How is the fire in Hollywood Hills? That can get bad really fast. Oh, and any info on the Getty Villa?

 

[Boxer]

Absolutely. Just as soon as firefighters have secured enough of a site, investigators get into purported ignition areas, well before media or people are allowed, even as the remains are smoldering. They have to get to valuable information - what was there at the ignition point? were there any traces of accelerants? where there ignitables stored there? etc. They have to get access to sample for all sorts of chemicals or such before more water, or rain, or foot traffic obscures significant details. They know what they are looking for.

During the active firefight, the brave fighters can often spot clues about the most suspect sites and lead investigators to the best sites of inquiry.

PP Fire started near 1190 Piedra Morada.

 

[Herat]

Having lived in California and become familiar with its construction norms, I think that major changes should be made. While landscaping, tree species and firebreaks are very important, construction materials are critical, especially in areas with minimal side yards.

Wood framing covered with stucco has been the norm for housing and smaller commercial buildings, but the wood framing is still vulnerable to combustion. Roofing materials play a major role, too. For earthquake resistance, wood frame construction is very appealing, with the ability to resist seismic forces. It is relatively inexpensive and lighter in weight.

IMO, densely populated areas with wood frame construction are major contributors to the spread of fire. Asphalt shingles, even when they are labeled as fire resistant, can burn. Years ago, southern Florida moved mainly to reinforced concrete masonry construction to resist hurricane winds. That kind of construction is also far more fire resistant and can also be designed to resist earthquakes. Other building components can also be fire resistant. I know that more recent California building codes have evolved to require fire resistant exterior details for new buildings with wood framing, but I think even greater fire resistance needs to considered. Of course, this is very expensive in an era when building is far less affordable.

Since these terrible fires will continue due to climate change, I think housing in California should at some point be required to use non-combustible walls, such as concrete masonry, and roofing such as clay, concrete tile, metal or other non-combustible materials. It is very expensive, but perhaps even more expensive to rebuild regularly. JMO

In a relative's home in Orange County, decades ago the wooden shingle roofs were replaced by concrete tiles. The problem is that the concrete tiles are so heavy, some wood frame roofs have to be reinforced to take them. They also become very brittle year after year in heat and anyone walking on them will fracture the tiles, which leaves a place where embers could rest. Tradespeople like painters, gutter cleaners, some pest removal people end up walking on the brittle concrete shingles. They also are terrible in summer because they absorb heat and radiate the heat down at night, forcing more use of air conditioning.

Also, if one home in a development has not replaced their wooden shingles, everyone else's home is at extremely high risk. If the homeowner does not remove the wooden shingles, the HOA has to try to take legal action against them to get it replaced and that can take a decade of legal wrangling. In my experience, having a homeowner who claims they cannot afford to replace or repair a roof creates an indignant homeowner who will also refuse to pay dues, clean up their yard, or (maybe intentionally) rents to disruptive tenants. Expenses pile up on both sides and no one wins.

I'd guess that many of the apartments and condos, or HOA's in Pacific Palisades and Altadena are up to 40 years old and retrofitting these older residence is very costly.

 

[Herat]

PP Fire started near 1190 Piedra Morada.

Looks like a lovely place ( $4 million + on Zillow) , but much higher up in Pacific Palisades than I would have thought. I can see how severe winds could easily spread a small fire from that high on the hill. Clearly, downdraft winds can carry fire quickly down that hill and massively shed embers for a a long long way.

I have kept noting during Palisades firefight that the Palisades Summit has been only lightly touched by the fire, despite being at what seems like the crest of the hill. Undoubtedly, good firefighting protection has been a significant part of it, but perhaps the wind pattern did not allow flames and embers to progress "uphill" against the winds.

There is a lot of vegetation outside the property walls in that area, really too close to those homes. An awful lot more than I had thought. I don't know if this would be in an HOA or not but I can see a role for far more aggressive brush removal resulting in wide bare zones outside the property lines. It would require a lot of yearly maintenance to keep it safe.

 

[sassyblue]

https://ktla.com/news/california/wildfires/fast-moving-wildfire-explodes-in-calabasas/

MANDATORY EVACUATION ORDER Brush Fire - Kennith Fire (name update) 01/09/2025 INC#1365 | Los Angeles Fire Department

lafd.org

This one is moving fast too! And it's in territory and heading towards where my friends and family live.

 

[tarabull]

PP Fire started near 1190 Piedra Morada.

Alerts | Los Angeles Fire Department

lafd.org

ETA:

Alerts | Los Angeles Fire Department

lafd.org

ETA2:
Why is the Command Post & Media Staging area set up at the same time as the call?????

 

[steeltowngirl]

Just turned the ABC World News on to get an update on the fires.
I had seen the fire videos, but only now am seeing the aftermath of the burned communities.

I am stunned.
The devastation is overwhelming.
I know many here have friends and family that have been impacted.
I am so sorry. Praying for all.

 

[Herat]

Alerts | Los Angeles Fire Department

lafd.org

ETA:

Alerts | Los Angeles Fire Department

lafd.org

ETA2:
Why is the Command Post & Media Staging area set up at the same time as the call?????

Wow

Great sleuthing, tarabull
Thanks

 

[Boxer]

Looks like a lovely place ( $4 million + on Zillow) , but much higher up in Pacific Palisades than I would have thought. I can see how severe winds could easily spread a small fire from that high on the hill. Clearly, downdraft winds can carry fire quickly down that hill and massively shed embers for a a long long way.

I have kept noting during Palisades firefight that the Palisades Summit has been only lightly touched by the fire, despite being at what seems like the crest of the hill. Undoubtedly, good firefighting protection has been a significant part of it, but perhaps the wind pattern did not allow flames and embers to progress "uphill" against the winds.

There is a lot of vegetation outside the property walls in that area, really too close to those homes. An awful lot more than I had thought. I don't know if this would be in an HOA or not but I can see a role for far more aggressive brush removal resulting in wide bare zones outside the property lines. It would require a lot of yearly maintenance to keep it safe.

True.
California itself is a difficult defensible space.
So far it seem to have started in an empty lot among the houses.
Canyon fires burn to the sea and the ridge, and if lucky, stop at the ridge.

 

[Boxer]

Alerts | Los Angeles Fire Department

lafd.org

ETA:

Alerts | Los Angeles Fire Department

lafd.org

ETA2:
Why is the Command Post & Media Staging area set up at the same time as the call?????

Sorry, what so you mean?

 

[Herat]

Sorry, what so you mean?

I think that the seriousness of the huge Red Flag warning up for the area meant that LAFD was primed for any notice of smoke or fire in these high-risk areas and skipped all the small stuff to head up a Command Post right away, to get organized, and to plan the routes for the firefighters to take to that area, and keep the media as far away as possible.

So much of those first images of the Palisades fire showed the ridiculous access problems with the only ONE route in and out to the upper part of Pacific Palisades and the inevitable consequences of an explosive spread of the fire in the area and alerts for massive evacuation.

I think LAFD knew exactly what might happen with the bottleneck and were proven right.