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

[JennieM]

If the cause of fire is arson, deaths will be considered murder, says Fire Chief
​

IMAGE SOURCE, US POOL

Fire Chief Marrone explains that updates on the death toll are coming from the sheriff because the cause of the fire is still unknown.

He says if the cause is found to be arson then any deaths resulting from it will be considered murders.

Arson has not so far been found to be the cause of any of the fires, but arson investigators are involved in efforts to establish the cause.

Marrone adds that the winds in the area have "significantly diminished" since Wednesday, and that "we are hoping that the weather is going to continue to cooperate so we can get some perimeter line in on the fire".

California's fire death toll doubles as chaos grips LA

Ten deaths have been confirmed so far in the Los Angeles fires, which have been fanned by powerful winds.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[Yesiamapirate]

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.

I was just thinking about this as I saw your post. I figured it would be worse to be one of a handful of saved homes in an otherwise burned out neighborhood. No stores, schools, banks...etc. And many years before you would have anything that resembled your old community. If ever. I am sorry your family had to go through this.

 

[Boxer]

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.

Yes. Agree.
Santa Anas and everthing dry for tinder.

 

[sunspun]

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”

I've been reading this whole thread looking for anything about how these fires actually started, because that was something I didn't know. I think I understand how they spread, especially right now with these high winds and the embers, but I never knew how they started.

So I wonder what they mean, "started accidentally in someone's back yard"? AFAIK, people don't burn their trash in their yards round there, so maybe a grilling accident?

I know I've seen arson is suspected in at least one fire. And I thought that sometimes the power companies will shut off the electricity because there's a risk of that catching fire, but I think that's only if there is already something on fire. I know lightning strikes can start a fire, especially when it's very dry. So do they know how this all got started initially?

 

[Herat]

I've been reading this whole thread looking for anything about how these fires actually started, because that was something I didn't know. I think I understand how they spread, especially right now with these high winds and the embers, but I never knew how they started.

So I wonder what they mean, "started accidentally in someone's back yard"? AFAIK, people don't burn their trash in their yards round there, so maybe a grilling accident?

I know I've seen arson is suspected in at least one fire. And I thought that sometimes the power companies will shut off the electricity because there's a risk of that catching fire, but I think that's only if there is already something on fire. I know lightning strikes can start a fire, especially when it's very dry. So do they know how this all got started initially?

Could even be a carelessly tossed cigarette in high winds, sparks from an outdoor fireplace or appliance? Lawn mower sparks, sparks from a power drill being used , hedge trimmer, or some other minor repairs. Reported at 10:30 am. Too early for an outdoor barbeque, I'd think.

Might be good to know if anyone had lost power from the winds prior to this happening. I think the power lines there would be buried, so not so much opportunity for arcing power lines.

I notice that address has real high tree walls on both sides. This implies they are very close to their neighbor's home and/ or they get an awful lot of wind off the top of the hill.

 

[KristopherKolumbo]

This website is unavailable in your location. – KIRO 7 News Seattle

www.kiro7.com

Cadaver dogs and search crews are searching through rubble and the death toll is expected to rise, Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said.

Shari Shaw told KTLA that she tried to get her 66-year-old brother, Victor Shaw, to evacuate Tuesday night but he wanted to stay and fight the fire. Crews found his body with a garden hose in his hand.

2 of my previous residences are in a current evacuation zone. Surreal for sure.

 

[Herat]

Could even be a carelessly tossed cigarette in high winds, sparks from an outdoor fireplace or appliance? Lawn mower sparks, sparks from a power drill being used , hedge trimmer, or some other minor repairs. Reported at 10:30 am. Too early for an outdoor barbeque, I'd think.

Might be good to know if anyone had lost power from the winds prior to this happening. I think the power lines there would be buried, so not so much opportunity for arcing power lines.

I notice that address has real high tree walls on both sides. This implies they are very close to their neighbor's home and/ or they get an awful lot of wind off the top of the hill.

I should also note that I am interpreting "accidentally in the back yard" as within the property boundaries of that address and not in the scrub or undeveloped land outside the property.

I also wonder if they use the term "accidentally" as if they have spoken to the people at that address and have an idea of or a story of what happened, already. Understandably, LAPD may not want to further report on this when the address is publicly available, and instead to chose to let it be reported when a full investigation is complete.

 

[Herat]

This website is unavailable in your location. – KIRO 7 News Seattle

www.kiro7.com

Cadaver dogs and search crews are searching through rubble and the death toll is expected to rise, Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said.

Shari Shaw told KTLA that she tried to get her 66-year-old brother, Victor Shaw, to evacuate Tuesday night but he wanted to stay and fight the fire. Crews found his body with a garden hose in his hand.

2 of my previous residences are in a current evacuation zone. Surreal for sure.

Aww, these are heartbreaking stories - the amputee and his son with cerebral palsy died waiting for an amulance to arrive.

Also this about the new fire today, the Kenneth Fire in Hidden Hills/Calabasus

"The Kenneth blaze ignited less than 2 miles (3.2 kilometers) away from the El Camino Real Charter High School, where people are sheltering from the fire in Palisades. The two fires are about 10 miles (18 kilometers) apart."

 

[Herat]

I've been worrying about this all day, after CALfire posted the fire map for the Eaton Fire:

https://www.sfgate.com/la/article/eaton-fire-mount-wilson-observatory-20025396.php

 

[Herat]

A lot of air resources on the Kenneth Fire on Flightradar24.

8 helicopters, 8 planes of which 6 are clearly air tankers for water /retardant drops

 

[tarabull]

Fox is reporting on Anderson Cooper (CNN) out on the scene, questioning the Govenor about the fire crews still having no water coming from hydrants today

 

[tarabull]

I've been worrying about this all day, after CALfire posted the fire map for the Eaton Fire:

View attachment 556674

https://www.sfgate.com/la/article/eaton-fire-mount-wilson-observatory-20025396.php

i know right, communication central!!!

 

[Herat]

"Beyond its historical significance, Mount Wilson also plays a crucial role in communications across the LA basin. The peak itself is home to telecommunications towers that are used to broadcast local television news stations and radio throughout the region (as well as other crucial communications channels), meaning any potential damage could stymie the ability of Angelenos to get information about the ongoing fires. " Right now the fire has not reached the perimeter fences and the wind pattern is not blowing upslope as is usual in mountain wildfires, but the Santa Ana winds are blowing the fire downslope, towards Atladena area.

"If the signal goes down, it could impact anyone from semi-truck drivers and ambulances using radios to broadcast stations and more."

https://c7.alamy.com/comp/RDTGXJ/telecommunication-radio-antenna-towers-on-top-of-mt-wilson-los-angeles-county-california-RDTGXJ.jpg

 

[Dotta]

Chaos sparked in LA County as millions are wrongly told to evacuate

Los Angeles County was falsely told to evacuate Thursday evening after a mass notification was sent out to residents as wild fires rage on in the area.

www.dailymail.co.uk

 

[JennieM]

New fire in Ventura county could grow rapidly over next hour, says fire chief​

Los Angeles Fire Department Chief Kristin Crowley says firefighters are now tackling a new fire, dubbed the Kenneth Fire, in Ventura County.

She says the fire was over 50 acres when teams arrived and has the "potential for rapid growth over the next hour".

Over 60 fire companies from regional departments have been dispatched to the fire, she says.

California's fire death toll doubles as chaos grips LA

Ten deaths have been confirmed so far in the Los Angeles fires, which have been fanned by powerful winds.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[Herat]

This CALfire map for the Eaton Fire, updated about 2 hours ago is not very reassuring for the Mt Wilson area:

Zoom into the Mt Wilson section to see how the fire is burning almost alongside the road to the complex.

Eaton Fire | CAL FIRE

www.fire.ca.gov

 

[slowpoke]

Wow, I had moments of panic. About an hour ago, I got an alert on my phone: an evacuation warning. Caught me totally off guard, as I am not that close to the Eaton fire, which was the nearest one I knew of. But, a few minutes later, a second alert said to disregard the prior evacuation message. It was sent in error.
Whew!!

So I had a taste of how all those people that did have to evacuate for real felt when they got the word to GO.

 

[JennieM]

Two deaths at Palisades fire
​

Los Angeles Fire Department Chief Kristin Crowley says two deaths have been recorded in the Palisades fire. These are the first deaths confirmed for that fire. We do not yet have a total death toll from all of the fires, stick with us while we find out more details on that.

Crowley says the Palisades fire was more than 19,000 acres in size, and more than 5,300 structures have been destroyed.

California's fire death toll doubles as chaos grips LA

Ten deaths have been confirmed so far in the Los Angeles fires, which have been fanned by powerful winds.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[iamshadow21]

Angelenos urged to avoid all contact with ocean water.

LISTING OF DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH PRESS RELEASES

publichealth.lacounty.gov

 

[Herat]

Wow, I had moments of panic. About an hour ago, I got an alert on my phone: an evacuation warning. Caught me totally off guard, as I am not that close to the Eaton fire, which was the nearest one I knew of. But, a few minutes later, a second alert said to disregard the prior evacuation message. It was sent in error.
Whew!!

So I had a taste of how all those people that did have to evacuate for real felt when they got the word to GO.

Take a deep breath and have a nice glass of water. That would certainly be terrifying.