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

[LittleSeaTree]

2 dead so far

LA fires live updates from Jan. 8

Follow The Post’s live updates as several wildfires rip across Los Angeles, forcing at least 130,000 residents to evacuate.

nypost.com

Sorry for all of the humans, of course, but I’m also just sick about wild animals when these fires happen! I recall following a rescue organization for them during one of the last fire disasters and I had to stop for a while, too scary n sad for them.

 

[Herat]

Just for a little perspective my son lives in Laurel Canyon. Home to celebs and other sorts in the music and entertainment industry like him. He is not famous. (Look it up, very interesting and rich history.) I am so thankful that he has the money, means and ability to evacuate if need be. I understand so many don’t. That said, last night he left his home in the dark due to the winds and the possibility of the fire spreading towards him. He was in tears on the phone with me as he packed a few precious things up. The handmade quilt from his grandma, a few photos and special books and a few clothes…I was so worried for him.

Thankfully the wind has slowed a bit and he is not in immediate danger from fire right now. But that can change at any minute.

My thoughts are with everyone suffering loss and trauma.

Thank for sharing this with us. I was relieved to read he was not in immediate danger.

If I was living ANYWHERE in the SoCal basin from Newhall to San Diego, I would have a packed GO bag with all the documents, supplies, meds, and a few comfort items packed. Last night I was thinking that I did not have all my document copies on a flash drive, which would be much easier to transport. I was also making a list of things to include. One of them is always cash. When disasters strike, the power goes out and ATM's can be shut down.

 

[Herat]

Latest CALfire update is eye-opening

Palisades Fire is at 11,802 acres

Eaton Fire is not far behind and expanding faster than Palisades at 10,600 acres

California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection | CAL FIRE

www.fire.ca.gov

 

[LaborDayRN]

<modsnip: Quoted post was removed> Trauma is still trauma whether you are rich or poor.

I read that many in Pacific Palisades in these lovely large homes did not have fire insurance as the insurance companies pulled out last year because of the risk. You can be a celebrity and still be traumatized about where you will live, how your kids will find a school to go to, how you will get work.

My thoughts exactly @Herat
Rich or poor the loss of litterally everything is heartbreaking. From family pictures to cherished mementos and perhaps pets who were not able to be saved is devastating. JMO

 

[MsMarple]

My youngest granddaughter is about 6 miles southeast of Santa Monica pier and so far is safe. She said she can see the glow from her balcony and she and her roommate have an evacuation plan in place.

But of course it doesn’t stop me from worrying.

My heart goes out to everyone caught in this inferno, people and pets. And the fire fighters, emts, medics and everyone who are putting their lives in danger in order to help. Bless them all.

 

[slowpoke]

<modsnip: Quoted post was removed> I did see the story of one actor, Steve Guttenberg, and how he was worried for families who he was aware were unable to drive down to get out due to other people abandoning their cars on Palisades Drive. He was trying to help clear the road.

Everyone reacts differently, actors or not.

JMO

 

[iamshadow21]

Some advice from someone who lived through the Black Summer - everyone close enough to smell the smoke should be wearing whatever masks you have left from COVID every time you step outside. At the height of the smoke here in Sydney, just breathing the air was the equivalent of smoking several packs of cigarettes a day. Keep all your windows and doors shut, and all your pets indoors, even if they're not usually indoor pets. Keep a go bag that includes your medication and prescriptions, box up all the family photos and legal paperwork and have that stuff right by the front door.

Good luck.

 

[LaborDayRN]

Thank for sharing this with us. I was relieved to read he was not in immediate danger.

If I was living ANYWHERE in the SoCal basin from Newhall to San Diego, I would have a packed GO bag with all the documents, supplies, meds, and a few comfort items packed. Last night I was thinking that I did not have all my document copies on a flash drive, which would be much easier to transport. I was also making a list of things to include. One of them is always cash. When disasters strike, the power goes out and ATM's can be shut down.

Very good post! Living in earthquake and fire country I would add one item. A solar phone charger. That way if the power is out you can still contact family.

 

[Herat]

My sister lives across from the Jet Propulsion Labs in La Canada Flintridge. The NASA map shows fires close to there. My niece's apt in Pacific Palisades burned yesterday. She had to evacuate twice. Does anyone have any news on that area. Did the fire jump 2-10 from the Jet Propulsion Labs?

ERROR: Fire is just across an arroyo from Jet Propulsion Laboratory

EATON FIRE -- Anderson Cooper on Harriet Street with homes rapidly going up in flames. He says the water supplies are running out so firefighters have to keep moving to areas that still have water. He says it's black and smoky outside as if it was nighttime.

This is just across the arroyo from Jet Propulsion Laboratory. I AM WORRIED FOR JPL.

I apologize: I was looking at the wrong fire. This is the EATON fire, not the HURST FIRE

Eaton Fire | CAL FIRE

www.fire.ca.gov

From the evacuation map, it does not appear to have crossed the 210 on the southern side, but it right up to it on the west side.

 

[Herat]

Some advice from someone who lived through the Black Summer - everyone close enough to smell the smoke should be wearing whatever masks you have left from COVID every time you step outside. At the height of the smoke here in Sydney, just breathing the air was the equivalent of smoking several packs of cigarettes a day. Keep all your windows and doors shut, and all your pets indoors, even if they're not usually indoor pets. Keep a go bag that includes your medication and prescriptions, box up all the family photos and legal paperwork and have that stuff right by the front door.

Good luck.

Make sure and put cash in your GO bag. Scan your documents onto a couple of flash drives.

 

[SouthAussie]

Some advice from someone who lived through the Black Summer - everyone close enough to smell the smoke should be wearing whatever masks you have left from COVID every time you step outside. At the height of the smoke here in Sydney, just breathing the air was the equivalent of smoking several packs of cigarettes a day. Keep all your windows and doors shut, and all your pets indoors, even if they're not usually indoor pets. Keep a go bag that includes your medication and prescriptions, box up all the family photos and legal paperwork and have that stuff right by the front door.

Good luck.

During my last Watch and Act bushfire alert (two days before Christmas) I also had my pet carrier sitting by the front door, so I didn't have to go looking for it if I had to suddenly leave with my cat.

 

[Herat]

During my last Watch and Act bushfire alert (two days before Christmas) I also had my pet carrier sitting by the front door, so I didn't have to go looking for it if I had to suddenly leave with my cat.

Plus some ped pads in case the kitty needs to pee or poop, and you can get a container of cat food in the carrier too.

 

[Herat]

Anderson Cooper on CNN right now.

He is in Altadena ( Eaton Fire) and homes are going up in flames in front of him, one after another, as very tall palm trees seem to be seeding embers all around.

It was 12:48pm on the video and it was dark outside from the smoke. It almost looked like nighttime. It was quite surprising to see how active the Eaton Fire is right now and how smoky and obscured the area is.

 

[Dotta]

"Furious LA residents
demand to know why fire hydrants were empty when deadly blaze began."

LA residents demand to know why fire hydrants were empty amid fires

Complaints range from the mayor being AWOL in Africa to fire hydrants running out of water and electricity to power cables being left on to fuel the flames, which have so far killed two people.

www.dailymail.co.uk

 

[justtrish]

<modsnip: Quoted post was removed> Trauma is still trauma whether you are rich or poor.

I read that many in Pacific Palisades in these lovely large homes did not have fire insurance as the insurance companies pulled out last year because of the risk. You can be a celebrity and still be traumatized about where you will live, how your kids will find a school to go to, how you will get work.

I think it should be illegal for insurance companies to pull out once a policy is in place, unless someone has had so many claims and it's their own personal liability that is the issue. I mean isn't this the purpose of insurance in the first place? I can see rates being high due to risk. I can see a company not insuring a specific person if they have had too many claims or their own negligence has caused claims and therefore the company to have to pay out more money.. but to just pull out once a person already buys or builds a home and secures a policy? How is that legal? So what is a person to do then that owns a home and they can't get it insured? I'm sure selling would be tough due to needing to disclose that fire insurance is a no.

Also how about those that have paid in for years to fire policies and never needed/used it? So they now just are dropped due to risk?

 

[Dotta]

"Toxic air warning
issued to millions in California
as map reveals where residents are breathing deadly fumes."

Maps reveal where deadly fumes are in California wildfire areas

New maps show locations in California suffering from hazardous air quality due to the deadly wildfires. There are also smoke and dust advisories in place for millions of people.

www.dailymail.co.uk

 

[amandab]

One of the things that cross my mind whenever there are disasters that strike the very rich, is I mourn whatever priceless art (paintings, sculptures, collections) they may have had in their home.

I'm generalizing, of course - I know this is affecting ppl across the financial spectrum.

 

[Herat]

"Furious LA residents
demand to know why fire hydrants were empty when deadly blaze began."

View attachment 556422

LA residents demand to know why fire hydrants were empty amid fires

Complaints range from the mayor being AWOL in Africa to fire hydrants running out of water and electricity to power cables being left on to fuel the flames, which have so far killed two people.

www.dailymail.co.uk

Water resources are low because of the massive demand for firefighting these large areas:

For roughly 15 hours, water systems faced four times more than normal demand, lowering water pressure and causing some fire hydrants to run dry, according to officials from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works.
Demand was so high that it wasn’t enough to fill the three, one-million-gallon (3,785,411-liter) tanks that help maintain pressure for the hydrants in the hills of Palisades.
One tank ran out late Tuesday afternoon, another in the evening, and the third early Wednesday morning.
LADWP is sending in about 20 mobile water tankers to the area to help with suppression, in addition to refilling water trucks at some pressurized hydrants in the area, according to chief engineer Janisse Quiñones.
It takes about 30 minutes to refill about 4000 gallons (15,142 liters) of water.

 

[keptbycats]

I think it should be illegal for insurance companies to pull out once a policy is in place, unless someone has had so many claims and it's their own personal liability that is the issue. I mean isn't this the purpose of insurance in the first place? I can see rates being high due to risk. I can see a company not insuring a specific person if they have had too many claims or their own negligence has caused claims and therefore the company to have to pay out more money.. but to just pull out once a person already buys or builds a home and secures a policy? How is that legal? So what is a person to do then that owns a home and they can't get it insured? I'm sure selling would be tough due to needing to disclose that fire insurance is a no.

Also how about those that have paid in for years to fire policies and never needed/used it? So they now just are dropped due to risk?

Yes, it seems criminal! Theoretically there is the CA FAIR Plan that is supposed to be a means to securing coverage one can't get elsewhere. From what I've heard though, it is very expensive and not feasible for many.

 

[kuromiiiilove]

Facing the Inferno, Part 1: Why Wasn’t LA County Probation Prepared to Evacuate Kids & Staff at Campus Kilpatrick When a Monster Wildfire Struck? |

witnessla.com

This is from 2019 and they haven’t learned a thing. Once again there are reports that there are still around 116 incarcerated minors that have not yet been evacuated from Malibu Camp Kilpatrick / Sylmar Nirdorf Hall. Looking for accepted sources now. James Queally of the LA Times is posting on X regarding the situation.