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

[JennieM]

1h ago
The state of California has issued a one-year moratorium preventing insurance companies from canceling or refusing to renew home policies in zip codes impacted by the Palisades and Eaton fires. A 2018 state law bans insurers from canceling home insurance coverage after a state of emergency.

California governor Gavin Newsom shared the news in a post on social media Friday, writing, “The folks in these communities have suffered enough. They should not have to deal with the stress of home insurance on top of it all.”

Los Angeles death toll rises to 11 as governor orders water investigation – as it happened

Officials say five people killed in Palisades fire and six in Eaton fire, while LA fire chief criticizes city officials over hydrants than ran dry

www.theguardian.com

 

[iamshadow21]

The Kenneth fire is 50% contained.

California wildfires live updates: Los Angeles death toll rises to 11 as governor orders water investigation

Officials say five people killed in Palisades fire and six in Eaton fire, while LA fire chief criticizes city officials over hydrants than ran dry

www.theguardian.com

 

[JennieM]

2h ago

Los Angeles fire chief criticizes city officials over water supply​

City officials failed the Los Angeles fire department, fire chief Kristin Crowley told Fox 11 Los Angeles in an interview Friday.

“When a firefighter comes up to a hydrant, we expect there’s going to be water,” she said. “We don’t control the water supply.”

Early on Wednesday morning, as firefighters were battling the Palisades fire, hydrants ran dry – raising questions about the state of the city’s water resources.

“We’re fighting a wildfire with urban water systems, and that is really challenging,” said Janisse Quiñones, chief engineer and CEO of the Los Angeles department of water and power. “Four times the normal demand was seen for 15 hours straight, which lowered our water pressure.”

[video at link]

Urban water systems are not designed to fight wildfires, Mark Pestrella, director of the Los Angeles county department of public works, said Wednesday. “That’s why air support is so critical to the firefight. And unfortunately, wind and air visibility have prevented that support.”

But on Friday Crowley confirmed to Fox 11 Los Angeles that the city had drained the Santa Ynez Reservoir near the Palisades fire for repairs without alerting her department.

During the interview, the reporter asked Crowley whether the city failed the fire department – after hedging, she said yes, noting cuts to the department’s budget.

“My message is the fire department needs to be properly funded,” she said. “It’s not.” On July 1, 2024, Los Angeles cut the fire department’s budget by $17m.


After ‘tremendous demand’, water tanks used for fighting LA wildfires ran dry early
Read more

Los Angeles death toll rises to 11 as governor orders water investigation – as it happened

Officials say five people killed in Palisades fire and six in Eaton fire, while LA fire chief criticizes city officials over hydrants than ran dry

www.theguardian.com

 

[JennieM]

LAPD chief reminds residents of curfew
​

We've just wrapped up an extremely brief news conference with Jim McDonnell, the chief of the LAPD.

He reminded everyone that an overnight curfew has just gone into effect in the Pacific Palisades and Eaton areas.

Only approved fire prevention and security entities will be allowed into those neighbourhoods, McDonnell added.

He also warned that residents who have left those areas should continue to avoid them for the time being due to dangerous conditions.

While he said there have been "some arrests" by the LAPD in those areas, none were for looting.

McDonnell added, however, that the LA County Sheriff's office - a separate department - had made about "two dozen" arrests as of yesterday night.

More evacuation orders issued as largest LA wildfire bears down on new area

Many people in the wealthy neighbourhood of Brentwood have been told to leave, as the Palisades Fire spreads east.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[browneyes]

2h ago

Los Angeles fire chief criticizes city officials over water supply​

City officials failed the Los Angeles fire department, fire chief Kristin Crowley told Fox 11 Los Angeles in an interview Friday.

“When a firefighter comes up to a hydrant, we expect there’s going to be water,” she said. “We don’t control the water supply.”

Early on Wednesday morning, as firefighters were battling the Palisades fire, hydrants ran dry – raising questions about the state of the city’s water resources.

“We’re fighting a wildfire with urban water systems, and that is really challenging,” said Janisse Quiñones, chief engineer and CEO of the Los Angeles department of water and power. “Four times the normal demand was seen for 15 hours straight, which lowered our water pressure.”

[video at link]

Urban water systems are not designed to fight wildfires, Mark Pestrella, director of the Los Angeles county department of public works, said Wednesday. “That’s why air support is so critical to the firefight. And unfortunately, wind and air visibility have prevented that support.”

But on Friday Crowley confirmed to Fox 11 Los Angeles that the city had drained the Santa Ynez Reservoir near the Palisades fire for repairs without alerting her department.

During the interview, the reporter asked Crowley whether the city failed the fire department – after hedging, she said yes, noting cuts to the department’s budget.

“My message is the fire department needs to be properly funded,” she said. “It’s not.” On July 1, 2024, Los Angeles cut the fire department’s budget by $17m.

After ‘tremendous demand’, water tanks used for fighting LA wildfires ran dry early
Read more

Los Angeles death toll rises to 11 as governor orders water investigation – as it happened

Officials say five people killed in Palisades fire and six in Eaton fire, while LA fire chief criticizes city officials over hydrants than ran dry

www.theguardian.com

<modsnip: No MSM or other approved link to support information stated as fact>

 

[JennieM]

44 min ago

LA County temporarily moves to state emergency notification system following false alarm​

From CNN's Taylor Romine
Los Angeles County is temporarily moving to the state’s emergency notification system after a malfunction with the county system accidentally notified almost 10 million people.

All local emergency notifications will now be issued through the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services alert system “until we have assurances that this problem will not be repeated,” LA County Emergency Management said in a news release Friday evening.

The preliminary investigation shows that “an accurate, correctly-targeted alert” was sent around 4:00 p.m. Thursday, but “was erroneously sent out to nearly 10 million residents across the County,” it said.

Genasys, the vendor that operates software for the county’s emergency alert messaging, is part of the review and “has added safeguards to its software,” the county said. CNN has reached out to Genasys for comment.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Federal Communications Commission have also joined the county to help in the investigation, the county said.

https://edition.cnn.com/weather/live-news/los-angeles-wildfires-palisades-eaton-california-01-10-25-hnk/index.html?t=1736561542705

 

[MassGuy]

<modsnip: Quoted post was removed due to no link to MSM or other approved source>

Asked about media reports that LA Fire Chief Crowley has been fired, the mayor's office tells us

"This is false"

https://twitter.com/x/status/1877904111468740864

 

[JennieM]

4m ago
The Lidia fire is now 98% contained, according to California governor Gavin Newsom who shared the news on social media Friday evening.

“Grateful for the work of our firefighters and all those on the frontlines keeping our communities safe,” he wrote.

The fire, which broke out in the Los Angeles County town of Acton, on Wednesday encompasses 395 acres.

California wildfires: Los Angeles death toll rises to 11 as governor orders water investigation – as it happened

Officials say five people killed in Palisades fire and six in Eaton fire, while LA fire chief criticizes city officials over hydrants than ran dry

www.theguardian.com

 

[JennieM]

5 min ago

After criticizing department funding, LA fire chief met Friday with mayor, source says​

From CNN’s Kaitlan Collins

Kristin Crowley appears on CNN on Friday, January 10.
CNN

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass had a meeting Friday afternoon with Fire Chief Kristin Crowley, a source familiar with the meeting said.

It comes after Crowley said earlier today that city officials failed her department by slashing its budget by $17 million — a decision that she said is now negatively affecting the agency’s ability to battle the raging wildfires in the county.

Over 100 fire apparatus are out of service, the fire chief said. The budget cuts eliminated civilian positions such as mechanics which has and “will continue to severely impact our ability to repair apparatus,” Crowley told CNN’s Jake Tapper.

“We can no longer sustain where we are. We do not have enough firefighters,” Crowley said.

Both Bass and Crowley were absent this evening from a news conference about the wildfires. The city had said that Bass along with city and county officials would be speaking at the event that was ultimately only addressed by police department officials.

The headline and the post have been updated with additional context.

https://edition.cnn.com/weather/live-news/los-angeles-wildfires-palisades-eaton-california-01-10-25-hnk/index.html?t=1736561542705

 

[iamshadow21]

5 min ago

After criticizing department funding, LA fire chief met Friday with mayor, source says​

From CNN’s Kaitlan Collins

Kristin Crowley appears on CNN on Friday, January 10.
CNN

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass had a meeting Friday afternoon with Fire Chief Kristin Crowley, a source familiar with the meeting said.

It comes after Crowley said earlier today that city officials failed her department by slashing its budget by $17 million — a decision that she said is now negatively affecting the agency’s ability to battle the raging wildfires in the county.

Over 100 fire apparatus are out of service, the fire chief said. The budget cuts eliminated civilian positions such as mechanics which has and “will continue to severely impact our ability to repair apparatus,” Crowley told CNN’s Jake Tapper.

“We can no longer sustain where we are. We do not have enough firefighters,” Crowley said.

Both Bass and Crowley were absent this evening from a news conference about the wildfires. The city had said that Bass along with city and county officials would be speaking at the event that was ultimately only addressed by police department officials.

The headline and the post have been updated with additional context.

https://edition.cnn.com/weather/live-news/los-angeles-wildfires-palisades-eaton-california-01-10-25-hnk/index.html?t=1736561542705

Without mechanics, you're reducing your firefighters back to essentially the bucket brigades of centuries ago. It's unthinkable.

MOO

 

[I am not Sherlock H.]

Wow….. So am I understanding correctly, things continue to burn and some are throwing arrows at each other? Already? Instead of trying to rapidly get solutions? SMH. MOO

 

[JennieM]

Map - tracking fires

Wildfire tracker

An interactive map shows active fires in the United States, including California, Oregon and Washington, as well as Canada.

apnews.com

 

[JennieM]

1m ago
Los Angeles Dodgers firstbaseman Freddie Freeman and his wife Chelsea have pledged $300,000 to support wildfire relief efforts in the wake of the LA fires. The funds will support the Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation, the Pasadena Fire Department and the Salvation Army, CNN reports.

California wildfires: Los Angeles death toll rises to 11 as governor orders water investigation – as it happened

Officials say five people killed in Palisades fire and six in Eaton fire, while LA fire chief criticizes city officials over hydrants than ran dry

www.theguardian.com

 

[Incredholt]

Rumor that LA Fire Chief Crowley was fired is false, according to Mayor's office

The rumor that Los Angeles Fire Department Chief Kristin Crowley was fired is false, according to Mayor Karen Bass' office. Chief Crowley also did not quit.

abc7.com

Rumor that LA Fire Chief Crowley was fired is false, according to Mayor's office​

The rumor that Los Angeles Fire Department Chief Kristin Crowley was fired is false, according to Mayor Karen Bass' office. Chief Crowley also did not quit.

"The Mayor and Chief met. The priority remains fighting these fires and protecting Angelenos," read a statement from the Mayor's office.

 

[iamshadow21]

The Lidia fire is now 98% contained.

California wildfires live updates: Los Angeles death toll rises to 11 as governor orders water investigation

Officials say five people killed in Palisades fire and six in Eaton fire, while LA fire chief criticizes city officials over hydrants than ran dry

www.theguardian.com

 

[JennieM]

1 min ago

Multiple problems marred LA County’s evacuation alerts, official tells CNN​

From CNN’s Holly Yan
After millions of Los Angeles County residents received evacuation alerts by mistake, countless Angelenos received more erroneous warnings while the county tries to improve its alert system.

“There is a technical glitch, and we apologize for the confusion and anxiety that any of this has for anybody in the public,” said Bryan LaSota, emergency management coordinator for Los Angeles County’s Office of Emergency Management.

The errant warnings fueled panic and frustration in the nation’s most populous county, where several wildfires still rage out of control. But authorities say the county’s emergency alerts have also saved countless lives, giving residents time to flee before flames engulf their homes.

While authorities cite unspecified technical flaws for this week’s messaging problems, a larger issue remains.

Some residents get emergency alerts on their phones based on their proximity to cell phone towers in those affected areas – not based on where they live. In other words: If your home is at risk of burning down, but you’re at work on the other side of town, you might not get a cell phone alert saying your home is under an evacuation warning.

The two-day messaging debacle started Thursday, shortly after the Kenneth Fire broke out. Emergency officials tried to send an alert only to people in the Calabasas and Agoura Hills areas, LaSota told CNN.

“The first technical glitch is that it went out county-wide, instead of to the affected area,” he said.

So, residents throughout the county of almost 10 million people received an urgent message on their cell phones.

After the error was discovered “We had to cancel that one,” LaSota said.

But the problems continued Friday when residents were startled by pre-dawn alerts.

No one should have received such warnings before dawn Friday, LaSota said.

“Due to an error in the technology … people are receiving them today, even though they were sent yesterday,” he said.

LaSota and other emergency officials said a detailed investigation is underway to try to determine the cause.

Friday evening, Los Angeles County said it was temporarily moving to the state’s emergency notification system.

https://edition.cnn.com/weather/live-news/los-angeles-wildfires-palisades-eaton-california-01-10-25-hnk/index.html?t=1736563329966

 

[JennieM]

1m ago
The Los Angeles wildfires have damaged or destroyed more than 12,000 structures, according to the latest counts. The damage includes more than 5,300 structures burned by the Palisades fire, making it the most destructive fire in Los Angeles history. Farther inland, the Eaton Fire north of Pasadena burned more than 7,000 structures, including homes, apartment or commercial buildings and vehicles. It also substantially damaged five school campuses in Altadena.

Still unclear is the financial impact from the damage, though an estimate from AccuWeather, a private firm that provides weather data, estimated the toll to be about $135 billion to $150 billion. Government officials haven’t given a damage estimate yet.

California wildfires: Los Angeles death toll rises to 11 as governor orders water investigation – as it happened

Officials say five people killed in Palisades fire and six in Eaton fire, while LA fire chief criticizes city officials over hydrants than ran dry

www.theguardian.com

 

[SouthAussie]

FEMA has quickly set up an application page, for those who need to apply for assistance that is not covered by their insurance policies. It also provides links to other services that victims of the fires may need.

4856

www.fema.gov

 

[JennieM]

11 min ago

LA County declares local health emergency due to fires​

From CNN's Taylor Romine
Los Angeles County declared a local health emergency Friday after several days of intense fire and wind activity.

“The fires, coupled with strong winds, have severely degraded air quality by releasing hazardous smoke and particulate matter, posing immediate and long-term risks to public health,” reads a news release from the county’s public health department.

“Additionally, the fires have caused widespread displacement of residents, prompted emergency evacuations from healthcare facilities, and disrupted vital health services and resources.”

The order applies to the entire county “due to the widespread presence of ash and particulate matter in the air throughout the entire region,” officials said.

The health department also issued an order prohibiting the use of power air blowers, including leaf blowers.

https://edition.cnn.com/weather/live-news/los-angeles-wildfires-palisades-eaton-california-01-10-25-hnk/index.html?t=1736563329966

 

[JennieM]

1m ago

Robert Mackey
In his letter to the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power promising an investigation, California governor Gavin Newsom called “reports of the loss of water pressure to some local fire hydrants during the fires and the reported unavailability of water supplies from the Santa Ynez Reservoir” in Pacific Palisades “deeply troubling”.

The news that the Santa Ynez Reservoir had been closed for repairs to its cover, as the Los Angeles Times reported on Friday, “leaving a 117 million gallon water storage complex empty in the heart of the Palisades,” was quickly seized upon by Republicans seeking to blame California’s Democratic leadership for the lack of water to fight the fires.

Officials at the water authority acknowledged that the reservoir being offline contributed to some diminished pressure and dry hydrants in the Palisades, but it remains unclear when it went out of service for the repairs.

But as images of the reservoir, which had a floating cover installed in 2011 to protect drinking water against contamination, were shared online, and memes were launched, there was also widespread confusion, as amateur sleuths appeared to mistake the reservoir’s cover for its floor, and mistakenly concluded that the reservoir had been empty for more than a decade.

In fact, as a satellite image of the nearby Eagle Rock Reservoir available on Google Earth shows, the floating covers routinely found on reservoirs now makes it difficult, or impossible, for the untrained eye to determine whether a reservoir with a cover on it is empty or full.

California wildfires: Los Angeles death toll rises to 11 as governor orders water investigation – as it happened

Officials say five people killed in Palisades fire and six in Eaton fire, while LA fire chief criticizes city officials over hydrants than ran dry

www.theguardian.com