Fire chief answers questions about report LAFD didn't deploy hundreds of firefighters
Officials were questioned at during today’s fire briefing about a Los Angeles Times report yesterday that officials did not assign about 1,000 firefighters and dozens of engines for emergency deployment, despite warnings of life-threatening winds last week.
L.A. City Fire Chief Kristin M. Crowley said: “We follow the system in place. The system in place looks at overall weather and risk. With that we pre-deployed the resources in very, very calculated ways throughout the city, also not knowing where a fire might start and might not start.”
Crowley said engines that were not prepositioned were not unstaffed.
“Our firefighters jumped on the pumps, our additional 1,000 engines that you’re talking about, and they went to work,” she said.
She said additional engines and personnel were pre-deployed on top of what is normally done given the weather warning at the time.
After the fires started, the LAFD issued an alert to off-duty firefighters for recall. Crowley said last week that the LAFD immediately used all available on-duty personnel who were not normally in the field.
FEMA activates transitional shelter and assistance program; EPA to clean up hazardous waste
Over 53,000 people have registered for FEMA's individual assistance program and almost $12 million has been provided to wildfire-affected individuals, FEMA Region 9 Administrator Robert Fenton Jr. said at today's briefing.
FEMA's transitional shelter and assistance program was activated last night for displaced survivors.
“The transitional shelter assistance (TSA) allows for fire survivors to stay at participating hotels to help fill the housing gap until they can identify a short or longer term housing solution. TSA may also be available for those that have insurance,” he said. “FEMA is reaching out to fire survivors that have registered with us that would be eligible for this program.”
Under the program, FEMA pays for the cost of the room, taxes and nonrefundable pet fees directly to participating hotels.
The Environmental Protection Agency has been directed to remove all household hazardous waste from properties affected by the fires, removing products like paints, cleaners, solvents, pesticides, larger asbestos debris and batteries.
“EPA will stand up 40 teams over the next couple days, which equates to approximately 500 personnel,” Fenton said, which he described as a first step in getting survivors back to their homes.
'Particularly dangerous situation' red flag warning in effect
A "particularly dangerous situation" red flag warning remains in effect for Los Angeles and Ventura counties through 3 p.m. local time (6 p.m. ET). Other red flag warnings for mountainous areas will remain in effect through this evening.
Offshore winds forecast in the 45 mph-65 mph range through the morning will decrease through the afternoon, but there is still a critical risk for fire weather.
Tomorrow through Sunday, onshore winds will return, which will raise the humidity for the Los Angeles area and bring in some coastal fog and clouds.
However, early next week there is potential for another significant Santa Ana wind event with strong winds, which will raise the fire danger once again.
Bass says rebuilding process will be expedited
The Los Angeles City Council yesterday passed a number of motions to assist Mayor Karen Bass' executive order to expedite the rebuilding progress, she said at this morning's fire briefing.
She thanked the California Community Foundation fund, which has raised over $18 million to support the aftermath of the wildfires. She also thanked Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson and the people of Long Beach, who contributed a half-million dollars.
“This is how we will rebuild our city. We will rebuild our city stronger,” Bass said.
Search and rescue team has covered 78% of Altadena
Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said search and rescue teams have completed searching 78% of the area in Altadena, or an estimated 5,500-plus properties.
“I’m hoping, with luck, maybe by the end of today, maybe tomorrow, that will be done. Yesterday we started the same operation in the Palisades area evacuation zones,” he said at this morning's fire briefing.
The county originally had 31 missing person reports — five were found safe, and 26 are still missing. Of those, 20 are from the Eaton area and six in the Palisades area.
Jim McDonnell, chief of the LAPD, said that of the 38 people reported missing to police, 27 were found safe. Of the 11 remaining, two have most likely been found deceased but are yet to be positively identified.
An additional brush fire broke out last night, but was quickly controlled, fire official says
An additional brush fire broke out in the Lake View Terrace area in the San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles and threatened structures yesterday, but all forward progress was stopped within 34 minutes, Los Angeles City Fire Chief Kristin Crowley told reporters today.
She said that infrared flights last night over the Palisades Fire “indicated there are still numerous hot spots burning within the fire footprint.” Firefighters are paying close attention to address any flare-ups to prevent any fire spread outside the perimeter.
L.A. County Fire Chief Anthony C. Marrone said critical fire weather conditions continue through tonight, but “the anticipated 70 mph winds have yet to materialize. However this could change, and we are still at risk.”
Efforts continue to contain Eaton Fire perimeter
Today firefighters will focus on reinforcing containment lines on the Eaton Fire to “ensure perimeter control,” with continued retardant drops in inaccessible terrain, officials managing the fire said in a statement this morning.
Repopulation efforts for this fire continue. Resources are also strategically prepositioned along the fire’s western edge due to Santa Ana wind conditions.
Thus far damage estimates via remote sensing technologies indicate over 7,000 structures may have been damaged or destroyed. Damage inspection teams have completed inspections for 45% of all structures within the fire footprint.
Over 3,000 personnel are assigned to this fire and it threatens over 28,000 structures.
Morning update: Where the fires stand
The Palisades Fire remains at 23,713 acres and is 19% contained, according to Cal Fire updated numbers this morning.
The Eaton Fire remains at 14,117 acres and is now 45% contained, a 10% increase from yesterday.
The Hurst Fire stands at 799 acres and is 97% contained.
The Auto Fire, which started late Monday night in Ventura County, is 61 acres with 47% containment.
California wildfires death toll rises as firefighters prepare for more Santa Ana winds
NBC News’ Steve Patterson reports from Altadena on the concerning Santa Ana winds that experts have labeled a “particularly dangerous situation,” amid the California wildfires.
Over 93,000 customers without power in CA
Over 93,000 customers are without power in California as of 6 a.m. local time (9 a.m. ET)
In Los Angeles County over 31,000 are without power, over 32,000 out in San Bernardino County and over 12,600 without power in Ventura County, according to PowerOutage.Us.