Members phkrause Posted January 10 Author Members Posted January 10 🙏 L.A. inferno Parts of Sunset Boulevard in Pacific Palisades were left in ruins yesterday. Photo: Apu Gomes/Getty Images The Hollywood Hills blazed as the worst wildfires in L.A. history raged deep into the storied heartland of the film industry, Reuters reports. A crescent of flame squeezed L.A. in a huge pincer visible from space. 130,000 people were ordered to evacuate as dry, hurricane-force winds hindered firefighting operations. Five people have been killed and at least 2,000 structures have been destroyed or damaged since the fires erupted Tuesday. A wildfire-ravaged property in Pacific Palisades yesterday. Photo: Damian Dovarganes/AP "This firestorm is the big one," L.A. Mayor Karen Bass said after rushing back to the city, cutting short an official trip to Ghana. The Pacific Palisades location of Gelson's, a fancy supermarket chain in Southern California, was completely lost to fire. Photo: Damian Dovarganes/AP Being there: The Sunset Fire in the Hollywood Hills started last evening as officials were holding a news conference to update residents on efforts to fight massive fires in Pacific Palisades and Altadena, AP reports. The Hollywood Walk of Fame was bustling and the streets around the TCL Chinese Theatre and Madame Tussauds were packed with stop-and-go traffic. Sirens blared and low-flying helicopters flew overhead to dump water on the flames, which were only about a mile away. Within a few hours, firefighters had made major progress. L.A. Fire Department Capt. Erik Scott said: "We hit it hard and fast, and Mother Nature was a little nicer to us today than she was yesterday." More photos. Quote phkrause Obstinacy is a barrier to all improvement. - ChL 60
Members phkrause Posted January 10 Author Members Posted January 10 Fires could force insurance overhaul A playground burns Tuesday in a residential neighborhood of Pasadena, Calif. Photo: Josh Edelson/AFP via Getty Images L.A. wind-whipped fires are reopening a debate about how the insurance industry can model and manage risk, as large-scale disasters become frighteningly common, Axios' Ben Berkowitz reports. Why it matters: California's insurance market is in the middle of major reforms to deal with the cost of fire. But they may not be fast enough given the billions of dollars at stake. Data: First Street Foundation. Map: Kavya Beheraj/Axios Some market experts warn California may need to consider becoming a primary insurer for fire risk, much as it already did with earthquakes and Florida did with hurricanes. The bottom line: Heavily populated parts of the U.S. — particularly in California and Florida — could become virtually uninsurable due to climate change, Axios' Erica Pandey reports. Quote phkrause Obstinacy is a barrier to all improvement. - ChL 60
Members phkrause Posted January 10 Author Members Posted January 10 Los Angeles wildfires At least five people have died as several major fires in Los Angeles County remain mostly uncontained. The seaside neighborhood of Pacific Palisades has been devastated, with many residents and reporters describing the area as "apocalyptic" and a "ghost town." Officials say the Palisades Fire has exploded to more than 17,200 acres with zero containment. It has destroyed at least 1,000 structures, making it the most destructive ever in Los Angeles County. The other massive blaze, the Eaton Fire, is overtaking homes across Altadena and has ballooned to more than 10,000 acres. With wind speeds easing, crews say that air tanker planes will be better able to drop water and fire retardants today to hopefully contain the fires and protect property. Quote phkrause Obstinacy is a barrier to all improvement. - ChL 60
Members phkrause Posted January 10 Author Members Posted January 10 As wildfires rage in Los Angeles, Trump doesn’t offer much sympathy. He’s casting blame. WASHINGTON (AP) — As cataclysmic wildfires rage across Los Angeles, President-elect Donald Trump hasn’t been offering much sympathy. Instead, he’s claiming he could do a better job managing the crisis, spewing falsehoods and casting blame on the state’s Democratic governor. https://apnews.com/article/trump-newsom-wildfire-los-angeles-california-hydrants-water-3d20474ceb25f163adff4456a54efbf2 ps:As per usual, nothing to offer!! Firefighters battle to control devastating Los Angeles wildfires An additional fire broke out in the Hollywood Hills on Wednesday night, as firefighters across Los Angeles battled three other major blazes that have already killed five people and destroyed nearly 2,000 homes, businesses and other structures. About 130,000 people are under evacuation orders. Read more. What to know: The new Sunset Fire started around 5:45 p.m. Wednesday. The five deaths recorded so far were from the Eaton Fire, inland around Altadena. The Palisades Fire, near the coast, is already the most destructive in Los Angeles history, with at least 1,000 structures burned. Flames moved so quickly that many barely had time to escape. The fires have consumed a total of about 42 square miles — nearly the size of the entire city of San Francisco. The winds increased to 80 mph on Wednesday, according to reports received by the National Weather Service. Fire conditions could last through Friday. RELATED COVERAGE ➤ Harrowing escapes from wildfires were made by foot, by car or by the grace of strangers Photos capture how wildfires ravaged Southern California Fire hydrants ran dry in Southern California just when they were needed most Quote phkrause Obstinacy is a barrier to all improvement. - ChL 60
Members phkrause Posted January 10 Author Members Posted January 10 LA Budgeted Money For Cop Jobs While Cutting Fire Department Positions. Now the City Is Burning. Less than 12 hours after a massive fire began ripping through the Pacific Palisades on Tuesday, the Los Angeles Fire Department made a rare request. All LAFD firefighters, including those off-duty, were asked to phone in their availability. Stoked by high winds, the blaze was growing quickly, and the LAFD was already fighting a losing battle. Such a summons hadn’t been issued in nearly two decades. https://theintercept.com/2025/01/08/la-police-budget-palisades-fires/? It’s not really the typical time for nasty California fires. What changed that? Southern California is experiencing its most devastating winter fires in more than four decades. Fires don’t usually blaze at this time of year, but specific ingredients have come together to defy the calendar in a fast and deadly manner. https://apnews.com/article/fire-devastation-climate-change-santa-ana-winds-a46e2bb6785b1e325f6076fb22c8fcc5? 🔥 Fires have killed at least 5 A before-and-after satellite view of homes and buildings on East Altadena Dr. in Altadena, Calif. Photos: MAXAR This side-by-side image shows the intense destruction the California wildfires have caused as they have roared through residential areas of Los Angeles. See more. 🚒 Where it stands: The Palisades Fire — the largest and most destructive of several fires burning now in L.A. — is still 0% contained. And it may get worse before it gets better. Strong Santa Ana winds, which helped fuel the fires' sudden onslaught, are expected to strengthen again tonight and into tomorrow. "It is safe to say that the Palisades Fire is one of the most destructive natural disasters in the history of Los Angeles," Los Angeles City Fire Chief Kristin Crowley said at a press conference today. The destruction across the greater L.A. area is so vast that parts "look like a bomb was dropped" on them, L.A. Sheriff Robert Luna said at the press conference. Today's L.A. Times front page Quote phkrause Obstinacy is a barrier to all improvement. - ChL 60
Members phkrause Posted January 11 Author Members Posted January 11 LA fires burn 10,000 buildings Pacific Palisades neighborhood of LA yesterday. Photo: Mark J. Terrill/AP The two biggest wildfires ravaging LA have killed at least 10 people and damaged or destroyed 10,000+ homes and other structures, AP reports: The Eaton Fire near Pasadena, which started Tuesday night, has burned more than 5,000 structures, a term that includes homes, apartment buildings, businesses, outbuildings and vehicles. Firefighters were able to establish the first bit of containment yesterday. To the west in Pacific Palisades, the largest of the fires burning in the LA area has destroyed over 5,300 structures. Firefighters had no containment. At least 130,000 residents are under evacuation orders. All the major fires are located in a roughly 25-mile band north of downtown, spreading a sense of fear and sadness across the nation's second-largest city. No cause has been identified for the largest fires. Malibu, Calif., yesterday. Photo: Mark J. Terrill/AP Billy Crystal lost the Pacific Palisades house where he had lived since 1979. Paris Hilton watched her Malibu beach mansion burn down on live TV, Reuters reports. The list of celebrities who lost their homes and neighborhoods in the worst fire in LA history reads like a Hollywood who's who. Jamie Lee Curtis, James Woods, Mandy Moore, Mark Hamill and Maria Shriver were among those who publicly described being forced to evacuate as out-of-control fires swept across some of the most lavish real estate in the world. Read on. LA Times front pages, yesterday and today While the fires that devastated celebrity neighborhoods near Malibu have caught the world's attention, a similar size blaze in Eaton Canyon, north of LA, ravaged Altadena, a racially and economically diverse community, Reuters reports. Black and Latino families have lived in Altadena for generations. The suburb is also popular with younger artists and engineers working at the nearby NASA rocket lab. Read on. 📷 See four before-and-after images. Los Angeles wildfires At least 10 people have died this week in wildfires across Los Angeles County, but officials warn the death toll may rise once it's safe for investigators to access neighborhoods. Five fast-moving fires have scorched over 25,000 acres and destroyed nearly 2,000 homes, businesses and other structures. The Palisades Fire, which is now the most destructive ever to hit Los Angeles County, and the Eaton Fire, which has devastated communities, remain mostly uncontained. Crews made progress against the fires on Thursday morning as the Santa Ana winds weakened, but gusts picked up across the region as the day went on. Firefighting teams expect more wind and dry conditions to complicate efforts this weekend and into next week. Quote phkrause Obstinacy is a barrier to all improvement. - ChL 60
Members phkrause Posted January 11 Author Members Posted January 11 LA's devastating fires have killed 10 people and burned more than 10,000 structures The two biggest wildfires ravaging the Los Angeles area have burned thousands of homes, buildings, and other structures, officials said. At least 180,000 people were under evacuation orders. Firefighters were able to establish the first bit of containment Thursday but a new blaze, the Kenneth Fire, also started in the San Fernando Valley and spread into neighboring Ventura County. Read more. What to know: The region’s devastating wildfires have killed 10 people so far. 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. The level of devastation is jarring even in a state that has grown used to massive wildfires. At least five churches, a synagogue, seven schools, two libraries, boutiques, bars, restaurants, banks and groceries were burned. So too were the Will Rogers’ Western Ranch House and Topanga Ranch Motel, local landmarks dating to the 1920s. At least 20 arrests have been made for looting. The city of Santa Monica, which is next to Pacific Palisades, declared a curfew because of the lawlessness, officials said. National Guard troops arrived in Los Angeles on Thursday evening. They’ll be stationed near fire-ravaged areas to protect property. RELATED COVERAGE ➤ Victims of the fires in the Los Angeles area What ignited the deadly California wildfires? Investigators consider an array of possibilities From above, photos capture neighborhoods ravaged by fire in Southern California How to help those affected by the California wildfires As wildfires rage in Los Angeles, Trump doesn’t offer much sympathy. He’s casting blame Quote phkrause Obstinacy is a barrier to all improvement. - ChL 60
Members phkrause Posted January 12 Author Members Posted January 12 Los Angeles wildfires: Updates from Jan. 10, 2025 As fierce winds die down Friday, firefighters are looking to make progress on stopping and containing the massive blazes in the Los Angeles area. At least 10 people have died and 153,000 residents are still under evacuation orders. https://apnews.com/live/wildfire-california-los-angeles-updates? Quote phkrause Obstinacy is a barrier to all improvement. - ChL 60
Members phkrause Posted January 12 Author Members Posted January 12 Los Angeles neighbors take care of each other Heroes are leading the way in the Los Angeles wildfires. Firefighters and first responders are working extremely long, exhausting hours to try to save their neighbors’ homes — even when their own have burned down. Civilians are helping to evacuate their neighbors, clear debris obstructing evacuation routes and offering their homes as safe places to stay. And in the Los Angeles Unified School District, where 80% of all students rely on free breakfast and lunch, administrators are still serving free meals during the crisis so children won’t go hungry. Rick Miller was checking in on a friend’s house in Altadena on a street leveled by the wildfires. Their house was gone, but on the street, he found a dog all alone, with burns on its body. The dog warmed to him and allowed Miller to wrap it in a blanket for a much-needed rescue. The interaction brought Miller to tears. “It’s about caring for each other,” Miller told CNN. “Everyone needs help here.” Miller brought the dog to the Pasadena Humane Society, which is working to save hundreds of pets suffering from burns and smoke inhalation, horses that couldn’t be evacuated and wild animals like peacocks and baby raccoons injured in the fires. All kinds of neighbors are getting the help they need. (Josh Edelson/AFP/Getty Images) Donate to Los Angeles wildfire relief As wildfires rage in LA, multiple local and international nonprofits are on the ground providing life-saving care to victims. CNN’s Impact Your World has vetted multiple organizations that are providing direct aid, including Airlink, which provides airlifts in disasters, the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank and the Animal Wellness Foundation. By donating through Impact Your World, you can send your donation to a specific group or split it across all of the nonprofits. Click here to donate. 💰 LA losses will shatter records Photo: David Hume Kennerly. Used by kind permission Above: David Hume Kennerly, the legendary political photographer, soared over Pacific Palisades in a chopper yesterday. "Only one house on this block survived — it appears to have a metal roof," David told Mike. 🔎 Risk experts believe the insured losses from the LA wildfires will easily top $20 billion. But that's only the start of the crisis California now faces, Axios managing editor Ben Berkowitz writes. Anything above $12.5 billion would pass 2018's Camp Fire to become the biggest insured wildfire loss ever, per data from insurance brokers Aon. At the high end of the range, the LA fires would be near the list of the 10 costliest natural disasters in global history by inflation-adjusted insured loss, according to the Insurance Information Institute. 🔭 The big picture: The loss number only tells part of the story. Thousands upon thousands of homes and businesses have been lost, and tough decisions about if and how to rebuild will take years, even as climate change makes this sort of disaster more likely. California's insurance market was already struggling as carriers fled the state's many risks. So the state insurer of last resort, FAIR Plan, has ballooned to an unsustainable size. Systematic reforms designed to expand coverage and let insurers re-price risk are just now coming online — but may be too late, given the scope of losses. Via X The latest: California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) is ordering an investigation into water supply problems that left fire hydrants dry and hurt firefighting efforts. The 117-million-gallon Santa Ynez Reservoir in Pacific Palisades was empty and closed for repairs as the wildfire tore through homes, the LA Times reports: "Whether having the reservoir online would have had a meaningful impact on fighting the blaze is unclear." Quote phkrause Obstinacy is a barrier to all improvement. - ChL 60
Members phkrause Posted January 12 Author Members Posted January 12 🧠 Fires' psychological toll Illustration: Lindsey Bailey/Axios Entire neighborhoods in Southern California have been destroyed by deadly wildfires, displacing communities that don't know what — if anything — they'll have to return to. Researchers have linked wildfires to long-lasting anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder in survivors, in addition to the well-documented physical toll, Axios' April Rubin writes. "There is the lingering, not knowing status of what happened," Jeff Katzman, a Connecticut-based psychiatrist who grew up in the Pacific Palisades told Axios. "There's the experience of loss of an entire community that has generations of meaning." Front pages of today's Washington Post, LA Times 🔎 Zoom in: People exposed to California's deadliest wildfire, the 2018 Camp Fire, showed greater chronic symptoms of PTSD, anxiety and depression, according to research published in 2023. Another study from last year linked wildfires to increased emergency room visits for anxiety disorders. Case in point: LA families calling Parents Anonymous, a nonprofit helpline, have been expressing extreme distress this week, said Lisa Pion-Berlin, CEO of Parents Anonymous. For those whose houses were destroyed, "it's not just the things in the building you lost, you lost a home," she said. "And that's a safe place where you're raising a family, where you go to relax, where you go to cry, where you go to celebrate, where you have birthday parties." Quote phkrause Obstinacy is a barrier to all improvement. - ChL 60
Members phkrause Posted January 12 Author Members Posted January 12 The California wildfires could be leaving deeper inequality in their wake The sight of celebrity mansions and movie landmarks reduced to ashes can make it seem like the Los Angeles wildfires affected a constellation of movie stars. But the fires also burned through a remarkable haven for generations of Black families avoiding discriminatory housing practices elsewhere. Recovery and rebuilding may be out of reach for many, and pressures of gentrification could be renewed. Read more. Quote phkrause Obstinacy is a barrier to all improvement. - ChL 60
Members phkrause Posted January 13 Author Members Posted January 13 LA’s fire chief is at the center of a public spat with City Hall as wildfires rage Kristin Crowley was elevated to Los Angeles fire chief in 2022 at a time of turmoil in a department consumed by complaints of rampant hazing, harassment and discrimination among its 3,400-member ranks. As a career firefighter, she was portrayed by the then-mayor as a stabilizing force. https://apnews.com/article/los-angeles-fire-chief-crowley-bass-9076f31e7929b559e3afede572e119a4? Quote phkrause Obstinacy is a barrier to all improvement. - ChL 60
Members phkrause Posted January 13 Author Members Posted January 13 🔬 New LA fire clues A home burns in Pacific Palisades on Wednesday. Photo: Agustin Paullier/AFP via Getty Images The Pacific Palisades fire may have been caused by the re-ignition of an old fire, according to a Washington Post analysis of images, radio communications and witness interviews (gift link). Firefighters had put out the old fire six days before the Palisades fire started. Residents believe that one was caused by New Year's Eve fireworks. Then, the Palisades fire appeared to start from the same spot. 🔭 The big picture: "From Colorado to California to Hawaii, flare-ups of previous fires, known as re-ignition, have been the cause of some of the nation's most catastrophic and deadly wildfires," The Post reports. "This past summer, California officials coordinated a social media campaign to warn residents that terrain scorched but seemingly extinguished can spawn deadly new fires for weeks after the old ones appear to have gone out, as fire can smolder almost undetected underground or inside wood." The latest: The death toll from the Eaton and Palisades fires has risen to at least 24, per the L.A. County medical examiner's Sunday evening update. 16 people have been reported missing, a number authorities said was likely to rise. More than 100,000 residents remain under evacuation orders and over 12,000 structures have been destroyed, Axios' Avery Lotz reports. The Kenneth, Sunset and Lidia fires have been 100% contained, Gov. Gavin Newsom said yesterday. The Hurst fire was at 89% containment yesterday evening, per Cal Fire. The Palisades and Eaton fires, the biggest of the blazes, were 11% and 27% contained, respectively. Flowers and a car are covered by fire retardant in Mandeville Canyon, where firefighters managed to fight back flames. Photo: Ringo Chiu/Reuters "This is your Hurricane Katrina," Craig Fugate, who led FEMA under former President Obama, told The L.A. Times. "It will forever change the community. It will be a touch point that everybody will remember, before and after. And for Los Angeles, this will become one of the defining moments of the community, the city and the county's history." What's next: Firefighters are bracing for several days of winds that could make it even more difficult to contain the firestorm, The L.A. Times reports. 🗞️ Headline du jour, from The Wall Street Journal: "Hollywood Stars in Its Own Disaster As Fires Ravage Los Angeles" Quote phkrause Obstinacy is a barrier to all improvement. - ChL 60
Members phkrause Posted January 13 Author Members Posted January 13 LA fires At least 24 people have died and dozens are missing as firefighters continue to battle the deadly Los Angeles wildfires. It’s been less than a week since the year’s first wildfire embers raced through the air over LA, carried by hurricane-level Santa Ana winds to spark some of the deadliest wildfires California has ever seen. The Palisades Fire started Tuesday, and by the end of Wednesday, it had burned more than 17,000 acres. Now, with the Palisades blaze and the nearby Eaton fire still mostly uncontained, renewed Santa Ana winds threaten to enlarge those blazes or even start new ones. Winds are expected to slightly increase through today and could gust between 45-55 mph. That’s put nearly eight million people under critical fire weather, according to the Storm Prediction Center. Wildfire death toll surges to 24 as LA braces for more fierce winds After a weekend spent blocking the explosive growth of fires that destroyed thousands of homes and killed at least 24 people in the Los Angeles area, firefighters got a slight break with calmer weather, but cast a wary eye on a forecast for yet more wind. Read more. What to know: Twelve people were missing within the Eaton Fire zone and four were missing from the Palisades Fire, Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said. The death toll rose to 24 over the weekend. Eight deaths were attributed to the Palisades Fire and 16 to the Eaton Fire, according to the Los Angeles County coroner’s office. The National Weather Service issued red flag warnings for severe fire conditions through Wednesday, with sustained winds of 50 mph and mountain gusts reaching 70 mph. The most dangerous day will be Tuesday, warned fire behavior analyst Dennis Burns at a community meeting Sunday night. About 150,000 people in Los Angeles County remained under evacuation orders, with more than 700 residents taking refuge in nine shelters. The Palisades Fire was 11% contained, and containment on the Eaton Fire reached 27%. Those two blazes alone accounted for 59 square miles of the 62 square miles consumed by all four fires. RELATED COVERAGE ➤ The LA county wildfires could be the costliest in US history, early estimates say Californians scrambled to evacuate dogs, cats, horses, even pigs as LA flames closed in WATCH: Governor Newsom welcomes firefighters from Mexico who will help fight wildfires Quote phkrause Obstinacy is a barrier to all improvement. - ChL 60
Members phkrause Posted January 15 Author Members Posted January 15 How the wildfires in the Los Angeles area could affect California’s home insurance market SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — The wildfires that destroyed homes in multiple sections of the Los Angeles area will test California’s efforts to stabilize the state’s insurance marketplace after many insurers stopped issuing residential policies due to the high fire risk. https://apnews.com/article/california-wildfires-los-angeles-insurance-6fbb51bd3060743da0638baf4cf2845d? 🔥 New fire warning Volunteers help people load bags at a large donation site that has sprung up at the Pasadena Community Job Center. Photo: Nick Ut/Getty Images Weather forecasters have only more bad news for firefighters battling the L.A.-area fires, Axios' Andrew Freedman reports. The National Weather Service issued a rare "Particularly Dangerous Situation" Red Flag Warning that lasts until Wednesday for parts of L.A. and Ventura counties, warning that high winds could cause "explosive fire growth." 🚨 Zoom in: Winds during this event will be closer to a typical strong Santa Ana, at 50–70 mph instead of up to 100 mph as seen last week. But the east-to-west air flow will likely target areas that didn't have such strong winds last week, particularly in Ventura County. "THIS IS A PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS SITUATION (PDS) FOR PORTIONS OF LOS ANGELES AND VENTURA COUNTIES!" the NWS said. Go deeper ... How to help. 🚩 "Red flag" warning for LA fire resurgence Fire and utility trucks, plus other vehicles, park yesterday along Pacific Coast Highway near homes destroyed in Pacific Palisades, Calif. Photo: Mario Tama/Getty Images Weather forecasters have more bad news for firefighters battling the LA fires, Axios' Andrew Freedman reports. The National Weather Service's LA forecast office issued a rare "Particularly Dangerous Situation" Red Flag Warning lasting until tomorrow at noon for parts of LA and Ventura counties, warning that high winds could cause "explosive fire growth." The latest: Four major fires have consumed more than 62 square miles, an area larger than San Francisco. The two biggest infernos have destroyed thousands of homes and killed at least 24 people. Go deeper: The calamity shows what can go horribly wrong even when weather forecasts and warnings prove eerily prescient. Quote phkrause Obstinacy is a barrier to all improvement. - ChL 60
Members phkrause Posted January 15 Author Members Posted January 15 LA wildfires Firefighters are facing challenging conditions in their battle against the Los Angeles wildfires, with powerful winds forecast over the next 24 hours that could cause extreme fire behavior in the existing blazes or turn any new spark into an inferno. A new blaze, the Auto Fire, broke out late Monday in Ventura County, part of an area under the highest fire threat as winds pick up, prompting a swift response from local fire departments that managed to halt the fire’s forward progress. Meanwhile, the Eaton and Palisades fires are likely the second and fourth most destructive in California history. The total area burned by the Palisades, Eaton and Hurst fires is about 60 square miles, an area larger than Paris. Quote phkrause Obstinacy is a barrier to all improvement. - ChL 60
Members phkrause Posted January 15 Author Members Posted January 15 Firefighters brace for strong winds that could fuel Los Angeles fire growth A beefed-up firefighting force was staged around Los Angeles to attack flare-ups or new blazes and anxious residents were prepared for the worst as dangerous winds were expected to build Tuesday, a week after two massive infernos destroyed thousands of homes and killed at least 24 people. Read more. What to know: Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and other officials — who have faced criticism over their initial response to fires that began last week — expressed confidence Monday that the region was ready to face the new threat with additional firefighters brought in from around the U.S., as well as Canada and Mexico. There have been more than a dozen wildfires in Southern California since Jan. 1, mostly in the greater Los Angeles area. The latest started late Monday in a dry riverbed in Oxnard, about 55 miles northwest of Los Angeles. RELATED COVERAGE ➤ Small airborne embers play a big role in the spread of wildfires AP PHOTOS: Amid charred neighborhoods, a handful of LA homes remain untouched Lawsuit claims utility’s equipment sparked devastating Eaton Fire, but investigation still ongoing Quote phkrause Obstinacy is a barrier to all improvement. - ChL 60
Members phkrause Posted January 15 Author Members Posted January 15 ‘Nobody’s dying': A look inside how a senior home evacuated before burning down in LA wildfire Flush with her $1.25 winnings at the bingo tables, Sharon Tanner retired to a room off the dining hall to discuss the top worry for the residents council at her senior living community: what to do about people leaving their laundry in the washing machines and dryers. https://apnews.com/article/california-wildfires-escape-evacuate-senior-citizens-7068811f9be7a03c4932817320d97b73? Los Angeles wildfires The death toll from the catastrophic wildfires in Los Angeles has risen to at least 25, according to an update from the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner. Nine people died in the Palisades Fire and 16 people died in the Eaton Fire, the update said. Meanwhile, over 6 million people in Southern California are currently under critical fire threat as crews work tirelessly to prevent further spread. As investigators search for answers, a new analysis shows the fires were larger and more intense because of planet-warming pollution. The study raises the question of whether the fires could have been controllable were it not for the fire-fueling effects of climate change. Quote phkrause Obstinacy is a barrier to all improvement. - ChL 60
Members phkrause Posted January 16 Author Members Posted January 16 A ‘Particularly Dangerous Situation’ is forecast for Los Angeles area Millions of Southern Californians were on edge as a final round of dangerous fire weather was forecast for the region on Wednesday, along with a rare warning of a “Particularly Dangerous Situation” for an area near where two massive blazes have killed at least 25 and destroyed thousands of homes. Read more. What to know: Firefighters got a reprieve Tuesday when winds were unexpectedly light and they were able to make progress battling the two huge Los Angeles area fires and quickly snuff out several new fires. “Key message: We are not out of the woods yet,” the National Weather Service said in a post late Tuesday. Weary and anxious residents were told to be ready to flee at a moment’s notice. They remained vigilant, keeping an eye on the skies and on each other: Police announced roughly 50 arrests, for looting, flying drones in fire zones, violating curfew and other crimes. Of those, three people were arrested on suspicion of arson after being seen setting small fires that were immediately extinguished, LA Police Chief Jim McDonnell said. Firefighters have jumped on small blazes that popped up, quickly smothering several in Los Angeles county, including a blaze Tuesday evening in the Angeles National Forest. The four largest fires around the nation’s second-biggest city have scorched more than 63 square miles. Of these, the Eaton Fire near Pasadena was roughly one-third contained, while the largest blaze, in Pacific Palisades on the coast, was far less contained. RELATED COVERAGE ➤ Fire tornadoes are a risk under California’s extreme wildfire conditions As wildfires burn, GoFundMe becomes a repository of harrowing stories WATCH: Couple capture dramatic start of Eaton fire in Altadena Quote phkrause Obstinacy is a barrier to all improvement. - ChL 60
Members phkrause Posted January 16 Author Members Posted January 16 After the Palisades Fire, What Can We Really Rebuild? As the community of Pacific Palisades, California, burns, ProPublica’s Tim Golden reflects on how the blaze will transform his hometown. https://www.propublica.org/article/pacific-palisades-california-wildfires-rebuilding-community? Los Angeles wildfires A period of dangerous fire weather conditions in Los Angeles has passed but confidence is increasing that another Santa Ana Wind event will impact Southern California next week. "We are not out of the woods yet," Mayor Karen Bass said Wednesday as Cal Fire warned of "extreme hazards and the potential for fire growth." The National Weather Service said another round of Santa Ana Winds is set to begin in parts of Los Angeles County late next Monday and into Tuesday. This comes as the Palisades Fire is still just 21% contained, burning across more than 23,700 acres. The Eaton Fire — the most destructive fire in Southern California history — is only 45% contained. Firefighters make significant gains against wildfires around Los Angeles The windy, flame-fanning weather that put the nation’s second most populous metropolitan region on edge eased up Wednesday as firefighters made significant gains against the two massive wildfires burning around Los Angeles. Read more. Why this matters: A “Particularly Dangerous Situation” red-flag warning expired without causing explosive fire growth as feared, though forecasters said gusty winds could linger into early Thursday, mostly in the mountains. Santa Ana winds could return early next week. More manageable winds allowed firefighters to make gains on the two most destructive fires. Almost half of the Eaton Fire just north of LA was contained, and one-fifth of the fire that destroyed much of the seaside neighborhood of Pacific Palisades was surrounded. RELATED COVERAGE ➤ ‘Fabulous’ 95-year-old grandmother with ties to old Hollywood among California fire victims WATCH: AP journalist visits his burned California home for the first time For LA water issues, misinformation spreads nearly as fast as the wildfires Quote phkrause Obstinacy is a barrier to all improvement. - ChL 60
Members phkrause Posted January 17 Author Members Posted January 17 We Will All Be Paying For L.A.’s Wildfires Los Angeles’ wildfires and an industry-tied insurance regulator may prove a tipping point for the country’s faltering financial safety net. https://www.levernews.com/we-will-all-be-paying-for-l-a-s-wildfires/ Inside the monumental effort behind LA’s firefight, from strategy to meals and laundry On a recent day fighting the Los Angeles wildfires, a fire crew’s radios crackled to life, warning of nearby flames as helicopter blades thudded overhead. Juan Tapia — an experienced firefighter from Morelia, Mexico — tore out scrub brush as tall as himself, just days after arriving in California. And Karley Desrosiers, fresh from British Columbia, scrambled to communicate the latest update on the fire to an anxious public. https://apnews.com/article/wildfire-los-angeles-palisades-eaton-firefighters-canada-mexico-64e8c5f9da32e38ab4ca010ced7e5457? Quote phkrause Obstinacy is a barrier to all improvement. - ChL 60
Members phkrause Posted January 18 Author Members Posted January 18 Los Angeles wildfires Tens of thousands of residents in Los Angeles County who were forced to evacuate the wildfires raging in the area will have to wait at least another week before they can return to their homes to survey damage, retrieve necessities and assess what can be salvaged of their remaining property. More than 12,000 structures have been destroyed in the Eaton and Palisades fires and securing the evacuation zones goes beyond ensuring the blazes are out. Toxic ash, hazardous waste and charred debris left in the wake of the infernos must be cleaned up, plus repairs to infrastructure such as water and electricity, officials said. As of today, over 170,000 people are still under evacuation notices in LA County. Ash and other dangers mean LA area residents who fled fires a week ago won’t be going home soon It has been more than a week since two massive fires forced tens of thousands of people to flee their homes in the Los Angeles area, and officials said Thursday residents won’t be going home soon. Read more. Key points: Firefighters continued to battle the two largest fires, which have killed 27 people and destroyed more than 12,000 structures. More than 80,000 people are still under evacuation orders. Officials have asked residents for patience as hazardous materials teams and cadaver dogs comb the sites block by block. They said it will be a week or more before people can go back. “The properties have been damaged beyond belief,” Los Angeles County Public Works Director Mark Pestrella said at a briefing. “They are full of sediment, debris, silt and hazardous materials.” Hillsides have become unstable behind some damaged homes, and a small landslide in Pacific Palisades this week sent debris into the streets, he added. The city is also working on ensuring the region’s storm drainage system does not get clogged when rain begins to return in the coming weeks. Rain also poses the risk of mudslides. RELATED COVERAGE ➤ Looking for his father, a worried son went to fire evacuation zone but found death and devastation California is years behind in implementing a law to make homes more fire resistant After disasters, people are especially vulnerable to scams. Here’s how to protect yourself Quote phkrause Obstinacy is a barrier to all improvement. - ChL 60
Members phkrause Posted January 20 Author Members Posted January 20 Johnson’s strings-attached disaster aid stance could come back to bite Louisiana in the butt Any disaster aid to help Los Angeles recover from devastating wildfires could be predicated on whether local and state policy in California contributed to the natural disaster, U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson said earlier this week. https://lailluminator.com/2025/01/16/johnson-disaster/? Quote phkrause Obstinacy is a barrier to all improvement. - ChL 60
Members phkrause Posted January 20 Author Members Posted January 20 Homes were burning and roads already jammed when Pacific Palisades evacuation order came, AP finds The first evacuation order covering neighborhoods closest to the start of the devastating Pacific Palisades wildfire didn’t come until about 40 minutes after some of those homes were already burning, according to an Associated Press analysis of emergency communications and interviews with survivors. https://apnews.com/article/california-wildfires-evacuation-alerts-69f10d320df14c6394fc2c646d1ff0ce? Southern California braces for gusty winds and heightened wildfire risk Southern Californians are bracing for gusty winds and a heightened risk of wildfires, less than two weeks after the outbreak of deadly blazes that have killed at least 27 people and charred thousands of homes. Read more. Why this matters: The National Weather Service has issued a warning of a “particularly dangerous situation” for parts of Los Angeles and Ventura counties from Monday afternoon through Tuesday morning due to low humidity and damaging Santa Ana winds. Critical fire weather with wind gusts up to 60 mph was also forecast for other Southern California communities stretching to San Diego. The warnings come as firefighters continue to battle two major blazes in the Los Angeles area, the Palisades and Eaton fires, which have destroyed more than 14,000 structures since they broke out during fierce winds on Jan. 7. The Palisades fire was 52% contained on Sunday and the Eaton fire 81% contained, according to fire officials. RELATED COVERAGE ➤ Attorneys for fire victim say utility may have destroyed evidence of what caused deadly LA-area fire Families of wildfire victims mired in grief, questioning what more could have been done Why are lone homes left standing after the fires? It’s not entirely luck Quote phkrause Obstinacy is a barrier to all improvement. - ChL 60
Members phkrause Posted January 22 Author Members Posted January 22 Warnings for dangerous winds extended in Southern California as new wildfires break out LOS ANGELES (AP) — Forecasters warned that dangerous winds will buffet Southern California for at least two more days as new wildfires broke out on Tuesday, a pair of major Los Angeles-area blazes burned for a third week, and officials made preparations to protect scorched neighborhoods from toxic ash runoff ahead of potential rain this weekend. https://apnews.com/article/california-fires-los-angeles-winds-red-flag-warnings-5e599783ebd34a446e5b6690e0ecc777? Quote phkrause Obstinacy is a barrier to all improvement. - ChL 60
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