Important Takeaways:
- The threat is present at each of the major fires’ burn scars, including the Palisades and Eaton Fires, as well as the earlier Bridge Fire.
- The most recent blazes collectively burned more than 16,000 structures and killed more than 25 people in early January.
- The ground can even give way during periods of intense rainfall, as “burned soil can be as water-repellant as pavement,” according to the NWS.
- California has seen multiple deadly disasters involving burn scar landslides of various types, including a debris flow in Montecito that killed 23 people.
- The NWS forecast office in Los Angeles is warning of the risk for “life-threatening” burn scar flooding and debris flows as the heaviest rain sweeps through Thursday afternoon and evening.
- As of Wednesday morning, flash flood watches — including those in California — were in effect for about 10 million people, while winter storm warnings and advisories were in force for about 240 million people from California to Maine.
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Important Takeaways:
- Among the findings:
- The Los Angeles County Fire Department pre-deployed firefighters and engines ahead of the extreme wind event paying overtime to personnel; the Los Angeles Fire Department, controlled by the city, did not.
- Local water systems (maintained by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power) failed, especially in the Pacific Palisades, where a 117-million-gallon reservoir was empty and fire hydrants lost water pressure.
- There were no set evacuation routes, identified by local law enforcement, in the event of a catastrophic event.
- There were delayed warnings to residents, as the National Weather Service, Los Angeles County, and Ventura County, decided not to send an alarm warning of hurricane-force winds that eventually spread wildfires.
- California Governor Gavin Newsom was distracted by his budget, by the funeral of President Jimmy Carter, and by the visit of then-President Joe Biden. L.A. Mayor Karen Bass was in Ghana for the Biden administration.
- The Times offered some recommendations:
- [B]etter evacuation alerts and water systems, better management of brush and grasslands, and homes that are more fire-safe, as well as better technology to fight fires. It could mean a stronger, more unified response structure that brings multiple jurisdictions together during the planning stages in extreme fire weather.
- In the most extreme cases, cities in the West facing volatile fire conditions may be forced to consider the kind of advance staff deployments and public warnings that are already standard elsewhere in the country for hurricanes and tornadoes.
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Important Takeaways:
- Thousands of firefighters are battling at least five sprawling wildfires spread around the Los Angeles area, as well as several smaller blazes. Thousands of structures have been damaged or destroyed and more than 100,000 people evacuated as uncontrolled infernos spread.
- The scale of the damage and disruption wrought in Los Angeles is unprecedented, with state and federal authorities mobilizing to fight the fires and support those forced to flee. President Joe Biden on Wednesday approved a federal major disaster declaration for Los Angeles County.
- The Palisades Fire began in the Pacific Palisades area of the city on Tuesday. It has so far burned 17,234 acres and is at 0% containment. More than 1,000 structures have been damaged or destroyed.
- The Eaton Fire, north of Pasadena, began on Tuesday. It expanded to 10,600 acres and is at 0% containment. Five people have died in the fire and up to 500 structures have been damaged or destroyed.
- The Hurst Fire in Sylmar, northwest of San Fernando, began on Tuesday and has burned 855 acres. It is at 10% containment.
- The Lidia Fire erupted on Wednesday on the northwest edge of the Angeles National Forest. It has grown to 348 acres and is at 40% containment.
- The Sunset Fire broke out above West Hollywood on Wednesday. It is at 43 acres and 0% containment.
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