In Los Angeles County, five wildfires are causing mass destruction. Media outlets and social media pages are filled with apocalyptic images of orange blazes raging across homes and businesses. According to CNN, at least ten people have died and at least 180,000 people have been told to evacuate. The Palisades fire, between Malibu and Santa Monica, has been called the most destructive fire to ever impact Los Angeles County. On Jan. 8, FEMA approved a major disaster declaration for California.
As firefighters battle the blazes, LA residents reportedly feel that there was not adequate planning done to prepare for this scenario, given the high risk of fire during this time. Weather reports as early as Thursday last week sounded the alarm that a mix of high winds with intense dry conditions would elevate the fire risk. From current reports, here are some of the main concerns residents have expressed about how Los Angeles has prepared for the wildfire risk:
Trouble With Crisis Communication
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass was in Ghana attending the inauguration of its new president this week, but when she returned to LA on Wednesday afternoon, fires had already caused widespread devastation. Some residents argued that she should have come home sooner when the severe risk of wildfires became apparent. There were also concerns that the mayor’s office didn’t do enough to communicate the risk of wildfires to the public. According to reports, Mayor Bass shared the news about the wildfire risk on Monday while she was already away. There was no official announcement from her office about a fire breaking out until nearly 11 a.m. on Tuesday after a fire had already started. This emphasizes the importance of pre-disaster communication with the public.
Lack Of A Clear Evacuation Plan
From media reports and personal Tik Tok accounts, some LA residents are frustrated about the lack of a clear evacuation plan. Some residents ran into a gridlock when trying to escape the fires after being directed by police officers. In one emergency instance, people were told to abandon their cars, which blocked an exit route for other cars trying to leave.
Residents reportedly are asking for more fire preparedness. According to the New York Times, the Pacific Palisades community had a meeting scheduled to discuss a Community Wildfire Protection Plan and fire safety preparation this week. The goal for this plan is to address risk concerns and outline fire mitigation strategies. The mayor has said that a full evaluation of the city’s response will be determined after the wildfires are contained.
Fire Hydrants Ran Out Of Water
City officials confirmed that water tanks ran dry during the intense firefight early Wednesday. While it is not clear if this is just a system overwhelmed by the amount of water needed to fight off these fires, or if there are issues with the water management system, the water supply for fire hydrants is starting to stabilize as of Jan 9.
Fire Department Budget Cuts
A few weeks prior to these wildfires, Fire Chief Kristin M. Crowley sounded the alarm that recent budget cuts could impact the fire department’s ability to respond in a crisis. Chief Crowley said recent budget cuts “severely limited the Department’s capacity to prepare for, train for, and respond to large-scale emergencies, including wildfires, earthquakes, hazardous material incidents, and large public events.” Once the wildfires have been contained, it will be more evident how impactful budget cuts were on the fire department’s ability to respond to this crisis.
Resident Resilience
For residents in the area, it’s critical to have a personal plan in case an evacuation order is put in place. “Preparing for disasters begins at home,” said Margaret Millett, MsBC, Hon FBCI, MBCP. “Disasters often strike without warning. Not being prepared can put you and your family at risk for the dangers of natural disasters such as injury, illness, and the destruction of your home and property. By taking a few simple steps to plan, you can minimize the impact of these events. If you have not done so yet, take time now to prepare so it may save you and your property in a disaster.”
Here are resources to help LA residents impacted by the wildfires:
- Los Angeles Regional Food Bank
- Salvation Army
- California Fire Foundation
- American Red Cross
- Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation
