#Los Angeles County Wildfire

[firstoccupier]

LA Wildfires: 16 Deaths and Climate Crisis Implications

Here are the top 10 stories today, meticulously organized in regional order: Biden Administration Delays Enforcement of Order Blocking Nippon Steel, US Steel Deal – In a significant move, the Biden administration has opted to postpone the enforcement of an order that would impact the merger between Nippon Steel and US Steel. This decision carries implications for trade relations and industrial…

[bruces-midlife-crisis]

Southern California is on fire

In 2024, L.A. Mayor Karen Bass defunded the LA Fire Department by $17.3 million.

The LA Police Department, however, got a $138 million budget increase.

Among the firefighters, 30% of them are inmate firefighters who are risking their lives for $2 an hour. Only for them to not be able to get a job as a firefighter once they're released.

There are now 4 fires burning across Socal. The one getting the most attention is the Palisades fire which has grown to over 11,000 acres. Alongside it is the Altadena fire (over 10,000 acres), Hurst fire (700 acres), and Lidia fire (50 acres).

Due to the unprecedented Santa Ana winds, which have blown to over 100 mph, firefighters have not been able to make a dent on these fires.

A thousand homes have been destroyed. Two people lost their lives from the Altadena fires.

Instead of showing sympathy for the thousands of victims, right wing conspiracy theorists on twitter are blaming the fires on the LA Fire Chief, who is a lesbian, while Trump is blaming CA Governor Gavin Newsom for not removing water from a delta that would have endangered a native species.

Not climate change. Not the Resnicks, a billionaire couple who took control of California's water supply and now use over 150 billion gallons every year for their companies.

If you're in Southern California, please download the Watch Duty app. It brings up to date information on the fires along with evacuation zones. If officials tell you to evacuate, you do it. Make sure you look up shelters and mutual aid organizations in the area where you'll evacuate to. If you have to abandon your car, please move it to the side or leave your keys in the car so firefighters can move it out of the way.

The consequences of this disaster will be catastrophic. It has become increasingly clear that our government officials will not protect us as they would rather fill their own pockets. Stick together. Protect your community as best as you can.

Please keep Southern California in your thoughts. We're going to need them.

[saywhat-politics]

PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD) — State Farm is being accused of canceling thousands of fire insurance policies in California right before the massive wildfires.

More than 10,000 homes and businesses have been destroyed as multiple wildfires continue to ravage parts of Los Angeles County, according to Los Angeles Fire Chief Kristen Crowley.

Meanwhile, social media is ablaze with accusations State Farm abandoned its California customers right before wildfires broke out, with some even calling for violence against executives.

So WMBD reached out to State Farm to get the facts. It turns out, the Bloomington-based insurance company stopped accepting new fire insurance applications in California back in May 2023.

[benjaminallhope-fulltimemind]

Trump did say he was going to punish California for the crime of not voting for him, no one should be suprised either that's he spewing a stream of misinformation maliciously. We shouldn't take this lying down and keep steady, ironically enough the Republican's weakening of the federal government means that's it's easier to challenge him.

[justinspoliticalcorner]

Ilana Berger at MMFA:

Right-wing media are trying to delegitimize climate change as a real and growing threat to the West Coast, just as that threat becomes most evident. Several unusual January wildfires have been burning in Los Angeles County since January 7. Despite the clear connection between global warming and the increasingly dry conditions that lead to fire hazards, right-wing media are following their familiar playbook and blaming what they call California’s “failed” policies for the ongoing crisis. 

Californians are struggling to control ongoing fires, as U.S. communities are ill-prepared for year-round extreme weather

The two largest fires, Palisades and Eaton, have collectively burned over 164,000 acres of Los Angeles County. Nearly 173,000 people are under evacuation warnings or orders in LA County, at least 25 people have died, and over 17,000 structures have been damaged or destroyed. The Palisades fire was 19% contained and the Eaton fire was at 45% containment as of publication. [Los Angeles Times, 1/14/25; Cal Fire, accessed 1/15/25; ktla.com, 1/14/25; NBC Los Angeles, 1/14/25]  

Like in many other cities, LA’s municipal water system is not designed to handle multiple massive fires at once. Reports that the hydrants being used to put out the fires were running low spurred misinformation about water shortages due to a lack of reservoirs or related to California’s water policies that divert water from Northern California to Southern California. These rumors proved to be misleading: Even though there is enough water, there isn’t enough pressure to get water to go where firefights need it most. As the LAist has noted in the past, “Fire hydrants have also run dry in the case of other wildfires that spread to urban areas, including the 2017 Tubbs Fire, 2024’s Mountain Fire and 2023’s Maui wildfires.” [Media Matters, 1/10/25; The LAist, 1/9/25, 8/15/23]  

Forecasters were predicting more of the dry and intense Santa Ana winds that were fueling the fires. The winds, which typically occur during the colder months, are severely impeding efforts to contain the fires. NBC Los Angeles reported that “planes dumping water and retardant on impacted areas have been unable to take to the sky at times since the fires began because of the dangerous conditions presented by the winds.” On January 14 and 15, Los Angeles was expecting winds of up to 65 mph. As of January 14, the National Weather Service had declared red flag warnings, signaling “an increased risk of fire danger,” as well as  a “particularly dangerous situation” for parts of the area, which National Weather Service meteorologist Rose Schoenfeld said is “one of the loudest ways that we can shout.” [National Weather Service, accessed 1/14/25, 1/14/25; NBC Los Angeles, 1/13/25; NPR, 1/8/25; Los Angeles Times, 1/13/25]  

U.S. communities and infrastructure are ill-prepared for the climate-fueled extreme weather events that are now happening year round. On X, CBS national correspondent Jonathan Vigliotti posted, “American homes were built for an environment that no longer exists. This - like all of the disasters this century, from Florida to Hawaii - must be a call to action. This is the second time in one month Malibu was hit by fire.” Chad Hanson, a forest and fire ecologist and the president of the John Muir Project, told the Los Angeles Times, “The fact is that forest management is not stopping weather- and climate-driven fires.” Carlos Martín, an expert on housing adaptation and climate change, told Fast Company that cities are relying on the federal government because “the resources just aren’t there locally, and the damages are way more than anybody ever anticipated.” Martín said climate change mitigation and adaptation will be key in preparing for future disasters. “It’s like taking a pill to prevent the disease versus getting the disease treated afterwards. That’s the way we have to start thinking about these events: What we used to think of as individual crises [are now] chronic things,” he added. [Media Matters, 1/10/25; Twitter/X, 1/8/25; Los Angeles Times, 8/21/21; Fast Company, 1/11/25]

Right-wing media push the nonsense claim that climate change has nothing to do with the wildfires plaguing the LA area, despite ample evidence proving otherwise.

[zendayaupdates]

[neolithicsheep]

Smoke from the Fork Fire:

(it has gotten bigger since I took that screenshot)

Mount Baden-Powell, Mount Burnham, and Mount Throop were keeping us pretty well protected from the smoke but the wind has since shifted and now we can smell fire and I have the air purifier running.

I'd feel a lot better if there was a populated area between it and me and the sheep but there's just a bunch of forest which means fewer resources and less urgency for fighting it. In 2020 the Bobcat Fire started in the same way on the LA side of the mountains and nearly took out the ranch.

Fingers crossed that fire teams can get this one under control. The wind is currently pushing it our direction.

[lightofraye]

Free and discounted resources for victims of Los Angeles-area fires

Credit to the Los Angeles Times' instagram. Merely reposting to spread the information.

latimes: Eight wildfires have ravaged portions of Los Angeles County as of Friday, displacing more than 150,000 people who have had to evacuate or have lost their homes.

In the face of the unprecedented disaster, national companies, local businesses, nonprofits, individuals and communities are coming together to provide resources, supplies and services for free or a discounted rate to those who are reeling from the recent emergency.

Here is a list of offerings for fire victims in and around Los Angeles County, which we will be updating online as more organizations and companies post their offerings.

📷 @genaro4707

[sweetest-starlight]

Wishing all my fellow Southern Californians safety in light of the recent wildfires. They haven’t reached my area yet, but ash from the fires has been spreading and my school district is starting to take more precautions. I hope you’re able to stay safe 🤞

[mrsincorrect]

hello! fires are currently spreading through la, san fernando valley, and the oc.

here are some shelters;

Westwood recreation center (1350 S Sepulveda, Los Angeles 900258)

All Planet fitness are open for showers, wifi, and lounge areas in the la county.

El Camino Real Charter high school (5440 Valley Circle blvd, Woodland Hills 91367)

animal shelters

Agoura Animal Care Shelter (for smaller pets)

Pierce College Equestrian Center (for larger animals)

stay safe and evacuate ❤️

to keep track of the fires, follow this link to watch duty or download the app

[studentofshinto]

Please pray for the people in LA county and the greater LA area of Southern California.

Two photos that help put things in perspective illustrating just how bad it has gotten.

The red marker shows the location of the above image.

[bruces-midlife-crisis]

Southern California is still on fire and we need your help

Today, it is January 10th, 2025.

In good news, the the Sunset fire is now considered inactive and all evacuations have been reversed. It only grew to 60 acres at it's peak. The Hurst fire has shrunk to over 700 acres and is now 37% contained. The Lidia fire is still at over 300 acres but it is now 75% contained.

Sadly, that is all the good news I have. The Palisades fire has grown to over 20,000 acres with 6% containment. The Eaton fire has grown to over 13,000 acres. To put the sheer size of these fires into perspective, Manhattan has an area of 14,604 acres.

Tragically, 10 people have lost their lives.

At 2:43 PM, a fire known as the Kenneth fire started near the Woodland Hills area. It is 1,000 acres and is 35% contained as of writing. Sadly, this fire appears to have started due to an arson attack. Police currently have the suspect in custody after neighbors performed a citizen's arrest.

This morning, CBS conducted an exclusive interview with LAFD Fire Chief Kristin Crowley where it was revealed that Crowley warned LA Mayor Karen Bass that budget cuts would hamper the LAFD's ability to handle fire emergencies. Crowley confirmed that the city defunded LAFD by $17.6 million, which included a $7 million decrease in overtime pay.

THE EATON FIRE

The Palisades fire has received the most attention from mainstream media after celebrities and high profile Angelenos evacuated the region. Pacific Palisades is considered to be the most sought after real estate in the country as it sits on the Pacific Coast Highway between Santa Monica and Malibu. We now need to shift our attention to the Eaton fire.

The Eaton fire started on Thursday, January 8th, near Altadena Drive and Midwick Drive in the Altadena area. The city primarily affected by this fire is Altadena, home to over 40,000 people and is a mere 4 miles (6 kilometers) away from Pasadena. As of writing, it has burned to over 13,000 acres, has destroyed over 5,000 homes, with 0% containment.

Altadena has a large population of working and middle class families, particularly black families, whose families have lived in the region for generations. During the Great Migration of the 1900s, many black people fled to Altadena to escape the Jim Crow South. Octavia Butler, the world renowned author of Parable of the South, was from Altadena. As these Eaton fire continues to destroy the city, California is losing it's black history.

Do-Not-Drink Water alerts have been issued in Pasadena and Eaton Canyon as the Eaton fire has destroyed and contaminated the water pipes in the region as firefighters continue to fight the fires.

If you're able, please consider donating to the Gofundmes of Black families who have been impacted by the Eaton fires.

Please also consider donation to those have been effected in Eaton Canyon.

WAYS YOU CAN HELP

The Los Angeles Times has shared organizations that you can donate to included the California Fire Foundation. If you're in Southern California, this list also include mutual aid organizations where you can donate materials directly.

If you would like to directly donate to the Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation which will go towards emergency shelters, hydration backpacks, and wildland brush tools, you can do so here.

If you're in Southern California, please use the MALAN Fire and Wind Storm Resources spreadsheet to find mutual aid organizations near you and find places where you can donate or volunteer.

Finally, if you still have a Twitter account, please routinely check the app for Gofundmes from families who have been affected by the fires. Most Gofundmes are not listed on spreadsheets or official websites yet and many families are sharing them on Twitter. I found multiple has I was working on this post but I know for a fact there are more: (here), (here), (here), (here), (here), (here), (here), and (here).

Please continue to keep Southern California in your hearts. As the days pass, it has become increasingly clear that the damage being done by these fires is more than we can comprehend. Drone footage shows that Palisades has practically disappeared. It's now being estimated that these fires have done over $50 billion in damages.

Once these fires subside, Los Angeles County will never be the same again. Please continue to support us as we try to heal our wounded home.

[saywhat-politics]

Those looking to assist residents affected by the Los Angeles County firestorm have a number of options to donate money, materials or their time.

Communities in and around Pacific Palisades, Altadena, Pasadena and Sylmar are grappling with the devastation of the blazes, which collectively have scorched more than 21,000 acres and destroyed more than 1,000 homes, businesses and other buildings.

State, regional and local grassroots organizations are collecting funds and recruiting volunteers to help those displaced or affected. There is also a call for supporting the Los Angeles Fire Department by donating to the Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation.

The foundation is seeking monetary donations to equip firefighters battling the wildfires with items including emergency fire shelters, hydration backpacks and wildland brush tools. You can donate to the cause online.

You can also support regional and local organizations who are in need of funds, donations and volunteers.

[nando161mando]

They have only one joke.

ONLY ONE JOKE.

They know how to manage all of the wild fires by sitting on their computers browsing the Internet in underpants.

Everyone becomes an expert on the Internet.

We can't Accept complains about firefighters from people that have 0 game hours in this masterpiece.

[cemeterygrace]

peeps this is hella important!

lyft and uber are offering free rides up to $25 and $40 respectively to evacuation shelters in the la area!

airbnb is also offering free temporary housing!

[disastergis]

Post Fire in Los Angeles County

Post fire heat and smoke plume using GOES 18 West Mesocale and Band 7.