Facing another round of extreme fire weather conditions, Los Angeles Fire Department officials on Monday deployed all of its extra engines and staged 30 engines in fire danger areas. They failed to take in front The deadly Palisades fireAccording to internal records and authorities.
Fire officials told reporters Monday that the company has also ordered an outbound shift of about 1,000 firefighters to remain on duty to hire additional engines.
The actions come after the Times learned that the LAFD decided not to take those drastic measures on Jan. 7. Unusual warnings From the National Weather Service, life-threatening and destructive wind storms are about to hit the region.
“Pre-deployment is more thoughtful and strategic” LAFD Chief Christine Crowley He said at a press conference on Monday morning. She could not explain exactly where the engines were parked, saying officials would provide that information later.
Mayor Karen Bass He said the city is “well prepared” to deal with a potential fire.
“I believe we will be more prepared for the worst-case scenario [is] In the next couple of days, hopefully we won't get there later,” Bass told reporters at a news conference.
Weather Service It issued a “particularly dangerous situation” warningIt will go into effect at noon Monday and 10 a.m. Tuesday through Tuesday for most of Los Angeles County and Ventura County.
Wind gusts of 50 mph to 70 mph are possible along the coast and valleys, 60 mph to 100 mph in the mountains and foothills, while sustained winds of 25 mph to 40 mph are possible.
Earlier on Jan. 7, the weather service warned of gusts of 80 mph to 100 mph in the mountains and foothills, with gusts of 50 mph to 80 mph.
Without the recent rains, the fuels are very dry.
“If it ignites, extreme fire weather and behavior is possible,” Crowley said.
Crowley said additional firefighters were called to the crew to supplement the 20 LAFD engines assigned to the Palisades fire, along with other state and federal resources. Firefighters elsewhere in the city continue to handle 911 calls, he said.
“We're very busy in town,” he said. “In addition to pre-deploying, escalating and responding to the Palisades fire, our mission is to ensure that we continue to provide 911 service.”
The Times found that no additional machines were placed in Pacific Palisades prior to the January 7 wind storm. As it did in the past. The fire broke out there around 10:30 a.m. Departments have pre-positioned nine engines in anticipation of a fire in the San Fernando Valley and Hollywood. Officials said they moved more engines “first thing in the morning” to cover Northeast LA
Fire officials decided not to order 1,000 firefighters to be on duty for a second shift that day – which would have doubled the personnel on hand – and deployed only five of the usual 40-plus engines. A fire brigade fighting forest fires.
Known locally as the 200 series engines, they are similar to other engines and are usually attached to hook and ladder trucks that do not carry water. They are usually employed by an engineer. When a forest fire is needed, four firefighters are carried.
They chose not to employ a set of nine “ready reserve” locomotives – known locally as the 400 series – which were to be available for weather emergencies and sometimes to replace broken rigs in station houses. Officials said two of the nine were out of service and needed to be replaced.
Battalion Chief Patrick Leonard said the outgoing shift of firefighters, including engines, was not ordered to resume work on Jan. 7 because “we don't have the equipment for another 1,000 members.”
On Monday, fire officials decided to deploy all available 200 and 400 series engines, according to an internal planning document.
Times staff writers Paul Pringle and Julia Wick contributed to this report.
