{"id":2388250,"date":"2025-01-09T10:34:10","date_gmt":"2025-01-09T15:34:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/california-fires-put-los-angeles-area-on-high-alert-what-to-know\/"},"modified":"2025-01-09T10:34:52","modified_gmt":"2025-01-09T15:34:52","slug":"california-fires-put-los-angeles-area-on-high-alert-what-to-know","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/california-fires-put-los-angeles-area-on-high-alert-what-to-know\/","title":{"rendered":"California fires put Los Angeles area on high alert: What to know"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">24<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fcalifornia-fires-put-los-angeles-area-on-high-alert-what-to-know%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2388250&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>This week, Los Angeles faced the\u2064 most \u2062destructive wildfires\u2063 in its history, \u200bwith strong winds exacerbating the situation and complicating firefighting efforts. The major wildfires include the Palisades Fire, which has \u2063burnt \u2064over 17,000 acres, and\u2064 other significant \u2063fires such as the Eaton, Hurst, Lidia,\u200b and \u200dSunset Fires, collectively destroying thousands of structures and leading to evacuation orders for over 130,000 residents. At least five fatalities have been reported \u200damidst the devastation.<\/p>\n<p>The fires are characterized by erratic \u2062wind patterns, with gusts reaching up to\u2062 100 mph, spreading embers unpredictably and igniting new areas. The dry conditions over \u200cthe past eight months have contributed to the fires&#8217; \u2062intensity. While some progress has been made in containing certain fires\u200c like \u200dthe Sunset and \u2062Lidia blazes, many remain out of control.<\/p>\n<p>The government response is under scrutiny due to issues such as water shortages in fire hydrants and budget cuts to the fire \u2063department. Los \u200cAngeles Mayor Karen Bass faced criticism for her absence during the crisis, as she \u2063was overseas during the fires&#8217; onset. In response, President\u2064 biden\u2062 has ordered \u2062military\u200b assistance to aid \u2063firefighting \u200cefforts, highlighting the urgent need for action in \u200bthe face of this devastating crisis.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">California fires put Los Angeles and outlying areas on high alert: What to know<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_1930835\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>This week, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/los-angeles\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Los Angeles\">Los Angeles<\/a> was hit by the most devastating series of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/wildfires\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Los Angeles\">wildfires<\/a> in its history, destroying tens of thousands of acres.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>Hurricane-like winds have caused the fires to spread unpredictably, complicating firefighting efforts. The <a href=\"http:\/\/washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/military\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">military<\/a> and Canada have stepped in to try and contain the fires.<\/p>\n<p>Here&rsquo;s everything you need to know about the fires that have put Los Angeles and surrounding areas on high alert:<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">(Illustration by Washington Examiner) Data source: Los Angeles Fire Department, LA County<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">When and where did the fires start?<\/h2>\n<p>The first fire was the Palisades Fire, which began around 10:30 a.m. Tuesday and has since become the largest. Cal Fire, the state fire agency, reported that as of early Thursday, the fire had scorched more than 17,000 acres. The beach cities of Santa Monica and Malibu were largely destroyed.<\/p>\n<p>The Eaton Fire started around 6:30 p.m. Tuesday and is the second largest, at 10,000 acres. It has destroyed the neighborhood of Altadena, just north of Pasadena.<\/p>\n<p>The Hurst Fire started at 10:20 p.m. Tuesday in Sylmar, located in the San Fernando Valley. It has consumed about 500 acres.<\/p>\n<p>The Lidia Fire began at around 2:07 p.m. Wednesday and is the northernmost and most remote blaze. It swelled to roughly 350 acres by Thursday, but fire officials <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/Angeles_NF\/status\/1877178400881914082\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"reported\">reported<\/a> that it was 40% contained.<\/p>\n<p>The Sunset Fire began at around 6:04 p.m. Wednesday in the Hollywood Hills. It spread dangerously close to Hollywood Boulevard, but firefighters made progress overnight, shrinking it from a peak of 50 acres down to 42.3, according to a firefighter <a href=\"https:\/\/www.latimes.com\/california\/story\/2025-01-09\/firefighters-make-big-gains-battling-sunset-fire-which-forced-evacuations-in-hollywood\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"speaking with\">speaking with<\/a> the <em>Los Angeles Times<\/em>.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How big and destructive is the fire?<\/h2>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A firefighter walks past a burning structure as the Palisades Fire continues to burn on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025, in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles. (AP Photo\/Mark J. Terrill)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The fire is the most destructive in Los Angeles history. At least five people have been killed and a combined 27,900 acres burned, with both numbers likely to increase.<\/p>\n<p>More than 2,000 structures have been burned, while more than 130,000 people have been put under evacuation orders.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How is this fire different than previous ones?<\/h2>\n<p>The fire has been so destructive due to unique wind patterns &mdash; officials said that the Santa Ana winds were much more erratic and unpredictable than previously, according to the <em>Los Angeles Times<\/em>. The winds help to spread burning embers, which can travel for miles before landing and igniting structures.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Normally, under a sustained Santa Ana condition, we have fires that are long and narrow,&rdquo; Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone told the outlet. &ldquo;However, with these erratic winds and this PDS, or particularly dangerous situation, the winds were constantly changing.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The winds were also much stronger than usual. From Tuesday to Wednesday, winds reaching up to 80 mph were commonplace, with one gust reaching 100 mph in Altadena.<\/p>\n<p>The fires come during an extended dry season &mdash; the area has been largely devoid of rainfall for nearly eight months.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A resident hoses down hot spots in a fire-ravaged property on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025, after the Palisades Fire swept through in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles. (AP Photo\/Eugene Garcia)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Are the blazes slowing down?<\/h2>\n<p>Most of the fires have not been contained and are set to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.latimes.com\/california\/story\/2025-01-09\/even-after-a-two-day-nightmare-l-a-girds-for-more-days-of-fire-weather\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"get worse\">get worse<\/a>. While decreased winds over Wednesday night reduced the spread and allowed for aircraft to fly crucial firefighting missions, strong winds are set to resume by Thursday afternoon and continue into Friday. Winds of up to 70 mph are expected.<\/p>\n<p>However, progress has been made with the Sunset and Lidia fires.<\/p>\n<p>Overnight, firefighters made some progress against the Sunset Fire threatening Hollywood<span style=\"box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;\">. Speaking with the <em>Los Angeles Times<\/em>, one firefighter called it a &ldquo;miracle that no homes burned here.<\/span>&rdquo; A concentrated effort of firefighters and firefighting vehicles has shrunk the blaze for the time being. Helicopters dropping water came in roughly seven-minute intervals.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Motorists drive past the Palisades Fire on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025, in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles. (AP Photo\/Ethan Swope)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How is the government responding?<\/h2>\n<p>The government&rsquo;s response has <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/halyna-hutchins-husband-hires-law-firm-specializing-in-wrongful-death-suits\/\" title=\"Halyna Hutchins&#039; Husband Hires Law Firm Specializing in Wrongful Death Suits\">faced heavy scrutiny<\/a>, particularly the local and state response. Firefighters discovered a chronic shortage of water in fire hydrants, leaving them unable to battle the fires. Current and former officials <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/3279889\/former-los-angeles-water-commissioner-mismanagement-low-hydrant-levels\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"blamed\">blamed<\/a> old water infrastructure and mismanagement.<\/p>\n<p>Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/3281073\/karen-bass-stares-wordlessly-reporter-cornered-los-angeles-wildfires\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"faced\">faced<\/a> the brunt of the criticism. She was in Ghana when the fires began, celebrating the inauguration of President John Dramani Mahama. On her way back, she was cornered by a reporter, to whom she offered no answers.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Do you owe citizens an apology for being absent while their homes were burning? Do you regret cutting the fire department budget by millions of dollars, Madame Mayor?&rdquo; Sky News reporter David Blevins asked to no response.<\/p>\n<p>City figures reveal that Bass instituted sweeping budget cuts for the fire department in the city&rsquo;s fiscal 2025 budget. Her original proposal advocated cutting the fire department&rsquo;s budget by $23 million, with the final cut being $17.6 million.<\/p>\n<p>On Wednesday, President Joe Biden <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/presidential\/3281069\/biden-orders-pentagon-provide-firefighting-personnel-california-fires\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"ordered\">ordered<\/a> the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/defense-department\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"ordered\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/department-of-defense\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"ordered\">Defense<\/a> Department&nbsp;to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/biden-orders-dod-to-send-firefighters-to-california-washington-examiner\/\" title=\"Biden orders DOD to send firefighters to California - Washington Examiner\">deploy firefighting personnel<\/a> to assist in the firefighting efforts.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Firefighters battle the Palisades Fire on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025, as it burns multiple structures in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles. (AP Photo\/Ethan Swope)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>&ldquo;I have directed the<a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/DeptofDefense\">&nbsp;<\/a>[DOD]  to <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\">rapidly provide additional firefighting personnel<\/a> and capabilities to the region being impacted by the Southern California wildfires. We also continue to work closely with the National Guard,&rdquo; Biden said in a social media post, adding that 10 Navy helicopters had been deployed.<\/p>\n<p>Biden canceled a visit to Italy to help direct the response, a trip intended to be the last foreign visit of his presidency.<\/p>\n<p>Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA), who has also faced criticism over the fires, said he deployed more than&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.ca.gov\/2025\/01\/08\/more-than-7500-firefighting-emergency-personnel-deployed-to-fight-unprecedented-los-angeles-fires\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">7,500 firefighters<\/a>&nbsp;to help contain the wildfires.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;More than 7,500 firefighting personnel are on the ground working with local and federal partners to respond to California&rsquo;s ongoing historic wildfires, Newsom said. &ldquo;Southern California residents &mdash; please remain vigilant tonight. Listen to local officials and be ready to evacuate if you&rsquo;re near impacted areas.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How will residents recoup their losses?<\/h2>\n<p>State Farm announced in March 2024 that it would <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/3281222\/state-farm-canceled-california-homeowners-insurance-policies\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"cancel\">cancel<\/a> 72,000 property policies in California, 30,000 of which were home insurance policies, the&nbsp;<em>Los Angeles Times<\/em>&nbsp;reported. The cancellations went into effect over the summer. The company&rsquo;s reasoning was that California law forbade the raising of premiums in order to match the increased risks from wildfires, meaning the company risked &ldquo;financial failure.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Around 1,600 homes in Pacific Palisades were victims of State Farm&rsquo;s policy&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.latimes.com\/california\/story\/2024-04-10\/westside-l-a-hit-hard-as-state-farm-cancels-home-insurance\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">cancellations<\/a>.&nbsp;Other insurance companies that covered homes in the area also canceled residents&rsquo; policies.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Annie Barbour, a coordinator for United Policyholders, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.latimes.com\/business\/story\/2025-01-08\/insurance-explainer\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"told\">told<\/a> the <em>Los Angeles Times<\/em> that there&rsquo;s &ldquo;no clear path&rdquo; to recovery for those without insurance.<\/p>\n<p>Support from FEMA &ldquo;won&rsquo;t be enough to bring back your house,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;Hopefully you can piece together some resources and see where that takes you.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_1930835\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"1930835\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>California wildfires devastate Los Angeles, prompting alerts<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2653,"featured_media":2388251,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/California-beach-fire.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[4045,5231,34985,36585,48203],"class_list":["post-2388250","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-california","tag-fires","tag-high-alert","tag-los-angeles","tag-safety-tips"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/California-beach-fire.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2388250","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2653"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2388250"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2388250\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2388254,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2388250\/revisions\/2388254"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2388251"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2388250"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2388250"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2388250"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}