L.A. Fire Officials Could Have Put Engines in the Palisades Before the Fire, But Didn’t
Despite Warnings of Life-Threatening Winds, Top Commanders Decided Not to Assign Additional Firefighters and Engines
As the Los Angeles Fire Department faced extraordinary warnings of life-threatening winds, top commanders decided not to assign for emergency deployment roughly 1,000 available firefighters and dozens of water-carrying engines in advance of the fire that destroyed much of the Pacific Palisades and continues to burn.
Fire Officials Chose Not to Order Additional Firefighters and Engines
Fire officials chose not to order the firefighters to remain on duty for a second shift last Tuesday as the winds were building — which would have doubled the personnel on hand — and staffed just five of more than 40 engines that are available to aid in battling wildfires, according to internal LAFD records and interviews with LAFD officials and former chiefs with knowledge of city operations.
No Extra Engines Were Placed in the Palisades
No extra engines had been placed in the Palisades, where the fire broke out about 10:30 a.m. on Jan. 7, officials said. The department pre-positioned nine engines to the San Fernando Valley and Hollywood that were already on duty, expecting that fires might break out there. Officials said they moved more engines “first thing in the morning” to also cover northeast L.A.
Former Chiefs Criticize the Decision
Several former chiefs with deep experience in LAFD tactics said most of the more than 40 available engines could have been pre-deployed to fire zones before the Palisades blaze started, while others were kept at stations to help with the increase in 911 calls. Those engines were eventually used to fight the Palisades fire and other blazes or to fill in for other engines deployed to the front line, current LAFD officials said.
Conclusion
The decision not to assign additional firefighters and engines before the fire may have contributed to the devastating consequences of the Palisades blaze. Fire officials should have taken a more proactive approach to prepare for the emergency, considering the extreme weather conditions and the potential for widespread damage.
FAQs
Q: Why didn’t the LAFD assign additional firefighters and engines before the fire?
A: According to internal LAFD records and interviews with LAFD officials and former chiefs with knowledge of city operations, fire officials chose not to order the firefighters to remain on duty for a second shift last Tuesday as the winds were building — which would have doubled the personnel on hand — and staffed just five of more than 40 engines that are available to aid in battling wildfires.
Q: Were there any extra engines available to respond to the fire?
A: Yes, there were more than 40 engines available to aid in battling wildfires, but only five were staffed and deployed to the Palisades.
Q: Why didn’t the LAFD pre-position engines in the Palisades before the fire?
A: According to officials, the department pre-positioned nine engines to the San Fernando Valley and Hollywood that were already on duty, expecting that fires might break out there. Officials said they moved more engines “first thing in the morning” to also cover northeast L.A., but did not deploy any additional engines to the Palisades.
Q: What was the impact of the fire?
A: The Palisades fire has burned nearly 24,000 acres and destroyed or damaged more than 5,300 homes and other structures, officials estimate. At least eight people have died in the fire, according to the Los Angeles County coroner’s office and Sheriff’s Department.
