Nevada sends needed help to fight deadly Los Angeles wildfire

Posted: January 8, 2025, 01:07 pm.

Last updated: January 8, 2025, 01:23 pm.

First responders from Nevada are heading to Los Angeles to help fight the wildfire, which has destroyed nearly 1,000 structures and forced the evacuation of nearly 80K residents.

Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony C. Marone announced at a press conference Wednesday morning that an unspecified number of first responders would be arriving from Nevada as well as Oregon and Washington state. Others would come from all over California to assist the hard-working firefighters in Los Angeles.

“Thank you to the first responders from Nevada, Oregon and Washington state who are already coming to L.A. County to assist,” Marone said.

They are needed after the Los Angeles Fire Department increased the number of personnel to respond to four consecutive wildfires that began Tuesday morning.

The L.A. County Fire Department operational area includes 29 different fire departments in L.A. County,” Marone explained. “And all of those fire departments are in crisis without any fire equipment or additional personnel.”

Marone also requested additional staff under a mutual aid agreement with Orange, Ventura, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties in California. Fire brigades were also requested from other places in the state.

Pacific Palisades

Pacific Palisades is one of four active fires affecting the region. More than 5,000 acres of land has been burnt and there is currently no containment.

The fire is growing,” Marrone said of the Palisades Fire on Wednesday. “An estimated 1,000 of our structures have been destroyed.”

He said there were a “significant number” of injuries to residents who did not evacuate, as well as first responders who battled the fire.

The Palisades Fire broke out Tuesday morning in the Santa Monica Mountains. Within a few hours it expanded from about 200 acres to about 3,000 acres.

Those who were ordered to leave their homes included residents of Pacific Palisades, as well as residents of Malibu and Calabasas.

other fire

Local firefighters are also battling the out-of-control Eaton Fire, which has engulfed more than 2,000 acres. Two civilians died in this fire. “There were a number of significant injuries,” Marrone said. Over 100 structures were destroyed.

Los Angeles City Fire Department Chief Kristin M. Crowley said the Hearst and Pacific Palisades fires require a lot of attention.

These fires are stretching the capacity of emergency services to their maximum limits,” Crowley told reporters. “We will continue to work hard to ensure we save people, lives and property.”

Another uncontrolled fire has broken out in the Woodley area. The fifth fire in the Tyler area was 50% contained as of Wednesday.

According to news reports, the fire is more difficult to control due to low water pressure or no water coming from some hydrants in affected areas.

More than 13 thousand structures are at risk of fire, while nearly 250 thousand customers were without power in Los Angeles County as of Wednesday morning.

High winds are causing the flames to spread and dry conditions are contributing to the rapidly spreading fire. Winds up to 60 mph are expected through Thursday.

Police said there were reports of looting in areas where residents were evacuated and that two people had been arrested as of Wednesday on charges of looting.

Wildfire is a long way from Los Angeles-area cardrooms and tribal casinos.