Los Angeles County fire officials made a stark admission Wednesday that their forces were overwhelmed by three major fires raging across the region, with insufficient resources to combat one of the strongest wind events in recent years.
L.A. County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone revealed that despite having 9,000 firefighters across the county's fire department and 29 other agencies, they lacked adequate personnel to handle the widespread emergency. Emergency radio transmissions captured firefighters desperately requesting backup support and additional crews.
"L.A. County and all 29 fire departments in our county are not prepared for this type of widespread disaster," Marrone stated. The department has requested mutual aid from neighboring counties and additional support from California's Office of Emergency Services and out-of-state resources.
While officials had prepared for the forecasted "life-threatening" windstorm by pre-positioning firefighters from Northern California in high-risk areas like Santa Clarita Valley and Santa Monica Mountains, the fires erupted in unexpected locations including Pacific Palisades, Altadena, and Sylmar.
The approximately 1,500 firefighters battling the Eaton and Palisades fires faced multiple challenges. Los Angeles Fire Department Chief Kristin Crowley reported that high winds forced all aircraft to be grounded Tuesday evening through Wednesday morning, leaving ground crews to combat the flames without aerial support.
In Pacific Palisades, where over 1,000 homes were destroyed, firefighters encountered additional complications with water supply. The Department of Water and Power reported unprecedented strain on their system, with demand reaching four times normal levels for 15 consecutive hours, resulting in reduced water pressure.
"We are absolutely not out of danger yet," warned Chief Crowley, as emergency services continue operating at maximum capacity to contain the devastating blazes.