Bass, Barger, Newsom make emergency declarations in response to LA County wildfires
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass declared a state of emergency as the Palisades Fire spread on Tuesday, aiming to speed to effort to secure dollars and resources to battle the swift-moving blaze, propelled by a fierce windstorm.
Earlier in the day, similar emergency declarations were issued by the county Board of Supervisors and Gov. Gavin Newsom.
A brush fire that quickly swelled to more than 2,920 acres amid a strong windstorm in Pacific Palisades by Tuesday evening burned multiple homes and forced 30,000 residents to evacuate Not far away, another rapidly growing brush fire in the Altadena/Pasadena area was estimated at 400 acres as of 8:15 p.m.
“We’ve declared a state of emergency to amplify our response to this devastating fire and clear a path for a rapid recovery,” said Bass in a statement Tuesday evening. “To the thousands of families impacted by this horrific fire, the City of Los Angeles is providing resources and shelter as this emergency continues. To the hundreds of brave firefighters and first responders who have been responding all day to this blaze – we thank you.”
The city’s Emergency Operations Center was activated Monday in response to the National Weather Service announcement of a High Wind Watch and a Fire Weather Watch for parts of L.A. County. The wind storm was expected to worsen overnight Tuesday and on into Wednesday morning.
“The worst part of this wind event is yet to come,” City Council president Marquis Harris Dawson said. Peak winds are expected from 10 p.m. Tuesday to 5 a.m. Wednesday, officials said.
The city had 250 firefighters battling the blaze, along with additional resources from several agencies from around the state.
According to the White House, President Joe Biden — who was staying in the L.A. area Tuesday evening — “has been briefed on the wildfires in Los Angeles and at his direction his team is in contact with state and local officials to offer any federal assistance as needed. In response to the governor’s request, FEMA has just approved a Fire Management Assistance Grant to support the impacted community and help reimburse California for firefighting costs.”
Biden had been scheduled to travel from Los Angeles to Riverside County earlier Tuesday to announce the creation of two national monuments in the state, but the event was canceled amid the severe weather conditions. Biden is scheduled to depart from the area on Wednesday.
“I am being frequently briefed on the wildfires in west Los Angeles,” said President Biden in a statement. “My team and I are in touch with state and local officials, and I have offered any federal assistance that is needed to help suppress the terrible Pacific Palisades fire.”
Earlier, Board of Supervisors Chair Kathryn Barger signed an emergency proclamation for the county.
“Windstorms can lead to prolonged power outages that pose serious challenges for our most vulnerable residents,” said Barger. “Our emergency responders are working tirelessly to keep the public safe, but they can’t be everywhere at once. That’s why it’s so important for neighbors to look out for one another. Check in on elderly family members, neighbors with mobility challenges, or those with special needs. ”
Meanwhile, Gov. Gavin Newsom visited the area on Tuesday and met with local and state fire officials. Near the Palisades fire, Newsom proclaimed a state of emergency announced that state officials had secured a Fire Management Assistance Grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to secure additional firefighting resources.
The grant will help reimburse the state of California for the immediate firefighting costs, according to federal officials.
“This is a highly dangerous windstorm that’s creating extreme fire risk – and we’re not out of the woods,” said Newsom in a statement. “We’re already seeing the destructive impacts with this fire in Pacific Palisades that grew rapidly in a matter of minutes.”