Los Angeles County Fire Department Chief Anthony Marrone says that fire crews are feeling tense as the National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a new warning about “particularly dangerous” conditions due to ongoing wildfires.
Why It Matters: Parts of Southern California are under a red flag warning, with an alert for a “particularly dangerous situation” from 3 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday. Strong winds, reaching up to 70 mph in the mountains and 50 mph along the coast and valleys, could make the fires even more dangerous.
Recently, Los Angeles County faced multiple wildfires across different neighborhoods. The Palisades and Eaton fires, which are in Pacific Palisades, Malibu, Pasadena, and Altadena, have been especially destructive.
Air quality is also a concern as the fires continue to burn. The Los Angeles County Fire Department has not yet commented on this situation.
What To Know: In an interview with CNN’s Anderson Cooper, Chief Marrone explained that the NWS had updated the timing for the red flag warning, which will start at 3 a.m. and last for twelve hours. He said that the firefighters are all “on edge” as they prepare for more dangerous conditions. While Los Angeles County has many resources to fight the fires, Marrone reminded viewers that firefighting is a dangerous job.
The NWS Los Angeles also warned residents on social media that the situation isn’t over yet, as strong winds could pick up again overnight.
As of Tuesday morning, the Palisades fire had burned more than 23,000 acres, and the Eaton fire had scorched over 14,000 acres. Both fires are still under investigation, with authorities looking into what caused them.
California Governor Gavin Newsom announced an executive order making it illegal to make “unsolicited undervalued offers” for properties in areas affected by the fires for the next three months. This order applies to specific ZIP codes in the impacted areas.
Palisades Fire: Firefighters have been working hard to control the Palisades fire, which has spread through the Brentwood community of Los Angeles. Chief Marrone says that the crews are under a lot of stress, but they continue to fight the flames.
What People Are Saying: The NWS Los Angeles posted on social media reminding residents to stay alert for fast-moving fires. Governor Newsom said California is working with the federal government to quickly remove debris in the affected areas. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass also announced steps to speed up recovery, including faster debris removal, permit approvals, and housing for people who lost their homes.
