Unprecedented wildfires prompt heroic efforts across all depts.

Photos courtesy LAFD CERT teams (Chin Thammasaengsri,
Red Linares and Orlando Bohr), and the individual department.

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eginning the morning of Jan. 7 in Pacific Palisades, flames – driven by winds that approached 90 miles an hour in inland areas – engulfed Los Angeles. 

It’s a day, and a week or two, that LA will never forget. Thousands of structures – homes, businesses, places of worship, cultural centers, libraries, outdoor recreational areas, and so much more – were destroyed or rendered unusable or unreachable.

City departments went into tactical alert. Firefighting resources were deployed to Pacific Palisades and fire stations throughout the City, according to official information released. Over the two weeks before rains came Jan. 25, fires erupted in Malibu, Encino, Brentwood, Castaic, Sylmar, the Hollywood Hills, West Hills, Ventura County, and other places. Altadena and Pasadena took a major hit.

Fire departments from throughout California, the West, and Canada and Mexico, joined the fight. The State of California’s Calfire and the LA County Fire Dept. played major roles.

Thousands of people evacuated the many areas in harm’s way. And now, at Alive! press time in late January, approximately 28 people died area-wide; damages are estimated in the tens of billions. Plans are afoot to rebuild as quickly as possible, but even at that, Los Angeles will never forget the day the devilish winds forever changed the City.

City Employees stepped up to save lives, to limit the damage, and to start fixing what was destroyed. They mobilized quickly to start to get Los Angeles back on its feet again, a process that could take many years in the burn areas.

City efforts focused mainly on the Palisades Fire, whose path of destruction was located mostly within the City, and spot fires in other City areas.

Approximately 50 City employee first responders (as best we can ascertain at press time) lost their homes.

On these pages is a partial list of City department self-reported actions taken
in response to the wildfire disaster. Details are subject to change.

For current updates, sign up for text alerts from the City at: NotifyLA.org

Below is a partial list of City department actions taken in response to the wildfire disaster. These actions are self-reported and/or those in direct response to Alive!. Details are subject to change.Mayor’s Office

Representatives of the Mayor’s Office and Mayor Karen Bass presented fire updates at live press conferences and distributed updates to the media daily.

Also, the Mayor’s Office reported that on the first day of the City’s Disaster Recovery Center, more than 140 households impacted by the wildfires had been served.

The City set up a plan to assist fire victims who might be victims of price gouging. Those wondering were asked to call the City’s 3-1-1 system.

Airports

The Los Angeles Airport Police helped patrol areas affected by the wildfires. “Airport Police extends its heartfelt sympathies to all individuals who lost their homes in the Palisades Fire. We understand the profound impact such a loss can have, and we stand by you in this challenging time. We wish you immense courage as you navigate the path to recovery and rebuild your lives. Our thoughts and prayers are with you, and we are committed to supporting you through every step of this journey. Remember, you are not alone, and together, we will overcome this adversity.”

LAFD

The Fire Dept. was the major City department engaged in fighting the wildfires and rescuing those in danger.

The LAFD, which fought fires primarily in Pacific Palisades, Brentwood, Malibu, Sylmar, West Hills and the Hollywood Hills, reported the following daily numbers during operations (all numbers include guest agencies):

Outside agencies came from throughout California, eight neighboring states, and Canada and Mexico. Those agencies included:

Crews worked around the clock in three shifts. Operational briefings were held for each shift on a beach parking lot in Pacific Palisades.

Once the winds died down to operational levels a few days after the fires commenced, Air Operations Pilots and Ground Crews worked tirelessly around the clock to gain control of the LA City-based fires.

Fire Chief Kristin Crowley participated in televised daily press conferences.

Capt. II Erik Scott, PIO, made dozens of press conferences and informational videos to share current information.

The City and Club are indebted to the heroic work of the LAFD for their incredible efforts to gain control of the fires and put them out.

LAPD

• LAPD teams mobilized to actively assist with evacuations and traffic gridlock. LAPD was on a Citywide tactical alert with personnel assigned to assist in the Pacific Palisades community.
• The department managed the following road closures as of Jan. 11: Mulholland Highway at Stunt Road, Topanga Canyon Boulevard at Mulholland Drive, Malibu Canyon Road at Piuma Road, Topanga Canyon Boulevard at Entrado Drive, Piuma Road at Woodbluff Road, Mulholland Drive at Santa Maria Road. Coastline Drive at PCH, and Topanga Canyon Boulevard at PCH. These were all hard closures; only first responders were allowed to enter these areas.
• Topanga and Valley Division Officers responded to the Kenneth Fire in West Hills. “A special shoutout to the kind neighbor who graciously allowed a few of our Officers to use their restroom during the incident. It’s the support of the community that helps us do our job better. Together, we make our neighborhood safer!”
• As of Jan. 13, the LAPD reported 14 arrests in the Palisades fire area, including one for impersonation of a firefighter, one for possession of burglary tools, four for burglary, one for driving under the influence, one for vandalism and three for shoplifting.
• LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell, Club Member, announced the creation of the Los Angeles Regional Wildfire Investigative Task Force, which will look into the causes of the Southern California Wildfires.
• The LAPD partnered with Animal Services to respond to reports of abandoned pets within the evacuated areas of the Palisades fire.

LADWP

• Water and Power played a major role in the recovery after the wildfires destroyed major parts of Los Angeles.
• Here’s the department’s status report from Jan. 15:
• Approximately 18,000 customers in the fire-impacted areas of Pacific Palisades, Encino and Brentwood remain without power. LADWP field crews continue to assess the work needed to be performed in the area and will begin restoration efforts there once fire officials have given us clearance to do so.
• Seven hundred power and water crews remain in Pacific Palisades to assess damage and begin repairs to water and power systems. Crews must first shut off services that were destroyed by fire to restore system pressure by fixing the customer and distribution system leaks and close all fire hydrants that were left open. This will help boost water pressure throughout the system, restoring flow to storage tanks at higher elevation and pipes in the Palisades area. 
• More than 338,000 customers have been restored since the start of the windstorm Jan. 7. 
• While the region remains under a Red Flag warning, LADWP remains in active fire response, and local fire authorities may ask LADWP to de-energize power lines to protect public safety.
• As of Jan. 13, Water and Power had more than six billion gallons of water available in four open-air reservoirs for aerial firefighting support. Encino and Hollywood reservoirs have already been heavily used. LADWP’s Hollywood Reservoir, Lower Stone Canyon and the Encino Reservoirs have been critical in protecting lives and property throughout the firefight. They will remain a critical part of the firefight and are fully available.
• The department is supporting firefighting efforts with 19 water tankers, each holding 2,000 to 4,000 gallons, running continuously to supply water to firefighters. They’ll keep supplying water ahead of forecasted high winds and continue until the fires are fully contained.
  

Emergency Management Dept.

• The City’s Emergency Management Dept., a major part of the City’s response, was activated the first week of the wildfires. The department worked closely with LA County and the national Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) to open Disaster Recovery Centers, which help people who have lost vital records (birth or death certificates, driver’s licenses, Social Security documentation), who have lost homes or businesses to apply for disaster relief loans, and provide referrals for mental health counseling and other services. More than 140 households were served in the Disaster Recovery Center’s first day.
• The EMD also helped set up Family Assistance Centers.

Aging

The department distributed information especially for seniors about:

• Evacuation sites for families with small and large animals
• Transportation and utility resources
• Information on power outages
• Location information of the City’s Family Assistance Center
• Contacts for mental health support

The department also distributed information to prevent scammers, a reminder to check on neighbors.

Building and Safety

• Building and Safety set up information tables at the area’s two Disaster Recovery Centers – one in Westwood, one in Pasadena.
• In general, the department is expected to play a major role when the City enters into rebuilding phase.
• It rescheduled its in-person appointments during the first week of the wildfire crisis, and resumed them Jan. 13.
• Building and Safety set up information tables at the two Disaster Recovery Centers.

Dept. on Disability

The department distributed information on evacuation centers and how to access help getting to them.

Information Technology Agency

• Various divisions from ITA were called upon to quickly assess and lend emergency response during the City’s State of Emergency. ITA divisions including the 311 Call Center helped Angelenos with extended hours; the ITA Desktop Support team provided Emergency Operations Center tech support; Channel 35 aided social media messaging and live press conference support; and the web services team updated important resources and links on City sites for public information.
• Other teams assisting during this disaster were the Public Safety Radio group, NCC, ITA’s emergency coordination team, and Citywide Help Desk.
• The ITA thanked first responders, the LAFD, the LAPD and those on the front lines and behind the scenes who helped combat the Citywide disaster. Our thoughts are with those displaced and affected by these events.

Council

• The City Council passed a series of measures to aid recovery from catastrophic fires.
• Individual Councilmembers assisted at welcome centers, donation centers and family assistance centers.

Harbor

Port Police helped secure the Pacific Palisades community alongside its partner agencies since the Palisades fire began. “The destruction is hard to witness, as are the many faces of homeowners as we escort them through the neighborhoods. Our deepest condolences to those impacted. Thank you for letting us service you.”

LADOT

• Traffic Control officers and Special Traffic Operations personnel from the Department of Transportation were on tactical alert and assisted in road closures, evacuations and traffic gridlock. Red Flag parking restrictions were in effect.
• Transportation Traffic Officers and repair crews worked hard in the aftermath of the very heavy winds and the Palisades Fire controlling traffic, repairing traffic signals and fixing street infrastructure.

Library

The Los Angeles Library suffered one of the most catastrophic losses of City property with the destruction of the Pacific Palisades branch. 

“We are mourning the Pacific Palisades Branch Library, which has been destroyed in the Palisades Fire,” staff posted on the branch’s social media. “Here is a message from Palisades Branch Sr. Librarian Mary Hopf: ‘Thank you to everyone for your kind words, concern, and support. Our staff is family and we are sad for our community and our library. We have the most beautiful memories of the Palisades Library and all the people who have made it wonderful. Please stay safe!’”

In general, the Library helped with recovery efforts in multiple ways:

• N95 masks were available for the public at all Library locations.
• Outreach Librarians set up temporary Pop Up Libraries at shelters at the Westwood Recreation Center and Stoner Recreation Center, which offered tables, seating, books and activities like games and crafts for all ages. They also provided laptops, printers, internet access, Jackeries (portable power stations) and charging stations, and shared information on recovery resources.
• Regular Library services including public computers, borrowing hotspots, charging stations, wifi, remote access to streaming books, movies, music and more, were also offered.

Economic and Workforce Development

EWDD shared information that it would provide resources to businesses and workers at the newly opened Disaster Recovery Center. The center includes contacts from the federal Small Business Administration to help owners of small businesses.

Rec and Parks

• Due to extensive fire damage, the Palisades Recreation Center on Alma Real Drive was closed. The grounds were used as a staging area for firefighters battling the blazes.
• Rec and Parks opened an Air Quality Relief Center at the Alpine Recreation Center in West LA.
• Many parks were closed, including Griffith Park, Echo Park, Lake Hollywood, Runyon Canyon and the Griffith Observatory.
• The department opened Family Support Camps at the Mar Vista and Oakwood Recreation Centers.
• The Westwood Recreation Center was open for evacuees and small animals. It also served as a shelter, allowing residents to remain overnight.
• All Citywide sports and fitness programs were suspended for health and safety.
• After-School Programs, where available, were held indoors.
• Major golf courses were closed, including Griffith Park, Woodley Lakes, Hansen Dam, Roosevelt, Encino/Balboa and Los Feliz.

Public Works/StreetsLA

StreetsLA worked to ensure that public rights-of-way were safe, clear and passable. Crews worked around the clock to respond to tree emergencies and other service requests.

Link from Donation

As the catastrophic wildfires spread, the Club Care Team was reactivated and put together a plan to take care of Club Members and any public employee victimized by the devastation.

“To those who have lost loved ones, homes, or cherished belongings, you have our deepest sympathies,” wrote Club President and CEO Robert Larios. “To the firefighters, first responders, and public servants protecting our communities—your courage is an inspiration, and we are forever grateful.

“The Employees Club exists to honor, celebrate, and express gratitude to public service employees. This mission is especially vital during crises like this, as we focus on providing aid to those in need.”

The Club is:

• Donating clothing from the web store warehouse to frontline and first responder employees.
• Using the Club’s warehouse as a hub to collect and distribute vital supplies, including face masks, hand sanitizers, and food and water to support these employees.

Club Hosts Donation Day

On Jan. 19, the Club teamed with fellow associations the Los Angeles County Asian American Employees Association and the LA unit of the Filipino American Law Enforcement Officers Association to gather, sort and donate clothes, canned goods and Club merchandise to victims of the wildfires.

The event was held at the Club warehouse.

Club’s Arlene Herrero Gives Through LACCEA

Additionally, Arlene Herrero, Club Vice President of Business Development, joined with colleagues in the Los Angeles County Chicano Employees Association to donate to those affected by the Eaton Fire in Altadena. The Employees Club donated baby wipes, masks and bags to help those in need.

“It was heartwarming to see so many affinity employee associations come together for this cause,” she wrote, “including the Los Angeles County African American Employees Association, the Los Angeles County Asian American Employees Association, the Chinese Employees Association of Los Angeles County, the Los Angeles County Hispanic Managers Association, the Los Angeles County Management Council, and others. In times like these, every bit of support makes a difference.”

On hand for the donation event were County Supervisor Hilda Solis and LA County Dept. of Public Social Services (DPSS).

Special thanks to all those who joined the charity project, and all those who donated.