Listen to this note:
Southern California is facing a series of wildfires, the largest of which is in Pacific Palisades, which is destroying millions of homes, prompting mass evacuations, and prompting Governor Gavin Newsom to declare a state of emergency.
The Palisades Fire began Tuesday, but due to the weather and strong winds, it had burned at least 780 acres in just three hours, quickly reaching more than 1,000 acres.
A statement said there is an imminent threat in Los Angeles and Ventura counties, where wind conditions threaten structures, homes, including power lines and water tanks, so an evacuation warning was issued for the community.
Governor Newsom said this is a very dangerous windstorm that poses an extreme fire risk, seeing the destructive effects of this Pacific Palisades fire that grew rapidly in a matter of minutes.
“Our deepest gratitude goes out to our skilled firefighters and first responders who rushed to battle this dangerous fire. If you are in Southern California, please pay attention to weather reports and follow the instructions of emergency officials,” Newsom said.
On Wednesday, January 8, Governor Gavin Newsom announced that California has been awarded a Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), which will make vital resources available to fight the Hurst Fire.
The Hurst Fire broke out Tuesday night near Diamond Road in Sylmar and has burned more than 500 acres, prompting 44,000 people to evacuate and an evacuation warning for 27,000 more people, with 40,000 structures threatened.
“We are working hard to ensure maximum support for firefighting efforts in Los Angeles, including the Hurst Fire, which now threatens San Fernando and Newhall. Thank you to all of our firefighting personnel and first responders who are protecting Californians in harm’s way,” the governor said.
In light of the risk, the state of California has shared some tips on fires and strong winds, in order to keep the community prepared for any risks.
Quick Tips on Wildfires:
- Sign up for free emergency alerts at ready.ca.gov – You can choose how you receive alerts when you sign up, including cell phone, home phone, email, text message, and in some cases, TTY devices.
- Make a plan: Wildfires can cause power outages, so have backup plans for electrical medical devices and medications that need to be refrigerated and have a battery-powered radio so you can listen to emergency updates.
- Don't wait, evacuate: Listen and be alert to evacuation warnings and orders. An evacuation warning means you should prepare to leave. An evacuation order means you should leave immediately.
Quick Wind Safety Tips
- Be aware of downed power lines: Never touch or drive over a downed power line. If a power line falls on your vehicle, call 911 and stay inside until trained personnel can remove it.
- Stay indoors: If you are outdoors during high winds, seek shelter immediately. Stay away from trees and power lines and watch out for flying debris.
- Slow down – Keep a safe distance from vehicles in the lanes next to you and watch for objects flying across the road.
For more emergency preparedness tips and to learn more about active emergencies, visit ready.ca.gov.
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