Continuing Tragedy in Los Angeles

All this week, we have been reading about the unfolding disaster in Los Angeles.  Brave responders have been going above and beyond to protect lives and structures and stop the fires wherever they are.  The Los Angeles County medical examiner has updated the death toll from the fires to 11, attributing five to the Palisades fire and six to the Eaton fire.  Contrary to social media, LA is not out of water.  Part of the problem is trying to fight widespread fires using an urban water system that was only designed to provide fire-fighting services for urban fires that occur on a sporadic basis-- not continuous, widespread water needs.   Nevertheless, their are likely other factors contributing to lack of water pressure at hydrants, and Governor Newsom has ordered an investigation of that issue. 

Earlier in the week, LA Mayor Karen Bass said budget cuts at the department did not affect the city’s response to the wildfires. Yesterday, Los Angeles City Fire Chief Kristin Crowley contradicted that narrative, drawing a connection between $17 million in reductions to her department’s operations and the struggle to beat back the wildfires.  Crowley stunned many observers with an extraordinary television interview with the local Fox affiliate where she said the city (and by implication, Mayor Bass) had failed her and her department. She went on to describe the Fire Department as understaffed and underfunded, saying the situation is “no longer sustainable.”  As of this morning:

• The Palisades Fire, which has burned 22,628 acres, is 11% contained.
• The Eaton Fire, which has burned 14,117 acres, is 15% contained.
• The Kenneth Fire, which has destroyed  1,052 acres, is 80% contained.
• The Hurst Fire, which has burned 779 acres is 76% contained.
• The Lidia Fire, which has burned 395 acres is 98% contained.
  
• The Archer Fire, which burned 31 acres is 100% contained (no structures or homes affected)
  
• The Woodley Fire, which burned 30 acres is 100% contained.
• The Olivas Fire, which burned 11 acres, is 100% contained.
• The Sunset Fire, which burned 42 acres, is 100% contained.
  

With high winds fueling the infernos, planes are being used to drop water and fire retardants from the sky.  But now there is an emerging problem on that front.

  Multiple unauthorized drones flew above the Palisades fire Friday afternoon, forcing firefighting aircraft to leave the area for safety and angering those working on the front lines, authorities said. These sightings came just a day after a drone collided with a Super Scooper fixed-wing aircraft, grounding the plane for several days of repairs and reducing the number of aircraft available to fight the fire.

“This is not just harmless fun. This is incredibly dangerous,” said Chris Thomas, public information officer for the Palisades fire. “Seriously, what if that plane had gone down? It could have taken out a row of homes. It could have taken out a school.”  The most recent unauthorized drones were seen flying near the southeastern portion of the fire, bordering Santa Monica, around 4:40 p.m Friday, Thomas said.  “Because of safety, we have to get all the aircraft out of the area until we know the drones are gone,” he said. “So that is very dangerous, because it takes water-dropping capability away from the fire.”

“If we have to take helicopters out of an area and the wind catches one of those cinders in that area and lifts it up, we could ignite a whole other area,” he added.  Thomas said that law enforcement has been informed about the drones and that the Federal Aviation Administration is investigating the recent incidents.  “We take this very, very seriously,” he said.

The FAA released a statemen warning drone operators that temporary flight restrictions are currently in place around all major regional fires, and that failure to obey could result in hefty fines.  “It’s a federal crime, punishable by up to 12 months in prison, to interfere with firefighting efforts on public lands,” the FAA said in a statement. “Additionally, the FAA can impose a civil penalty of up to $75,000 against any drone pilot who interferes with wildfire suppression, law enforcement or emergency response operations when temporary flight restrictions are in place.”

The drone that collided with the Super Scooper left a “fist-sized hole” in the aircraft, which probably will not be back in the air until Monday, L.A. County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone said.  Marrone said the FBI is now planning to come to the area with what he called “aerial armor” to make sure no further drones can fly in the firefighting area.With the Super Scooper out of commission, there are currently 12 helicopters and seven fixed-wing airplanes fighting the Palisades fire, Thomas said.