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[Merged] LA Wildfires/Malibu Barbie Evacuated from Dream House

It's happing again, near Malibu and in three or four other areas around LA. Horrific conditions, drought and strong dry winds well outside the "normal" fire season, smoke everywhere. Thousands of buildings already destroyed (which translates to billions of dollars since I doubt you can build a two by four sticking up out of a concrete block for less than a million in those areas). Still 0% contained/controlled by official accounts. Winds not expected to die down for at least another day. Several famous people inconvenienced.

Find your own damn news site so any "bloat" on it will be your own damn fault.
 
I don't see this anywhere else. Of course with the search function N/A it's not easy to find. But I have a pretty good friend who lives in the west LA area. This morning the nearest evacuation zone was three miles away. By this afternoon it was only a mile away. I am worried about them. Some real horror stories coming out. :(

CNN reports:
The Palisades Fire that is scorching the seaside area between Malibu and Santa Monica exploded to more than 15,800 acres Wednesday with zero containment. It has already destroyed at least 1,000 structures, making it the most destructive ever in Los Angeles County, according to Cal Fire. The four wind-driven fires that have erupted in Los Angeles County have killed at least five people and left others with “significant injuries,” officials said. More than 150,000 people are under evacuation orders, according to a CNN analysis. CNN news report link
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From Newsweek, updated about four hours ago. I think it's misleading. I think it is showing risk level not actual fire. Hard to find a current fire map.

1736381730722.png
 
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From USA Today:
President Joe Biden approved a major disaster declaration after powerful Santa Ana winds whipped up multiple wildfires across Los Angeles County, killing at least five people and setting homes ablaze. Gov. Gavin Newsom has declared a state of emergency as firefighters struggled to control the fires, all listed as 0% contained. Winds were expected to ease overnight Wednesday, but forecasters warned conditions will remain critical through at least Thursday.

Biden announced that the Defense Department is providing additional resources to battle the California blazes, including firefighting personnel and Navy helicopters with water delivery buckets. The fires destroyed more than 1,000 homes, businesses and other structures, while tens of thousands of people were forced to evacuate, Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone said at a briefing Wednesday. USA Today article link
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I'm from Monrovia, CA/ Damn close. My best friend already took his family to Denver to stay with his parents. Not taking any chances, and I agree with that decision.
 
According to the fire maps the LA Times publishes, both the home I used to live in (in Sierra Madre) and the place I worked at (N. Altadena) burned. That was in the 70's.
 
Below a home owner earlier today on Sunset Blvd. in Pacific Palisades, getting ready to leave. One resident said, "The air quality is indescribable." Some people, not in any immediate fire danger, reported fleeing because, "We couldn't breathe!"

1736387871944.webp
 
Am I the only one that's wondering if these fires are being set on purpose by arsonist:

New Fire Breaks Out In Hollywood Hills, Threatening Iconic Landmarks​

The Hollywood Bowl, Dolby Theatre and TCL Chinese Theatre are all in an evacuation zone.
Manuel Valdes, Hallie Golden and Julie Watson
AP logo

Jan 9, 2025, 12:42 AM EST|Updated 27 minutes ago


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LA1st reports:
The Palisades Fire continued to spread across the Santa Monica Mountains overnight Wednesday, growing to more than 17,000 acres. The strong Santa Ana winds have died down a bit, but officials warned we’re not out of danger yet. The red flag warning has been extended through 6 p.m. Friday. LA1st news link
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My friend in West LA is packed up and ready to go though they are not yet being ordered to evacuate. They told me the iconic Will Rogers House has been destroyed by fire, along with other buildings at Will Rogers State Park. The ruins of the Will Rogers House shown below.

1736432986550.jpeg
 
How did the fires (there are now five) start in the Los Angeles area? I don't think that is known at this point and may never be known. BBC reported earlier today:
Officials have pointed to high winds and drought in the area, which has made vegetation very dry and easy to burn. The probable impact of climate change has also been cited - although the exact circumstances remain unclear. Some 95% of wildfires in the area are started by humans, according to David Acuna, a battalion chief at the Californian Fire Service, although officials are yet to state how they think the current fires started. An important factor that has been cited in the spread of the blazes is the Santa Ana winds, which blow from inland towards the coast. With speeds of more than 60mph (97 km/h), these are believed to have fanned the flames. BBC news link
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Up to 95% of wildfires are caused by humans, but usually through carelessness not malicious intent.

From earlier today:

Out-of-control wildfires are ripping across parts of Los Angeles, leading to at least five deaths, burning down hundreds of buildings, and prompting more than 130,000 people to flee their homes in America's second-largest city. Despite the efforts of firefighters, the biggest blazes remain totally uncontained - with weather conditions and the underlying impact of climate change expected to continue fanning the flames for days to come.
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In Altadena, family led 101-year-old Laverna Sharpe to safety yesterday.
1736438214322.png
 
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As massive fires destroy neighborhoods and tens of thousands of people flee, how did our incoming president respond? Our outgoing President declared a major disaster area and ordered in the military, "including firefighting personnel and Navy helicopters," to try and help. Meanwhile trump used the tragedy to reopen his feud with California Governor Gavin Newsom, referring to him as Newscum in a Truth Social rant. From CNN:

Trump slammed “the gross incompetence and mismanagement of the Biden/Newscum Duo,” in a post on his Truth Social network. He claimed that California environmental policies that divert fresh water to preserve wetlands and wildlife were to blame for hydrants running dry. “I will demand that this incompetent governor allow beautiful, clean, fresh water to FLOW INTO CALIFORNIA! He is the blame for this,” Trump wrote as part of a flurry of social media posts, later writing that Newsom should resign.

In Trump’s misinformation game, it doesn’t really matter whether it’s true that Newsom is responsible for diverting water to protect the delta smelt – “a worthless fish” in Trump’s words – and that, as a result, homes of Angelenos were burned down. The president-elect just needs enough people to believe it might be the case to inflict political damage on the governor, who’s one of the nation’s most high-profile Democrats and a possible 2028 presidential hopeful. CNN news link
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As usual, it doesn't really matter to trump or his followers if what he writes is true or false. As long as it's what they want to hear.
 
LA increased the budget for the PD and decreased the budget for the Fire Department - because that's a job for felons.
Cops will have to do the most important job in any natural disaster: shoot anyone who locks like a looter to them.

In order to help, Biden authorized $8 billion to help - Israel, because they need it more than Americans.
 
The Great Zaganza said:
LA increased the budget for the PD and decreased the budget for the Fire Department - because that's a job for felons.
Cops will have to do the most important job in any natural disaster: shoot anyone who locks like a looter to them.

In order to help, Biden authorized $8 billion to help - Israel, because they need it more than Americans.
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Can you imagine living in California. You pay some of the highest taxes in the nation - on income, capital gains, to breath. And imagine you're a property owner and you shell out many tens of thousands of dollars in property tax. Then you're told the reason government couldn't stop a foreseeable disaster is funding. That's wild.
 
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The Great Zaganza said:
LA increased the budget for the PD and decreased the budget for the Fire Department - because that's a job for felons.
Cops will have to do the most important job in any natural disaster: shoot anyone who looks like a looter to them.
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So... Only felons should be firefighters in LA? Is that what you are saying?
The Great Zaganza said:
In order to help, Biden authorized $8 billion to help - Israel, because they need it more than Americans.
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Fallacy of Big Numbers.
 
I think NO felons should be firefighters - it's a terrible abuse of people.
But the LAPD has a homogenous budget and a terrible job record and certainly doesn't need a constant rise in budget.
Fires will only get worse so LA needs to invest massively in prevention, mitigation and firefighters.

And y of course, it needs to end privatized water and unsustainable water management
 
Trausti said:
Can you imagine living in California. You pay some of the highest taxes in the nation - on income, capital gains, to breath. And imagine you're a property owner and you shell out many tens of thousands of dollars in property tax. Then you're told the reason government couldn't stop a foreseeable disaster is funding. That's wild.
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Nothing Republicans can or would do different - probably worse.
Large parts of California need to be abandoned just like most of the Florida coast, as the consequence of ignoring climate change.
 
Trausti said:
Can you imagine living in California. You pay some of the highest taxes in the nation - on income, capital gains, to breath. And imagine you're a property owner and you shell out many tens of thousands of dollars in property tax. Then you're told the reason government couldn't stop a foreseeable disaster is funding. That's wild.
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Yes, natural disasters are all because of politics. :xrolleyes
 
arthwollipot said:
Yes, natural disasters are all because of politics. :xrolleyes
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California wildfires are anything but a natural disaster.

It's hard to imagine a more thoroughly managed wilderness than the California back country. It's also hard to imagine a more thoroughly mismanaged wilderness than the California back country.

Maybe the Russian Federation has form.
 
They didn't rake the leaves obviously.

What 'management' do you suggest? concrete it over?
 
theprestige said:
California wildfires are anything but a natural disaster.

It's hard to imagine a more thoroughly managed wilderness than the California back country. It's also hard to imagine a more thoroughly mismanaged wilderness than the California back country.

Maybe the Russian Federation has form.
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Some fires are human caused. Some are not. Dry lightning is a thing, and in 2019 it caused one of the biggest fires Australia has ever experienced. Severe drought conditions, heat, wind, and lightning are all that is needed for a catastrophic fire. You can't land manage your way out of that.
 
Trausti said:
Can you imagine living in California. You pay some of the highest taxes in the nation - on income, capital gains, to breathe. And imagine you're a property owner and you shell out many tens of thousands of dollars in property tax. Then you're told the reason government couldn't stop a foreseeable disaster is funding. That's wild.
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theprestige said:
California wildfires are anything but a natural disaster.

It's hard to imagine a more thoroughly managed wilderness than the California back country. It's also hard to imagine a more thoroughly mismanaged wilderness than the California back country.

Maybe the Russian Federation has form.
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The utter hilarity aside of Trump voters criticizing anyone else’s mismanagement of anything, it’s nice to be saved a trip to Twitter to see these absolute dumb ◊◊◊◊ takes from right wing trolls.
 
If you decide to build an explosives factory next to a residential neighborhood, the question of whether it blew up by accident or intent might not be the relevant one.
 
arthwollipot said:
Some fires are human caused. Some are not. Dry lightning is a thing, and in 2019 it caused one of the biggest fires Australia has ever experienced. Severe drought conditions, heat, wind, and lightning are all that is needed for a catastrophic fire. You can't land manage your way out of that.
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The Prestige was talking about forest management. That's what reduces the risk that a wildfire, no matter how it is started, will become a conflagration.
 
chrispy said:
I'm from Monrovia, CA/ Damn close. My best friend already took his family to Denver to stay with his parents. Not taking any chances, and I agree with that decision.
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I'm in the evacuation warning area of the Eaton fire. I took one look at the flames Tuesday evening when the fire had just started and immediately packed up the car. We were directly downwind of the fire and it looked like we might have to get out fast. But by midnight the winds, which had been gusting up to 100 mph, had shifted enough that we were no longer directly downwind. By 3:00 a.m. I decided we were safe enough that I could go to sleep. Then, at 7:00 a.m. (Wednesday) I was awoken by an emergency alert saying that the evacuation warning area had been extended to include our neighborhood. But the winds subsided somewhat throughout the day and by the end of the day I figured it would be unlikely we would have to evacuate. Today (Thursday) the winds died down further and I finally unpacked the car. The winds are supposed to pick up again through the weekend, so we are not completely out of the woods, but I would be pretty surprised at this point if we had to evacuate.

Currently, the fire is burning on Mt. Wilson, and the historic Mt. Wilson Observatory is under threat.
 
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I sympathize with the folks killed and hurt by this financially, physically, and emotionally, but I don't hear much (if anything at all) about the thousands of animals (if not millions) that also suffer.

I just think that it's important to be aware that forest fires hurt more than just people.


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jt512 said:
The Prestige was talking about forest management. That's what reduces the risk that a wildfire, no matter how it is started, will become a conflagration.
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It’s weird that people are talking about forest management in a thread that has nothing to do with forests. It gives the impression that they don’t have the first ◊◊◊◊◊◊◊ clue what they’re talking about.
 
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jt512 said:
The Prestige was talking about forest management. That's what reduces the risk that a wildfire, no matter how it is started, will become a conflagration.
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I know what he was talking about. Forest management, while certainly helpful, can only do so much, especially once the fire reaches such a scale as this.
jt512 said:
I'm in the evacuation warning area of the Eaton fire. I took one look at the flames Tuesday evening when the fire had just started and immediately packed up the car. We were directly downwind of the fire and it looked like we might have to get out fast. But by midnight the winds, which had been gusting up to 100 mph, had shifted enough that we were no longer directly downwind. By 3:00 a.m. I decided we were safe enough that I could go to sleep. Then, at 7:00 a.m. (Wednesday) I was awoken by an emergency alert saying that the evacuation warning area had been extended to include our neighborhood. But the winds subsided somewhat throughout the day and by the end of the day I figured it would be unlikely we would have to evacuate. Today (Thursday) the winds died down further and I finally unpacked the car. The winds are supposed to pick up again through the weekend, so we are not completely out of the woods, but I would be pretty surprised at this point if we had to evacuate.

Currently, the fire is burning on Mt. Wilson, and the historic Mt. Wilson Observatory is under threat.
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Please stay safe.

I visited Mt Wilson Observatory on my first trip to the US. We in Canberra lost Mt Stromlo Observatory in 2003, which included the destruction of the historic Great Melbourne telescope, which at one time was the largest in the southern hemisphere. The loss of a significant cultural and scientific institution like this can be devastating.
 
jt512 said:
The Prestige was talking about forest management. That's what reduces the risk that a wildfire, no matter how it is started, will become a conflagration.
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Forest management?

Strange it isn't needed anywhere else to stop cities but ing.

What exactly does it entail other than getting rid of it?
Maybe they should have raked the leaves.
 
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