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Live Coverage: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=59hL...OX11LosAngeles
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January 07, 2025
Statement from President Joe Biden on the Wildfires in West Los AngelesI am being frequently briefed on the wildfires in west Los Angeles. My team and I are in touch with state and local officials, and I have offered any federal assistance that is needed to help suppress the terrible Pacific Palisades fire. Earlier tonight, FEMA approved a Fire Management Assistance Grant to support areas that are impacted and help reimburse the state of California for the immediate firefighting costs. My Administration will do everything it can to support the response.
I urge the residents of the Pacific Palisades and the surrounding areas of Los Angeles to stay vigilant and listen to local officials.
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Another live stream:
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It looks like maybe 100s of homes are gone. I grew up in one of the fire areas and had to evacuate a few times but I have never seen anything like this.Comment
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California Department of Public Health
State Encourages Californians to Take Steps to Protect their Health from Wildfire Smoke and Ash Exposure
For immediate release
January 8, 2025
NR25-003
Contact: media@cdph.ca.gov
CDPH provides health and safety tips for Californians in areas affected by wildfire
What You Need to Know: Multiple wildfires are burning in the Los Angeles area. Smoke and ash from wildfires can be unhealthy, particularly for vulnerable people such as older adults, children, people with respiratory illness or asthmas and pregnant people. To reduce the risk of health problems associated with wildfires, people are encouraged to stay indoors and reduce outdoor activity.
Sacramento — As part of a statewide response to multiple wildfires burning in the Los Angeles area, California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Director and State Public Health Officer Dr. Tomás Aragón is urging Californians in areas affected by wildfire smoke to take steps to protect their health, including staying indoors and reducing outdoor activity if necessary to avoid the inhalation of smoke and ash. Californians can check their local air quality index (AQI) at EPA AirNow.
“Wildfires, and the resulting smoke and ash, can be particularly unhealthy for vulnerable people, including children, older adults, those with respiratory illness or asthma, and pregnant people,” said Dr. Aragón. “Californians should be aware of the risks of wildfire smoke and ash inhalation. Vulnerable people, especially children, older adults, and those who are pregnant should reduce outdoor activity and stay indoors, if possible.”
Tips to Reduce Smoke and Ash Inhalation
To avoid possible health problems, CDPH recommends taking the following steps:- Stay indoors. The most common advisory during a smoke episode is to stay indoors, where people can better control their environment. Whether at home or in a public space, indoor environments that have filtered air and climate control can provide relief from smoke and heat.
- Adjust AC to avoid drawing in smoky air. If you have a central air conditioning system in your home, set it to re-circulate or close outdoor air intakes to avoid drawing in smoky outdoor air. Be sure to change your air filter on a regular basis.
- Reduce other sources of indoor air pollution. Smoking cigarettes, using gas, propane and wood-burning stoves and furnaces, spraying aerosol products, frying or broiling meat, burning candles and incense, and vacuuming can all increase particle levels in a home and should be avoided when wildfire smoke is present.
- Reduce physical activity to reduce inhalation of smoky air. During exercise, people can increase their air intake as much as 20 times from their resting level.
- Be ready to evacuate. Monitor wildfire activity in your area and be prepared to evacuate if advised.
- Avoid getting ash into the air as much as possible. Avoiding sweeping it up dry, use water and wet cloth or a mop to clean items and surfaces. Do not use leaf blowers or take other actions that will put ash into the air.
- Use PPE. Wear a well-fitting respirator mask, gloves, long-sleeved shirts, and long pants when cleaning up ash. Avoid skin contact. If you do get ash on your skin, wash it off immediately. Some wet ash can cause chemical burns.
- Vacuums don’t filter small particles. Shop vacuums and other common vacuum cleaners do not filter out small particles. They blow such particles out the exhaust into the air where they can be inhaled. The use of shop vacuums and other non-HEPA filter vacuums is not recommended. HEPA filter vacuums could be used, if available.
- Monitor children and young adults. Do not allow children to play with ash or be in an area where ash-covered materials are being disturbed. Wash ash off toys before children play with them. Clean ash off pets. Monitor children and young adults as they may be more susceptible to the health and emotional effects of fire recovery.
- Prepare emergency supplies. Make sure you have an emergency kit, complete with medications, copies of prescriptions and medical supplies.
- Locate nearby shelters, including ones that take pets.
- Medical care. If you experience chest pain, chest tightness or shortness of breath, seek medical care immediately.
“During a wildfire event, you should prioritize your safety and the safety of your loved ones. If you are ordered to evacuate your home or the area, please do so immediately,” said Dr. Aragón.
Wildfire smoke contains fine particles which are respiratory irritants, and when inhaled deeply, can affect the lungs and the heart. Exposure to high concentrations of fine particles can cause persistent cough, runny nose, phlegm, wheezing, and difficulty breathing.
Smoke from wildfires can also cause eye irritation, reduced lung function, and bronchitis. Breathing smoke can also make asthma symptoms worse. People with underlying lung or heart problems should limit their exposure by staying indoors.
People who must work outdoors for long periods, in areas with heavy smoke, or where ash is present, should wear a well-fitting N95 or P100 respirator mask. Since wearing a respirator can make it harder to breathe, those with lung or heart problems should ask their doctor before using one.
Wildfires can also lead to emergency evacuations and it's important to follow the direction of local officials when evacuations are ordered. Current evacuation information can often be found through monitoring local news outlets as well as official social media channels of emergency responders such as a sheriff’s office, police department, and fire department.
Go to ready.ca.gov for disaster preparedness tips. For more information visit the CDPH Wildfires page, or the California Office of Emergency Services for resources and information about wildfire recovery. Local public health officials can review guidance for local governments in the CDPH publication, “Wildfire Smoke Considerations for California’s Public Health Officials (PDF, August 2022).”
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3m ago / 11:25 PM CST
10 dead in Los Angeles County wildfires
NBC News
At least 10 people have died in the fires that have swept across Los Angeles County, the medical examiner's office said tonight.
The remains are pending identification and notification of next of kin.
The process to identify the people who died could take several weeks "as the Department of Medical Examiner is not able to respond to all death locations due to the fire conditions and safety concerns," the office said.
Officials said earlier today that two people had died in the Palisades Fire and four in the Eaton Fire. It was not immediately clear whether those six were among the 10 released by the medical examiner's office.
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Several hospitals, medical centers close clinics as California wildfires spread
January 9, 2025, 2:04 PM
ByMary Kekatos, Sony Salzman, and Dr. Miranda Guerriero
Several hospitals and health care facilities have closed their clinics and offices in the southern California area as the devastating wildfires continue to spread. ...
Kaiser Permanente, one of the largest health care systems in California, announced it has closed seven of its medical offices and clinics so far due to the fires and high winds. ...
UCLA Medical Center confirmed in an update on its website that at least 15 of its clinics were closed in neighborhoods including Alhambra, Malibu, Pacific Palisades, Pasadena, Simi Valley and Thousand Oaks. ...
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center also shared an update on its website that some outpatient offices and surgery centers in evacuation areas were closed, including in Brentwood/West Los Angeles, Pasadena and Santa Monica. ...
Providence health care system, which serves five western states including California, also announced some of its outpatient services, such as doctors' offices, were closed but that its hospitals remain open.
... Adventist Health, which serves the West Coast and Hawaii, said its Urgent Care, Orthopedics and Pediatrics location in Montrose is temporarily closed until further notice. ...
Meanwhile, some hospitals are reporting that they are treating victims injured by the dangerous fires.
UCLA Health hospitals confirmed to ABC News that as of 11:00 a.m. PT Wednesday, medical staff have treated and released 21 patients with fire-related injuries. What kind of fire-injuries the patients have remain unclear.
One patient remains hospitalized in critical condition, UCLA Health said. ...
Los Angeles County Department of Health Services also reported its medical system is treating patients suffering from smoke injuries, but did not confirm how many patients. ...
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LA’s Wildfires Threaten Almost 40 Prisons and Jails. Here’s How They’re Responding.
The Appeal contacted 38 facilities to ask how they’re preparing for air quality issues and possible evacuations and power outages. Thousands of people—including hundreds of children—sit in potentially impacted facilities.
Jan 09, 2025
Elizabeth Weill-Greenberg, Ethan Corey, Meg O’Connor
... According to an analysis by The Appeal, dozens of jails, prisons, and juvenile detention facilities across Los Angeles may be at risk. At least one facility is in an evacuation warning zone—Barry J. Nidorf Juvenile Hall, a San Fernando Valley detention center holding 96 children. The building complex sits slightly more than a mile from the Hurst Fire.
As of Thursday evening, none of the nearly 100 kids incarcerated in the facility have been moved to safety, a spokesperson for the Los Angeles County Probation Department told The Appeal. The probation department oversees the county’s juvenile facilities.
“Nidorf continues to be under evacuation warning,” department spokesperson Vicky Waters said via email. “While that is an elevated risk, it is not an order to evacuate.”
“Air purifiers, masks and HEPA filters have been deployed to help mitigate the impacts of the smoke,” Waters added. “We are prepared and have plans in place should an evacuation order be issued.” ...
Nearly 800 incarcerated people are currently deployed to fight these current wildfires, a spokesperson for the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) told The Appeal. According to the CDCR, these firefighters earn between $5 to $10 per day for their work and an additional $1 per hour when assigned to an active emergency. ...
Graduate students from the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs surveyed more than 500 state prisoners and found that close to half of respondents had been exposed to wildfires and smoke. Of those people, more than 80 percent said they had irritated lungs, eyes, or throats. ...
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Zelenskyy offers firefighting help from Ukraine for Los Angeles-area wildfires: "Nothing short of extraordinary"
Updated on: January 13, 2025 / 4:22 AM PST / KCAL News
By Dean Fioresi
In the wake of multiple wildfires that have torched tens of thousands of acres and, authorities say, left at least two dozen dead in Los Angeles County, local firefighters and first responders have received support from across the world.
While crews of firefighters arrived from Mexico over the weekend to assist local crews in containing the Eaton Fire and Palisades Fire, both still raging in different parts of the county, and other crews from Canada were said to be en route, the United States received an offer of support from Eastern Europe.
"Today, I instructed Ukraine's Minister of Internal Affairs and our diplomats to prepare for the possible participation of our rescuers in combating the wildfires in California," said a message shared by Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelenskyy on X. "The situation there is extremely difficult, and Ukrainians can help Americans save lives. This is currently being coordinated, and we have offered our assistance to the American side through the relevant channels. 150 of our firefighters are already prepared." ...
Thousands of reinforcements have come to Southern California to join the firefight from throughout the western United States, including crews from New Mexico, Nevada, Utah, Oregon, Arizona and Washington.
https://www.cbsnews.com/losangeles/n...on-fires-help/
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What is the flame retardant that planes are dropping on the LA fires?
UPDATED JANUARY 13, 202510:47 AM ET
By Bill Chappell
Air tankers are dropping thousands of gallons of red flame retardant in the hills around Los Angeles as firefighters attempt to limit the devastation from multiple wildfires.
Images of vivid red clouds enveloping trees and scrubland in a wildfire often prompt two questions: What is it, and what's in it?
"It's primarily a product called Phos-Chek ... which is sold by a company called Perimeter," Daniel McCurry, an associate professor in civil and environmental engineering at the University of Southern California, tells NPR. ...
"It's primarily a product called Phos-Chek ... which is sold by a company called Perimeter," Daniel McCurry, an associate professor in civil and environmental engineering at the University of Southern California, tells NPR.
... the Forest Service says that in a change for 2025, it phased out Phos-Chek's older LC95 formulation nationwide in favor of a newer Phos-Chek product, MVP-Fx, after an earlier switch to MVP-Fx in California. The agency says data shows that MVP-Fx is less toxic to aquatic life than LC95.
So, what's in it?
"It's basically a mixture of water, fertilizer, and then the red color that you see is just rust," McCurry says of the older LC95 mixture. In the wild, the red color fades over time with exposure to sunlight.
"You might see a gum or thickening agent just to change the viscosity, how sticky this stuff is," McCurry says. Thickeners also keep the material from drifting off-target, he adds, "But the business end of it really is ammonium phosphate fertilizer." ...
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A pink powder is being used to fight California fires. It's getting everywhere
1 day ago
Nadine Yousif
BBC News
Getty Images
Thousands of gallons of fire retardant have been dropped over southern California this past week
As crews battle devastating wildfires in southern California, vivid images have emerged of air tankers dropping bright red and pink powder on Los Angeles suburbs.
The eye-catching substance - fire retardant - is now a common sight in the area, blanketing driveways, rooftops and cars. ...
... The flame retardant is a product called Phos-Chek, which is sold by a company called Perimeter.
... "The longer the retardant dries, the more difficult it is to remove completely," they cautioned. ...
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c93lqng957joComment
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USDA: Nationwide Aerial Application of Fire Retardant on National Forest System Lands
Biological Assessment for Species within NOAA Fisheries Jurisdiction
Prepared by: Laura Conway Natural Resource Specialist, John D. Williamson Fish Biologist and David A. Austin Fish and Wildlife Biologist
USDA Forest Service
April 30, 2021
2020 Biological Assessment for Nationwide Aerial Application of Fire Retardant
Table of Contents
Introduction .................................................. .................................................. ............................ 1
Project Description .................................................. .................................................. .................. 1
Action Area .................................................. .................................................. ............................. 7
Background Information .................................................. .................................................. ......... 9
ESA-listed Species/Critical Habitat Considered .................................................. ........................ 29
...
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HUMAN HEALTH RISK ASSESSMENT OF WILDLAND
FIRE-FIGHTING CHEMICALS:
LONG-TERM FIRE RETARDANTS
Prepared for: Fire and Aviation Management & National Technology and Development Program
U.S. Forest Service
Missoula, MT
October 2021
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1.2.2 Exposure Assessment
Exposure assessment involves estimating doses to persons potentially exposed to the retardants. It answers the question “How much of the chemical are people exposed to?” In this exposure assessment of the retardants, dose estimates were made for typical, maximum, and accidental exposures for firefighting personnel and members of the public. These exposures are defined as follows:
• Typical: Typical exposure reflects the average dose an individual may receive if all exposure conditions are met. Typical exposure assumptions include the average amount of a chemical to which an individual may be exposed in a day, the average number of days worked throughout their fire-fighting career, the amount of residue that a homeowner may encounter while cleaning it off of their house, the average length of time elapsed until showering or changing clothes, and other similar assumptions.
• Maximum: Maximum exposure defines the upper bound of credible doses that an individual may receive if all exposure conditions are met. Maximum exposure assumptions include the estimated upper bounds on the amount of a chemical to which an individual may be exposed in a day, the number of days worked throughout their fire-fighting career, the amount of residue that a homeowner may encounter while cleaning it off of their house, the length of time elapsed until showering or changing clothes, and other similar assumptions.
• Accidental: The possibility of error exists with all human activities. Therefore, it is possible that an individual fire-fighter, other worker, or member of the public could be in the path of an aerial drop during fire-fighting activities, resulting in an accidental drench. This accident scenario was evaluated for potential health effects to firefighting personnel and members of the public. ...
2.1.2 Routes of Exposure
For assessing hazards from the retardants, the routes of administration in laboratory tests that reflect the likely types of exposures to humans include dermal (applied to the skin), inhalation (through exposure to vapors or aerosol particles), and oral by dietary (in food or water) or gavage (forced into the stomach through tubing). Selection of the route of administration of a particular test material is based on the probable route of human exposure. ...
... Section 4.2 describes the methods used to evaluate human health risks, including both noncarcinogenic and carcinogenic risks. Section 4.3 discusses several additional exposure scenarios that were addressed qualitatively, and Section 4.4 discusses the uncertainties in this risk assessment. ...
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Pasadena Public Health Department
Personal Protective Equipment Distribution Site Starting Jan. 15
January 15, 2025
PASADENA, Calif. – Beginning Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025, at 10 a.m., Pasadena Public Health Department (PPHD) will pass out free personal protective equipment (PPE) to those impacted by the Eaton Fire at 450 N. Lake Ave., in conjunction with Pasadena Water and Power Department’s bottled water distribution site. PPE will be available from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Being around ash may irritate your eyes, nose, or skin; and can cause coughing, asthma attacks, difficulty breathing, headaches, and other health effects. Prevent exposure by wearing protective gear in areas affected by the fires, especially while cleaning up ash. Wear a tight-fitting respirator that filters ash particles from the air you breathe, gloves, long-sleeved shirts, long pants, shoes and socks, and goggles to avoid skin and eye contact.
Use respirators that have two straps and the words “NIOSH” and either “N95” or “P100” printed on them. These respirators filter fine particles from smoke and coarse particles from ash, respiratory irritants that can cause coughing, wheezing, and difficulty breathing. PPHD recommends residents at risk of health impacts from the air quality, including older adults, children, people with disabilities, people with underlying health conditions, or people who are immunocompromised, wear respirators. If you have heart or lung disease, talk to your doctor before wearing a respirator or working around ash.
If you are unable to visit the PPE distribution center, respirators are available online and at many hardware stores and pharmacies. Obtain respirators in a size that can be tightened over your mouth and nose with a snug seal to your face. Surgical masks and one-strap dust masks will not protect your lungs, asthey are not designed to seal tightly to the face.
When cleaning up ash, do not use leaf blowers. Avoid stirring or sifting through ash and avoid actions that kick ash particles into air. For more information on protecting yourself from ash exposure, read Pasadena Public Health Department’s safety precautions and ash exposure prevention press release.
To check the air quality in Los Angeles, visit the South Coast Air Quality Management District website.
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