With wildfires raging through Pacific Palisades and Santa Monica, first responders are stretched thin, according to Los Angeles Fire Department Fire Chief Anthony C. Marrone.
The fires have spread over 16,000 acres as of Wednesday afternoon as crews work to contain the blazes of the Palisades Fire, Eaton Fire and Hurst Fire.
“LA County and all 29 fire departments in our county are not prepared for this type of widespread disaster,” Marrone said at a news conference. “The LA County Fire Department was prepared for one or two major brush fires, but not four, especially given the sustained winds and low abilities.”
At least five people are dead and many more have been injured, Pasadena Mayor Victor Gordo confirmed. The fire has damaged at least 300 structures, with over 13,300 others at risk.
We have experienced a tremendous tragedy here in our community,” Gordo said.
Another fire in San Fernando has burned at least 700 acres. In Sepulveda Basin, the Woodley Fire has burned 30 acres, and the Lidia Fire has burned 50 acres in Acton.
Five schools in Altadena have been “substantially damaged” by the Eaton Fire, Pasadena Unified School District Superintendent Elizabeth Blanco said.
“We are continuing to assess damage,” she said during a press briefing. “We’re working together with our city partners to do everything we can to preserve our schools.”
Records show the city’s fire department budget for this fiscal year was cut by more than $17.5 million. The city’s controller, Kenneth Mejia, posted a graphic on X in October confirming the fire department’s budget was cut.
“This budget serves as a reset, in part by continuing to hire for critical positions including police officers and firefighters while eliminating some of the department’s vacant positions, thereby prioritizing our City family over empty desks,” Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said in a statement in June.
