‘Red Flag’ Wind Warnings Returning to Los Angeles as Firefighters Continue Battling Wildfires
Meanwhile, President Trump will visit the smoldering ruins on Friday and plans to help rebuild in time for the 2028 Olympics.
Firefighters continue to battle the Palisades and Eaton fires, burning after nearly 2 weeks in the greater Los Angeles areas. Calmer winds have helped the efforts in the region.
And while progress is being made, emergency responders are bracing for the return of storing Santa Ana winds next week. A ‘Red Flag’ warning for gusty and dry Santa Ana winds has been forecast by the National Weather Service beginning Monday and continuing until the end of the week.
Palisades Fire
Currently, the fire is 52% contained and has burned 23,713 acres. The fire has destroyed 4,996 structures and damaged 707 more. So far, there have been 10 civilian fatalities, three civilian injuries, and one firefighter has been injured.
Crews are working around the clock to build containment lines and support search and rescue efforts. Firefighters provide protection and assistance to the public as the repopulation occurs.
Containment of the Palisades Fire has crossed 50% https://t.co/78B5VXTgp0
— KTLA (@KTLA) January 19, 2025
There is an increased need for specialized supplies for responders and residents returning to their homes (or their remains), including masks, respirators, and protective equipment. The equipment is needed to address the toxic products of combustion that have been generated in the wake of the infernos.
Reza Ronaghi lost his home in the Los Angeles wildfires last week.
“Not a single house survived in our two-block area,” he said.
Ronaghi is a pulmonologist at the University of California, Los Angeles. So he is well-acquainted with the health risks associated with breathing in wildfire smoke. But even he, a medical professional, was shocked to see how many potential health risks lurked in the detritus, ash, and smoke left behind after the fires.
“This is not just a regular fire,” he said. The ash contains material from “thousands of houses and all the material the house was made of, the inside, the appliances, the roof, the list goes on.”
…Previous scientific research shows that the detritus left behind after a fire can be laden with toxic compounds and gases, from heavy metals to burned plastics to asbestos. Exposure to the ash and even air can cause short-term health impacts, from the runny eyes Ronaghi experienced to respiratory issues and more.
But it’s not just the immediate health issues that concern Ronaghi. The exposure people experience now, he worries, could lead to health effects down the road.
Exposure to toxic materials left behind after houses burn can be “actually much more dangerous than what smoke may do to your lungs alone,” he said.
A partial repopulation effort of certain areas affected by the Palisades Fire has been announced by the LA Fire Department. See who is being allowed back home. https://t.co/NLdcM1oYpJ
: AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster pic.twitter.com/fWzg73CHnU
— Spectrum News 1 SoCal (@SpecNews1SoCal) January 19, 2025
Eaton Fire
The Eaton Fire in the Altadena/Pasadena area is s currently 81% contained and has already burned 14,021 acres.
Firefighters continue to make progress, with air operations supporting ground crews by extinguishing hot spots in steep, inaccessible terrain. So far, 9,366 structures have been destroyed, 1,062 structures have been damaged, and 10,210 structures remain threatened.
At the present time, 17 civilian fatalities have been reported, and eight firefighter injuries have occurred.
Damage inspection teams have completed assessments for 90% of all structures within the fire footprint. Fire suppression repair is underway, focusing on restoring areas damaged during firefighting operations. People can return to their homes, with evacuation zones being released in phases to ensure public safety.
President Trump to Visit the Los Angeles Disaster Area Friday
During his Inauguration Rally, President Donald Trump indicated his first official visit would be to the Los Angeles area to survey the destruction and lend support to the recovery.
The visit comes after deadly fires scorched hundreds of thousands of Southern California acres and killed at least 27 people.
The president-elect blasted California’s Democratic leadership, including Gov. Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, in the days following the blazes’ genesis.
BREAKING |
President-elect Trump says he will visit California on Friday.
“Together, we will rebuild Los Angeles better, more beautiful than ever before.”#California | #LosAngelesFires pic.twitter.com/lAyB5elzKB
— The Election Post (@TheElectionPost) January 19, 2025
Also, during the rally, Trump stressed that he was keen to rebuild Los Angeles in time for the 2028 Olympics, which were slated to be held there.
Trump wants to go for the gold. Does LA? https://t.co/uxdVe8FxBU
LOS ANGELES — California officials are hoping Donald Trump’s longtime enthusiasm for the Los Angeles Olympics will help secure federal support to rebuild from wildfires that have leveled parts of the city.
Trum…
—
Ty Buchanan
(@ty_buchanan) January 19, 2025
US President-elect Donald Trump has given his backing to the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, vowing they will be the “greatest Games” despite concerns over the impact of the wildfire on preparations.
Casey Wasserman, chairman of the LA 2028 organizing committee, met with Trump at his Mar-a-Lago residence on Wednesday and provided full backing despite some critics calling for the Olympics to be moved.
“These are America’s Olympics,” Trump told Wasserman, according to news website Axios.
“These are more important than ever to L.A. and I’m going to be supportive in every way possible to make them the greatest Games,” he added.
Keep in mind, this is after the California Assembly voted to “Trump-proof” California using $50 million of our tax dollars for legal defenses against potential challenges from the incoming administration. In the wake of the wildfires, the first special session related to this plan was cancelled.
The Democrats were planning to have this legislation released on Inauguration Day.
A committee of the California legislature has indefinitely postponed its planned first hearing in a special session called to “Trump-proof” the state and bolster its legal defense in case of attacks from the incoming administration.
KCRA first reported that the Assembly Budget Committee’s Tuesday hearing, is now off the docket.
The committee’s chairman, Democratic Assemblyman Jesse Gabriel, represents one of the districts impacted by the Los Angeles wildfires and is currently under evacuation orders. Democrats were previously hoping to have legislation passed by Inauguration Day.
Democrats should be embarrassed that they spent more time on Trump-hate than wildfire prevention and fire emergency preparation.
I can’t wait to see how Trump deals with Gov. Gavin Newsom and Mayor Karen Bass. He will likely treat them better than they deserve.
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Comments
I saw and article that Joe & Jill are flying to Cali. Probably going out to help the governor and mayor make it worse.
They will be visiting the Susaex’s in Montecito.
A little late isn’t it? Joe, er Jill could have have called out the National Guard or declared a Disaster Area…or done SOMETHING.
Now? Why go?
“Meanwhile, President Trump will visit the smoldering ruins on Friday and plans to help rebuild in time for the 2028 Olympics.”
And, where is this money coming from to do so, Mr. President? I thought we were done with foreign aid.
Actions should have consequences. Let Trump tell LA and the state, “You chose poorly in not having your residents and the Olympics in mind with your absent fire preparations. You’ve Trump-proofed your state, indeed.”