“It’s not a matter of if, it’s when,” LAFD Fire Chief Kristin Crowley said of the anticipated 2024 fire season.
In a candid interview, Chief Crowley spoke about the upcoming fire season, and how current trends are indicating that it could severely impact the region.
The last wildfire that significantly impacted Los Angeles was the Woolsey Fire of 2018. No fire since has matched the destruction left in Woolsey’s wake, which included almost 100,000 acres burned, 21 decimated structures, and three fatalities.
Experts say that makes the odds for another “big one” even higher. Summer 2023 was Southern California’s coolest in more than a decade, and after Hurricane Hillary in August, experts knew that a 2023 fire season was unlikely.
But summer 2024 already looks quite different. Despite the record-breaking rainfall that Angelenos saw during the 2023-2024 rainy season, July 2024 was the hottest on record, as reported by the LA Times.
Unburned vegetation from the past several years raises concerns about how significant the next burn could be. When asked if Los Angeles can expect an active fire season this year, Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) Captain and Public Information Officer Erik Scott said, “Oh yes. Definitely.”
Though not major, small fires have impacted the City of Los Angeles, the County, and the neighboring San Bernadino and Riverside Counties so far this year. The LAFD has been able to hit these small blazes quickly and aggressively, preventing significant damage.
When it comes to fires, there are no boundaries. Due to its size and the wide spectrum of firefighting environments throughout the City, the LAFD is often top of mind when mutual aid is required to address fires across the state. LAFD resources have been deployed to the Park Fire, which has burned more than 430,000 acres since mid-July, as well as the Borel Fire, which has destroyed more than 100 homes.
“[The LAFD’s] mutual aid piece is a system that was set in place to ensure that we can share resources in the greatest time of need,” Chief Crowley said. The LAFD has been called on for mutual aid support since 1961 as it became clear that having the ability to exchange resources across the state would benefit California as a whole.
When support is needed, LAFD resources are deployed through strike teams and incident management teams. Strike teams include five fire engines and firefighters with the expertise to assist in a “boots-on-the-ground” capacity, while incident management teams have specialized individuals with specific knowledge to assist with strategizing and coordination.
“We learn a lot when we go out on these incidents,” Captain Scott shared. He has been deployed to major incidents across California for 15 years and has served on an incident management team for 10. “These are very large-scale incidents, and long in duration. They’re very devastating fires,” he added.
These mutual aid deployments not only benefit the communities impacted by critical fires but also directly benefit the LAFD and the communities that they serve locally. The firefighters, captains, and chiefs that go out to these major incidents compile best practices from each team and tailor-make them to meet specific regional needs. All the knowledge consumed across the state makes a better-prepared, more organized firefighting system at home.
Additionally, when support is needed on Angelenos’ home turf, the same mutual aid will be deployed to assist LAFD firefighters as needed.
Fire season is an inevitable part of life in Los Angeles. But Chief Crowley urges residents to trust that their Los Angeles City Fire Department is prepared, equipped, and ready to act.
“It takes a village,” Chief Crowley added, citing the stringent brush clearance ordinances that are unique to Los Angeles. She emphasized the importance of home hardening, knowing the recommended routes for evacuation, and the responsibility of residents to ensure their safety and the safety of their community.
The “Ready, Set, Go,” program is an initiative by the LAFD that walks residents through the steps to help ensure preparedness in the case of an approaching wildfire. This message that is often amplified to residents of Los Angeles during fire season is a constant state of being for the LAFD.
“The potential is always there for a major fire,” Chief Crowley said of the upcoming season, a risk that increases when the Santa Ana winds pick up in September and October. “But the public can take heart in knowing that our LAFD has the expertise,” she added.
Photos courtesy of the 2024 Lake Fire crews and support staff.
