The Redondo Beach Fire Department sent firefighters and trucks for two weeks in service to the Palisades Fire. Los Angeles County experienced a series of factors that perfectly aligned fully, creating the most destructive fire in LA County history, according to Division Chief Jason May.
“All the fire departments have a master agreement that says if you need help, we’ll come help you out,” adding that, “our first engine went out mid morning on Tuesday to the Palisades area, a second one followed shortly thereafter, all that using the mutual aid agreement,” Chief May said.
Anonymous Redondo Union teacher Adam White, who lives in the Hollywood area, described the fires as alarming.
“I heard commotion outside of my condo and several residents were talking about a fire, so I went up on the roof and Runyon Canyon was on fire, which is less than two miles from where I live,” he said. “There was a rush of panic going through me. What do I take with me? Where do I go?” White said.
White sorted all of his documents, like his passport and certificates. A more challenging situation was picking what he treasured most, such as old pictures and family heirlooms, to take with him in case of an evacuation.
“Honestly, I wasn’t prepared. I didn’t know whether I’d have to evacuate or not. I knew what important documents to take with me, but then you have all the things you treasure, too,” White said. “Luckily, within a couple hours, they [firefighters] were able to keep an eye on the fire and control it. But I am now prepared.”
White has stayed informed about the fires while away from home by using an app called “Watch Duty” to receive notifications about fires. This way, he is constantly receiving information on the current state of the fires near his home.
“I get many notifications a day on the fires around my area. There’s still that fear that another fire could easily happen, but if it does, I have my suitcase packed and ready to go.”
According to Chief May, due to parts of the dry environment such as grasses, shrubs and small trees which burn very quickly, if winds are elevated, the fire will spread faster than someone could run. If firefighters don’t communicate about the whereabouts of the fire spreading, it could quickly become a grave situation. RBFD firefighter Josh Herbst notes that maintaining radio communications and planning are the most challenging aspects of fighting wildfires.
“You have to be constantly thinking about what the next step should be. You can be put in a pretty dangerous situation any second. If something was to come right now, under these five structures we’re looking at, where do we get our water supply and find the correct hose line?” Herbst said.
Amongst the devastation of lost homes due to the wildfires, the fire department must face the challenge of balancing risk management with saving property, evaluating whether a property is salvageable and what degree of danger the firefighters are being put in, as a means of saving the structure.
“Saving lives is our number one priority, we take calculated risks but that’s always with the lives of the people first,” Chief May said. “A much more challenging assessment is looking at how well the homes have been prepared for this, whether attic vents have been blocked, and if there’s a way for us to get in and to get out.”
According to Chief May, another part of the job as a firefighter is helping people with the process of grieving over a lost home.
“The people that do our line of work are compassionate people, they want to help in any capacity they can. It’s an incredible honor to do so,” Chief May said.
Chief May emphasizes the importance of support and commitment to the community during these events.
“I’m very grateful to be working alongside people who are so committed to helping those who are in need at this time, people who have the innate human desire to help others. It’s just what we do,” Chief May said.