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Crowley deserves blame
Lachman
after-action report
insurance
preparation for Palisades Fire
recovery and re-building
todo1
water supply
wildfire firefighting resources
winds

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20260604 Though the city’s Emergency Management Department had warned her staff of dangerous conditions, the mayor took a diplomatic trip to Ghana and was more than 7,000 miles away when the wind-whipped blaze.rtf
20260608 To understand just how egregiously the media and CA politicians are *lying* about the Palisades Fire, you need to go to this website and see the data for yourself. @FireRebuild meticulously.rtf
20260608 chaparral: (shap-uh-ral) 2 an ecological community composed of shrubby plants adapted to dry summers and moist winters that occurs especially in southern California.rtf
20260609 Cal Fire: California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.rtf
20260609 Eaton Fire: a highly destructive wildfire in Los Angeles County, in Southern California. The fire began on the evening of January 7, 2025. 5th deadliest, 2nd most destructive wildfire in CA history.rtf
20260609 The total area burned in the January 2025 California wildfires was more than double the size of Manhattan Island.rtf
20260609 conflagration: 1 fire, especially : a large disastrous fire <The conflagration destroyed the warehouses> 2 conflict, war <The conflagration between the two countries lasted for ten years>.rtf
20260609 even if the Santa Ynez Reservoir had been filled, the firefighting benefits would have been marginal, at best.rtf
20260609 responses of authorities to the Fors report.rtf
20260609 the Independent Institute has awarded its nineteenth California Golden Fleece® Award jointly to Southern California Edison, the Los Angeles Fire Department, the Los Angeles Department MORE.rtf
20260610 Both the city and county of Los Angeles have dedicated enormous funds to non-critical functions, allocating hard-earned tax dollars away from essential duties, such as fire protection.rtf
20260610 CEQA compliance can be incredibly expensive in terms of both time and money. Certain projects require environmental impact reports (EIRs), which can cost anywhere from $200,000 to millions of dollars.rtf
20260610 Exempting wildfire risk reduction projects from the California Environmental Quality Act was further enshrined into law later in the year when SB 131 was approved.rtf
20260610 I read table 2 but otherwise skipped “IV. Key Recommendations” of Kristian Fors’ independent.org “The 2025 Los Angeles Wildfires: Lessons and Key Recommendations”.rtf
20260610 LADWP paid almost $2 million in fines to the CCC, reversed the project, and replanted the herb.rtf
20260610 Neither the Forest Service nor the State of California has adhered to their 2020 agreement to carry out controlled burns and mechanical thinning to “treat” 500,000 acres of forest land per year.rtf
20260610 The (1) is an impediment to development. It’s enforced by the (2), which is the most powerful land-use organization in the nation: 1 California Coastal Act, 2 California Coastal Commission.rtf
20260610 only 13 percent of CEQA cases are initiated by established environmental organizations. This data revealed that CEQA is not being used by those with legitimate environmental interests to dispute projects in rural areas.rtf
20260611 The [Palisades] fire was first reported at about: 10:30 a.m. PST on January 7, 2025, covering around 10 acres (4.0 ha) of the mountains near Pacific Palisades.rtf
20260611 Why MesoWest's data for Santa Monica Municipal Airport data differs from that provided by NOAA's NCEI.rtf
20260612 Crowley - a historic hire—the first female and first openly gay fire chief in LAFD history.rtf
20260612 Crowley - heavy institutional focus on DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) initiatives over core mechanical and tactical readiness.rtf
20260612 Federal and state agencies are routinely sued by local conservation groups. Activists use the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the Endangered Species Act to halt clearing projects.rtf
20260612 Former LAFD Battalion Chief Rick Crawford said that, based on his experience fighting wildfires, “we’re talking about something that was just beneath the surface.”.rtf
20260612 Great Basin: the largest area of contiguous endorheic watersheds, those with no outlets to the ocean, in North America. It spans nearly all of Nevada, much of Utah, and portions of California ....rtf
20260612 How was the LAFD equipment not maintained? (Which equipment was inoperable?) Who was responsible?.rtf
20260612 Interim Fire Chief Ronnie Villanueva downplayed: the effectiveness of the thermal imaging cameras, noting that some chaparral in the city extends 15 to 25 feet underground, while the depth of the ....rtf
20260612 It is noteworthy that before the fire, the LAFD had significantly relied on teen volunteers to remove brush in the Palisades rather than having the budget to pay for full-time professional crews to remove brush.rtf
20260612 LAFD had many opportunities to take on this fire. One is mop it up properly to ensure that it’s out in between January 1 and Janaury 7 by having someone look at it and possibly put patrols on.rtf
20260612 Los Angeles Fire Department officials, already under scrutiny for their failure to pre-deploy engines in advance of the Palisades fire ....rtf
20260612 Millions of forest acres in California fall under the historical 2001 Roadless Rule, which strictly bans building roads or logging in protected zones.rtf
20260612 On Wednesday, federal prosecutors released documents charging a 29-year-old Uber driver with intentionally setting the Jan. 1 fire, called the Lachman fire.rtf
20260612 Several former LAFD chief officers said it is standard procedure to monitor a burn site for several days after a fire appeared to be out, especially if strong winds were in the forecast.rtf
20260612 The Times asked the LAFD to provide dispatch records that would corroborate firefighters visiting the site on Jan. 3, and officials did not provide them.rtf
20260612 The decision to fire Crowley was criticized by many, including former mayoral candidate Caruso, who alongside various media outlets linked the firing to Crowley speaking out about fire department budget cuts.rtf
20260612 The most reliable, standardized, and legally recognized source for maximum wind gust speed recordings in the US is: Gemini: ASOS. ChatGPT and Claude: ASOS and AWOS (Automated Surface Observing System).rtf
20260612 The weather station at Santa Monica Municipal Airport (KSMO) uses this type of network station: ASOS (Automated Surface Observing System).rtf
20260612 justice.gov: According to court documents, law enforcement determined that the Palisades Fire was a “holdover” fire – a continuation of the Lachman Fire that began early in the morning on New Year’s Day 2025.rtf
20260613 Newsom even stated on a recent podcast that regulatory abuse has been California’s “biggest damn problem,” also stating that “people using CEQA” are “just holding up projects for years.rtf
20260615 Maybe the city could have had tankers protecting houses in the path of the fires as Rick Caruso did.rtf
20260615 Rick Caruso's Pacific Palisades Village survived but was damaged.rtf
20260618 Bass cut $17M to the LAFD’s baseline spending in the 2024-2025 fiscal cycle. Why?: to close a citywide deficit.rtf
20260618 Because staffing levels have not expanded to match the city's growing population or the increasing frequency of call volumes, LAFD relies heavily on overtime to maintain mandatory minimum staffing levels across all engines and trucks.rtf
20260618 Equipment Donations to Ukraine Did Not Hinder L.A. Firefighting Efforts.rtf
20260618 In municipal accounting, "baseline spending" simply refers to: the core, recurring cost required to maintain current department operations, staffing, and facilities from year to year.rtf
20260618 Karen Bass appointed Villaneuva, the interim Chief who said, "We did everything that we could do", regarding the fires.rtf
20260618 Palisades geographic, demographic, political data.rtf
20260618 Using volunteer mechanics is a liability risk, but agencies can create agreements that allow the sharing of mechanics.rtf
20260618 When city budgets tighten LAFD typically restricts max # of overtime hours individuals can work. LAFD leadership noted these hour-restrictions directly impact auxiliary functions like non-emergency brush clearance inspections.rtf
20260621 A document obtained by The Times showed that commanders said “no” to deploying nine ready reserve engines to supplement nine other engines that had been pre-positioned the morning before the fire to the Valley and Hollywood.rtf
20260621 Babruskas.rtf
20260621 Bass’ press office did not respond to an email requesting an interview with her for this article.rtf
20260621 Damaged engines didn’t affect Palisades firefight. But they point to a larger problem By Alene Tchekmedyian.rtf
20260621 Firefighters and fire captains each earned an average of $73,500 in overtime last year, on top of an average base salary of about $140,100, the data show.rtf
20260621 IAFF has been running the local labor group since suspending its top officers last month over allegations of financial impropriety.rtf
20260621 LAFD has "between 64 and 74 [mechanics] since 2020". Last year, the report said, mechanics completed 31,331 of 32,317 work requests, or 97%.rtf
20260621 Nithya - Support a permanent funding structure for fire mitigation. The Blue Ribbon Commission recommended a Los Angeles County Fire Control District to sustainably fund brush clearance, vegetated buffer zones *****.rtf
20260621 Nithya - Take brush clearance seriously. Deploy dedicated year-round vegetation management crews, with aggressive clearance on city-owned hillsides, parks, and open space near residential communities.rtf
20260621 a few things to follow up on todo1.rtf
20260621 battalion chief: rank and title of a subordinate fire chief or commanding officer in the firefighting command structure. A battalion chief is the lowest chief officer. A battalion consists of several fire stations.rtf
20260621 reserve engines: older vehicles that can be used in emergencies or when regular engines are in the shop - “Damaged engines didn’t affect Palisades firefight. But they point to a larger problem”.rtf
20260621 todo1 (lower priority because I've already gotten the "didn't deploy the engines they had" story) LA Times story - “L.A. fire officials could have put engines in the Palisades before the fire broke out. They didn’t”.rtf
20260623 Guerra pointed to Park, who represents the 11th District on the Westside and has become a local hero to many victims of the Palisades fire, as an example of how voters stood by their representative.rtf
20260623 Sue Kohl, a resident of the Palisades who lost her home in the fire, said the areas burned by the fire are “blanketed” with Park yard signs. In Westchester, where she relocated, Park signs also dominated front lawns.rtf
20260702 Fire depts don't water vegetation to make it less prone to burning.rtf
20260712 A full Santa Ynez reservoir would’ve helped, but “it’s not clear how much impact” it would’ve had. Communities need to think about pipe sizes and pressure management.rtf
20260712 Bass’ statement w.r.t. LAFD’s after-action review report links to the report but it is not available todo1.rtf
20260712 Bass’ statement w.r.t. LAFD’s after-action review report says communication network problems hampered the immediate response.rtf
20260712 In early 2024, LADWP discovered a tear in the floating cover on the Santa Ynez Reservoir ... To repair a tear in a floating cover, a reservoir must be drained.rtf
20260712 LA Times, 2022, before Crowley – more than 50% of female employees, 40% of Black and […] firefighters said bullying and harassment are problems. 70% of all LAFD firefighters lack trust in their leaders.rtf
20260712 LADWP - The Santa Ynez Reservoir’s cover prevents aerial access, but the Santa Ynez Reservoir, Westgate Trunk Line, the three 1-million-gallon tanks meet code for urban structure fires and daily water needs [??].rtf
20260712 Main drinking water supply f Palisades is transported via Westgrate Trunk Line, which supplies three million-gallon tanks (Marquez Knolls, Trailer, Temescal) and terminates at Santa Ynez Res. If Westgate offline, SYR can be used ***.rtf
20260712 Mayor Garcetti, City Council President Martinez Nominate Kristin Crowley as L.A.’S Next Fire Chief as Ralph Terrazas Announces Retirement.rtf
20260712 Some social media users falsely claimed the reservoir sat empty for over a decade. The reservoir was returned to service in 2011.rtf
20260714 By law, the federal government covers a minimum of 75% of eligible costs when a Presidential Major Disaster is declared.rtf
20260714 Very little privatization of fire departments in recent American history.rtf
20260816 A 2021 survey of workplace culture found that 56% of LAFD’s women employees and 41% of Blacks, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders — felt harassment and bullying were a problem [DEI].rtf
20260907 Were any Blue Ribbon Commission report authors economists? Any with experience in Florida or Australia.rtf
20260907 Widening Palisades Drive unattainable due to cost, small right-of-way. AECOM recommended operational changes, not all of which are being acted on.rtf
20260907 there are a lot of street segments in fire hazard severity zones that are too narrow.rtf
20260907 vegetated greenspace buffer by Blue Ribbon Commission.rtf
20260908 Blue Ribbon Commission “Climate Action and Fire-Safe Recovery”. Read “Retrofitting for Future Fire” from page II-47 to the bottom of page II-51.rtf
20260908 Changing California vegetation to be more amenable to fire control and less dangerous when burning todo1.rtf
20260908 Factors preventing a Florida-style frequent-fire program in California.rtf
20260908 Florida burns mostly private land under a light state permit. California’s large untreated blocks are often national forest, which means NEPA, forest-plan consistency, wildlife surveys, and litigation.rtf
20260908 In recent years about half of planned California burns were completed; weather, fuels, and people being pulled to wildfires canceled a large share. Avg completed burns have been small (tens of acres, not thousands).rtf
20260908 Industrial timberland is busier and worse for high-severity fire than neighboring national forest. National forest is slower, more constrained, and holds most of the remote fuel.rtf
20260908 Neither public nor private California landowners are running a Florida-style frequent-fire program at the scale the vegetation needs.rtf
20260908 Nor is the [reason CA can't copy Florida] “California has no legal authority to burn.” Since 2018 the legislature has spent a lot of effort making burning easier [fire].rtf
20260908 On civil grand juries recommending umbrella organizations rather than measurable goals, better leadership. Also, JPAs are common in California because CA has thousands of overlapping cities, special districts, counties.rtf
20260908 Some robots already in use in California for thinning. todo1.rtf
20260918 Names of those who died in the Palisades Fire.rtf
20260918 Why you can't just pull back the Santa Ynez's cover when red flag warnings are made.rtf
20260921 Drone helicopters for fighting fires.rtf
20260921 Global cities similar in fire threat to Los Angeles.rtf
20260922 ChatGPT has a good answer for plants that could replace chaparral as lower fire risks.rtf
20260922 Proposal of a very wide, paved strip around the WUI.rtf
20260927 On LAFD overtime - the city’s 2004 CAO analysis of constant-staffing OT found that hiring enough people to eliminate OT would have cost more than continuing to pay the OT account.rtf
zufn.rtf