Southern California Fires
Completed November 13, 2020
“This area is scheduled for immediate evacuation, fires are minutes away,” is broadcasted by deputies throughout neighborhoods in Southern California as fires cover acres of land.
Marked as the worst fire season in its state history, California has experienced devastating fires all throughout the state. The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection says that Climate Change is a leading factor to the increase in fires seen in the past few years. Southern California specifically has experienced longer droughts and longer dry seasons with only a few days of rainfall. Fire departments, law enforcement agencies, and the Emergency Operations Bureau are all on high alert as Southern California goes through yet another dramatic weather shift.
Dale Lovvik, Deputy Sheriff at the Emergency Operations Bureau, explains why 2020 has seen many areas in Southern California which have not burned in years. Brought on by dry weather seasons, droughts, and the harsh Santa Ana winds, the desert-like environment of Southern California makes it susceptible to ignition.
Recently the Bobcat Fire, which burned from September 6th - November 2nd as explained by Luis Santillan, Fire Captain for the Los Angeles City Fire Department, was brought on by dry vegetation and possibly electrical power lines that burst.
Joe Medina, Deputy Sheriff at the Emergency Operations Bureau says deputies were dispatched immediately as the fire broke out. As part of his job, he “requested how many deputies were needed and would assign deputies to evacuate residents, secure road closures, & provide looter depression.” Looter depression, as explained by Medina, is law enforcement driving through evacuated areas to prevent looters from breaking into people's properties and stealing.
The Emergency Operations Bureau where Lovvik and Medina work, commonly referred to as EOB, “manages disasters or events such as fires, and floods for the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department of Resources, meaning we send personnel to handle these events, we are also mutual aid coordinators for other law enforcement agencies,” says Lovvik.
As fires broke out in Southern California, EOB sent units out to various locations to work with the Los Angeles City Fire Department.
Lovvik was part of the command post which sent out personnel for road closures, evacuations, and provided help to other law enforcement agencies. Lovvik describes the fire scene as “chaotic with flames, smoke, and lots of personnel everywhere.”
Many firefighters and law enforcement personnel form bonds with one another through the years. In working disaster areas, such as the fires, there is always a sense of fear and worry for their partners. “Often there are injuries that occur or sometimes death especially among the fire department who we are working closely with,” says Lovvik.
Having to spend long hours working in hectic and dangerous environments can take a toll on first responders. For Medina, “It’s sad seeing houses burn and sometimes animals getting injured.”
California fire season tends to last from October to December, however, the 2020 fire season was brought on earlier in the summer. “The air quality was bad. The smoke appeared like a foggy day with ashes falling everywhere. At night you can see the flying embers glow in the sky,” says Idelfonso Felix, Firefighter and Paramedic for the Los Angeles City Fire Department.
Safety during these past months was the top priority for Santillan and Felix as they worked to contain the fire. Due to the smoke covered skies, first responders were more aware of their surroundings. “Safety is number one for yourself and your crew. Again safety is our priority and allows us to provide assistance to the residents and their properties,” says Felix.
Now as the fire has been contained, Lovvik explains after every fire EOB begins its paperwork process through the Incident Command System which the Federal Emergency Management Agency or FEMA uses nationwide. These documents are filled out by first responders when fires pertain to their specific department. In filling out the documents, first responders are putting together a history of events that can later be used for financial or federal reimbursement. The documents as well provide first responders with detailed descriptions of how they responded to the fires to later on determine what they did well, what areas they can improve on, and their overall performance.
As of early November, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection recorded an estimated 4,194,148 acres burned, a total of 9,177 fires, 31 confirmed fatalities, and 10,488 structures damaged or destroyed.
Southern California begins its recovery from months of fires but continues to be on intensive watch as they are still in the midst of fire season. As the end of the year approaches Lovvik says “We are constantly monitoring and staying in contact with other units. We are preparing ourselves for anything to happen.”