Shocking footage reveals about 100 fire engines abandoned at a repair shop in Los Angeles as devastating fires rage through the city. Local activist photos show vital equipment stored at the LAFD Supply and Maintenance Bureau. Fire Chief Christine Crowley stated that over half of the department’s 183 trucks are out of service, exacerbating the crisis that has resulted in 24 deaths, the displacement of over 200,000 people, and significant property destruction. Just months prior, the LAFD requested $96.5 million to replace its aging fleet and sought funding to restore maintenance positions critical for vehicle upkeep.
Shocking footage has been released showing about 100 fire engines abandoned at a repair shop in Los Angeles as fires rage through the city.
A photo taken by a local activist shows a number of important fire engines sitting on the grounds of the Los Angeles Fire Department’s Supply and Maintenance Bureau at 19 North Avenue in the northeastern part of the city.
“More than 100 pieces of fire equipment are down,” Los Angeles Fire Department Chief Christine Crowley said in an interview with CNN. Having these devices and the right number of mechanics would have helped. ”
LAFD has a total of 183 trucks in its fleet as fires continue to scorch dense urban space, killing at least 24 people, displacing more than 200,000 people and destroying more than 12,000 buildings. This means that more than half of the city’s fire engines are out of service.
This comes just three months after LAFD asked the City Council to replace its entire fleet at a cost of $96.5 million.
“Many vehicles have exceeded their expected useful life, leading to increased maintenance costs, reduced parts availability, and potential downtime,” the LAFD said in its request.
Fire officials also requested more than $1.9 million to restore 16 maintenance positions that were “eliminated” in last year’s budget.
“This position will support vehicle maintenance, equipment engineering, purchasing, warehousing and logistics,” the company said in its request.
The footage, taken by a local activist, shows a number of vital fire engines parked on the grounds of the Los Angeles Fire Department’s Supply and Maintenance Bureau.
“More than 100 pieces of fire equipment are down,” Los Angeles Fire Department Chief Christine Crowley said in an interview with CNN. Having these devices and the right number of mechanics would have helped.”
Firefighters work to extinguish the Palisades Fire burning a structure in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles on January 7.
The requested positions include 1 truck driver, 1 tire repairman, 4 heavy equipment mechanics, 9 mechanical assistants, 1 carpenter, 1 general motor vehicle supervisor, 2 clerks, and 1 store owner. Contains.
“It’s been clear over the last three years that our fire department needs help,” Los Angeles Fire Chief Christine Crowley told CNN’s Jake Tapper.
Additionally, she emphasized how the LAFD is “understaffed, under-resourced and underfunded,” adding that “these additional cuts could be extremely devastating to our ability to provide public safety.” “This raised the alarm,” he added.
A fire that broke out Tuesday north of downtown Los Angeles destroyed more than 12,000 homes, cars and other structures.
Authorities have not determined an official cause for either fire.
Additional water tankers and scores of firefighters arrived in the Los Angeles area ahead of another wave of ferocious winds that was expected to threaten progress made so far in fighting the inferno.
On Monday, planes doused houses and hillsides with bright pink flame retardant, while crews and fire engines positioned dry brush near particularly dangerous areas.
Two of the biggest fires broke out last week, prompting dozens of water tankers to pile into the area as fire hydrants ran dry.
LAFD has a total of 183 trucks, meaning more than half of the city’s fire trucks are out of action.
The death toll has jumped to 24 in recent days, and authorities have warned that number is expected to rise further as crews struggle to access smoldering wreckage across the district.
Firefighters in the stricken Palisades region are overwhelmed by rapidly spreading blazes as state response comes under scrutiny
Bass and other officials, who have come under fire for their initial response to the fires that started last week, said Monday that the region is bringing in additional firefighters from across the United States, as well as Canada and Mexico, to combat the new threat. He expressed confidence that he was ready to take on the challenge.
Asked what was different from a week ago, when hurricane-force winds sparked multiple fires in dry, brushy areas with no rain, Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Malone said: We are completely ready.” Over 8 months.
Since January 1, more than a dozen wildfires have broken out in Southern California, most of them in the greater Los Angeles area.
The latest one broke out late Monday in a riverbed in Oxnard, about 55 miles (89 kilometers) northwest of Los Angeles, burning in an agricultural area.
Winds are expected to pick up early Tuesday morning and continue until midday Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service.
Marrone said fire planes may be able to land, although it is not expected to reach hurricane strength like last week, adding that if wind speeds reach 112 km/h, “it will be difficult to contain the fire. “It’s going to be very difficult,” he warned.
Fire officials advised residents of high-risk areas to simply leave their homes if they feel unsafe without waiting for an official evacuation order.
In less than a week, four fires have broken out around the nation’s second-largest city, scorching more than 62 square miles (160 square kilometers), an area roughly three times the size of Manhattan.
Multiple fires broke out across Los Angeles this month, killing at least 24 people and destroying 12,000 buildings.
Pacific Palisades residents survey damage in neighborhoods devastated by fires over the past week
The National Weather Service warned that Tuesday’s weather could be “particularly dangerous” with wind gusts reaching 105 km/h. Much of Southern California around Los Angeles is under this extreme fire danger warning until Wednesday, including the heavily populated areas of Thousand Oaks, Northridge and Simi Valley.
The Eaton Fire near Pasadena is about one-third contained, but the largest fire in the coastal Pacific Palisades is far less contained.
Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said Monday that the death toll could rise. At least 20 people are said to be missing.
Luna said he understands people want to return to their homes and neighborhoods to assess the damage, but asked for patience. “We have people literally looking for your neighbor’s remains,” he said.
At a community meeting about the Palisades fire Monday night, Los Angeles Police Department officials said many people who had been reported missing had been found. It is not clear whether there are any duplicates in the numbers shared by the sheriff.
