With heat descending on Southern California, firefighters and first responders are taking proactive steps, hoping to gain an advantage over the elevated fire danger according to CBS News.
Barry Shimauchi, who lives in Azusa at the base of the San Gabriel Mountains shared: “It’s always a worry, especially living here in the foothills. September, August, things start to dry out and then you get that late kind of heat wave.”
CBS has reported that the incoming heat, which will bring triple-digit temperatures to much of Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino and Riverside counties, is potentially the worst of the year, leading National Weather Service officials to issue red flag fire conditions for specific areas.
In response, the California Office of Emergency Services (Cal EOS) has also sent extra resources to the area.
Cal EOS State Fire Rescue Chief Brian Marshall shared: “This includes fire engines, firefighters, bulldozers, helicopters.
“It gives them a better opportunity to contain the fire when it’s small, so we don’t have a big disaster.”
He says that the department has been deploying and prepositioning resources ahead of fire weather events for five years now.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass also announced that extra local resources were being pre-deployed in high-risk areas like Woodland Hills, Northridge and Sunland.
During a news conference, Bass said: “For months, LAFD has been actively conducting brush inspections and brush clearance.”
With heat descending on Southern California, firefighters and first responders are taking proactive steps, hoping to gain an advantage over the elevated fire danger according to CBS News.
