Do you know anyone who has lost their home or job in California due to the fires?

So many people displaced, such a tragedy, I wonder where they all will go. 

When I see the photos and the live coverage on TV, it's almost as though I'm watching a sci-fi movie.

Yes, so true.  I've spent so much of my life in those beautiful areas, hard to believe how it has changed almost overnight.  The ocean didn't even blink an eye, its beauty will remain forever. 
A family member's boss had a home in Pacific Palisades which is gone now.  He said it is illegal to clean the brush around your home in California without a permit.  The permit can take 1-2 years to get because you have to prove the brush you are getting rid of is in fact dead. Unbelievable law, but that's California for ya. 

I'm sure there are more than a couple of reasons why the fires took off so fast and burned so much area.

Agreed.  An episode of the Simpsons said it would happen a while ago. 

I can tell you why - Without rain and after a very hot summer, fuels became extremely flammable.  All it takes is one spark to start a fire - from a chain dragging on the ground behind a car/truck, from sunlight shining through broken glass, from some idiot not following safety protocol when doing yardwork, from a homeless person trying to stay warm, (to name but a few).  Strong winds fan that spark into a fire within seconds.  Embers from the fire are spread in the wind to other dry areas, and the cycle continues.  Within 15-30 minutes you have a raging wildfire.  When a wildfire gets into a "housing project" (residential area where houses are close together), there's nothing to prevent it from jumping from house to house (houses are made from dry wood).

With no air support (planes are grounded in high wind events), it is virtually impossible to contain a raging wildfire.  No amount of water can help.

I agree.  Thank you.

I cannot speak for SoCal, but clearing brush away from one's house is MANDATORY in Northern and Central California.   Some people refuse to comply with these rules, and usually their house/property is consumed in a wildfire.

"The boss" I referred to stated; it took him 2 years to get his permit to clear the brush away, he had to pay the city as well for the permit.  Some might just say forget it, if they have to pay the city to clean their own property.  

No offence intended, but that sounds very fishy to me.  NO permits are required in California for making a defensible space around a home by clearing brush and trees.  Now, if one is clearing off acreage, then yes, a permit may be required.  Clearing off acreage isn't the same as creating a defensible space. 

Hummm good point.  It sounds very fishy to me as well. 

That didn't sound right to me. Here's what I found. The ordinance actually requires brush clearing.
https://lafd.org/fire-prevention/brush/brush-clearance-requirements

Some people refuse to follow rules, however they seem to be the first ones to complain or try to blame others for their lack of preparedness.   In NorCal, if one doesn't follow clearance regulations, CalFire does not have to give priority to saving that property (even so, they still try).

In the past I have seen news clips of people holding a garden hose while standing in front of a large fast moving wall of flame and smoke and saying they are going to stay and protect their property. Cheers!

As dumb as it sounds, sometimes it helps.  A damp roof will better impede falling embers from igniting (but they do little in dry grass).

My dad sat out the 2020 fires in the house he built, the houses on both sides burned to the ground but all he had to worry about was smoke-blackened brickwork. He built it fireproof - no structural timber, iron shutters (which remained closed while the fire passed) and a 4000 gallon water tank uphill connected to a roof mounted drip sprinkler system - gravity fed so a power failure couldn't hurt him.

Well, all I know is what the man said was his personal experience.  Not sure why he would lie about something like that, but you never know about people and what they say or the reason for it. 

Think I'll have someone challenge him on his statement, didn't sound right to me as well, dosen't  make sense.

I did see a picture of a water reservoir in Pacific Palisades that was meant for fighting fires in that area. The problem is it was empty,  no one had notified the powers that be there was no water in it.  


This post was edited by Honey Dew at January 13, 2025 1:05 PM MST

There are probably requirements for commercial businesses who clear land to build on. I did hear one of the reservoirs needed some kind of repairs, so I assume that they knew about it. I know people are looking for answers, but I think we should wait until everything gets investigated before we make assumptions. I'm sure that they will find some mistakes and some lessons learned, but there was probably a lot done right too.

Good points!!

The is also the California Costal commission and another entity (forget the name) who have jurisdiction in some issues.  Haven't researched further. 

The bush clearance requirements are very specific.  Now I want to know more about why he said what he said.