who is to be blamed for the LA firestorm?

There are plenty of fingers being pointed at who or what is to be blamed for the Los Angeles fires. I think we have run out of digits on our hands to do so. Some of the more popular include:

• Budget cuts to the Los Angeles Fire Department

• Improper implementation of fire protection and response measures

• Fire hydrants running dry hindering the fire response

• Climate change and the dry conditions magnified by Santa Anna winds

• Poor community planning with narrow streets and limited egress

• Inadequate and timely warning messages

• Democratic policies

• Democratic leadership

• The Mayor being away on a trip to Africa

• President Biden being “asleep at the wheel” and not actively engaging

• Diversity and Inclusion measures taking resources away

• Women and Gays serving as firefighters—not enough white men

• Too many big fires—all at once

• Did I miss some? Undoubtedly I did

Here is an article on the topic, L.A. Was Prepared for Serious Fires. But It Wasn’t Ready for Four

Reading it, there is a good summary of the pre-fire preparations that were done. Things like pre-deploying resources and recalling off duty personnel to have the maximum of firefighters available. This was done at the local, county and state levels. None of those measures were enough to save major portions of cities and communities that were destroyed. Even now as I write this, additional resources are flowing toward California from other states. This is not only to augment the current assets committed to the fire, but also provide some relief for staff who have been on the line 24/7 for days at a time.

There is never one single cause for something like this disaster. There are always multiple factors in play. I personally believe that what I have said many times before. Emergency services of all types are funded and staffed for the everyday emergencies. In a disaster it is possible to call in additional resources to help stem the damages. In a catastrophe like this one, all the response efforts will look miniscule to the size and scope of the damages. You cannot “respond your way” out of a catastrophe.

It is what I always said as a local emergency management director. All our emergency management efforts to prepare our community will look futile when the Cascadia Earthquake Fault or the Seattle Fault would have a major rupture.

As you listen to political leaders try to “make hay” out of this disaster, remember that “there, but for the grace of God go I.”

I see that there are now some pronouncements being made that this disaster could be the most costliest disaster on record, no matter the type. Something I forecasted several days ago.

As I write this on Sunday, there are still another few days of high winds forecasted for the region into midweek. It is not over.