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Governor Gavin Newsom visited Pacific Palisades today to meet with local and state fire officials as Southern California faces dangerous winds and extreme fire weather. The Palisades Fire, which broke out earlier in the day, has burned over 1,260 acres and forced thousands of evacuations. During his visit, the Governor proclaimed a state of emergency to support affected communities.
The National Weather Service has issued warnings for high winds in Los Angeles, Orange, Ventura, San Diego, San Bernardino, and Riverside counties, with gusts reaching up to 100 mph in some areas. These conditions have created extreme fire risk across the region.
Earlier, Governor Newsom announced that California secured a Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to ensure the availability of resources to combat the Palisades Fire. The Governor received a briefing on the fire and ongoing severe weather during his visit.
“This is a highly dangerous windstorm that’s creating extreme fire risk – and we’re not out of the woods. We’re already seeing the destructive impacts of this fire in Pacific Palisades, which grew rapidly in a matter of minutes. Our deepest thanks go to our expert firefighters and first responders who acted quickly to fight this dangerous fire. If you’re in Southern California, please pay attention to weather reports and follow any guidance from emergency officials,” said Governor Gavin Newsom.
In preparation, the state has prepositioned firefighting resources, including 65 local government fire engines, helicopters, dozers, and specialized personnel in high-risk areas. CAL FIRE has also moved additional resources from Northern to Southern California to bolster regional response efforts.
The Governor urged residents to remain vigilant, pay attention to emergency alerts, and follow evacuation orders if necessary. Officials reminded the public of safety tips for both wildfire and wind conditions, including avoiding downed power lines, making evacuation plans, and staying informed through Ready.ca.gov.
“I am being frequently briefed on the wildfires in west Los Angeles. My team and I are in close contact with state and local officials, and I have offered any federal assistance needed to help suppress the terrible Pacific Palisades fire. Earlier tonight, FEMA approved a Fire Management Assistance Grant to support impacted areas and help reimburse the state of California for immediate firefighting costs. My Administration will do everything it can to support the response,” said President Joe Biden.
Firefighters continue to work tirelessly to contain the Palisades Fire as dangerous weather persists through Thursday.
The Palisades Fire ignited at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday in Pacific Palisades near Topanga Canyon. The blaze has already consumed more than 1,260 acres, threatened 6,000 structures, and prompted evacuation orders for the area. The FMAG, provided through the President’s Disaster Relief Fund on a cost-share basis, allows local, state, and tribal agencies to apply for 75 percent reimbursement of their eligible fire suppression costs. Additionally, the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services prepositioned 65 fire engines and more than 120 firefighting personnel across Southern California ahead of the fire threat. CAL FIRE also mobilized resources, including 45 engines and six hand crews, to support response efforts in seven affected counties.
