Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti and city officials urged the public to create evacuation plans and to adopt daily practices that reduce the spread of brushfires at a press conference Monday.
Speaking in Van Nuys, Garcetti said, “fire season is here.” He told residents to incorporate preventive measures such as clearing brush and “maintaining an adequate defensible space around your home" into their daily life. Brush in the state is tinder-dry after months of drought.
Garcetti highlighted the city’s “unparalleled” air fleet. The Los Angeles Fire Department has five AgustaWestland AW139 helicopters and recently welcomed the arrival of the Erickson Skycrane helicopter through an annual 150-day contract to protect the city against brush fires. The Erickson helicopter is capable of dropping 2,600 gallons of water in one load.
In addition to spotlighting the millions of dollars of LAFD equipment, Garcetti told Angelenos they do not need to wait for an evacuation order to leave their homes.
“If you feel threatened, evacuate early,” he said.
There are six major wildfires raging in Northern California. The Dixie Fire has been burning for over a month and is only a little over 30 percent contained. This year may surpass 2020's record-breaking year when four million acres burned.
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City Councilmember Monica Rodriguez, who represents District 7, urged the public to clear brush from homes as a preventive measure. She told Angelenos to “please, do your part.”
“Sadly my district has endured three of the city’s largest wildfires, one requiring nearly half of my entire district being evacuated,” she said.
LAFD Chief Ralph Terrazas warned that there are still more fires to come.
“This summer we are facing a significant brushfire season, but the peak is still to come during the months of November and December,'' said Terrazas.