Golden State Today

As Southern California grapples with hazardous winds and heightened fire risks, Governor Gavin Newsom visited Pacific Palisades to meet with local and state fire officials. His visit comes amid efforts to combat the Palisades Fire, which has already consumed over 1,260 acres and prompted widespread evacuations.

Governor Newsom declared a state of emergency in response to the ongoing fire threat. "This is a highly dangerous windstorm that’s creating extreme fire risk – and we’re not out of the woods," he stated during his visit. The governor expressed gratitude for the quick actions of firefighters and first responders, urging residents to heed weather reports and guidance from emergency officials.

In addition to the state of emergency, Governor Newsom announced that California secured a Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) from FEMA. This grant aims to provide crucial resources needed for firefighting efforts in Pacific Palisades.

The National Weather Service has issued warnings for very high winds affecting Los Angeles, Orange, Ventura, San Diego, San Bernardino, and Riverside counties through Wednesday evening. Some areas may experience gusts up to 100 miles per hour.

To bolster firefighting capabilities across Southern California, Governor Newsom directed state departments to position additional resources strategically. This includes prepositioning 65 local government fire engines, seven water tenders, seven helicopters, nine dozers, and over 105 specialized personnel in affected counties. Additional CAL FIRE resources have been moved from Northern California into key areas facing increased fire risk.

Residents are encouraged to sign up for emergency alerts at ready.ca.gov and prepare evacuation plans due to potential power outages caused by wildfires. For more information on safety tips and active emergencies in the region, individuals can visit ready.ca.gov.