Disaster Discourse: The Hagerty Blog

EXISTING FIRES CONTINUE TO BURN, WHILE NEW FIRES EMERGE

October 31, 2019 at 11:18 am

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2019 AS OF 9:00 AM PST

Currently, there are 10 active wildfires across the State of California. The Kincade fire has burned 76,825 acres of land and it 45 percent contained. This is the largest active wildfire in the state. The Easy fire, which ignited Wednesday morning, has already burned over 1,000 acres of land. 30,000 Ventura County residents were evacuated yesterday in response to the Easy fire, which is only 5 percent contained. The Riverside fires, two new wildfires, broke out between Wednesday and Thursday morning. While the Hill fire is 80 percent contained, the 46 fire that began this morning is 0 percent contained as already burned 75 acres. San Bernardino County is also fighting destructive blazes, fueled by winds. Dry and windy weather conditions are expected to persist, and similar weather conditions are expected in Arizona today, placing parts of the state under a red-flag warning.

CalOES Wildfire Map: Source

California residents at risk of wildfires continue to experience power outages. The latest update from CNN indicates that approximately 200,000 Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) customers in northern California are still without power. While roughly 90,000 residents and businesses are experiencing power outages in southern California. Residents experiencing power outages in northern California should visit PG&E Community Resource Centers to access restrooms, charging stations, air conditioning, and bottled water to those affected by the public safety shutdowns. Residents of California and Arizona experiencing or threatened by wildfires and high winds should continue to monitor local news and heed the warnings of local authorities.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has been providing support via the Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG). These grants offer support for the costs of fire response activity and other emergency work. FEMA has rapidly expanded the grant to new fires as they arise; for example, FEMA approved the FMAG request for the Easy fire on the same day it was made (October 30).

FEMA Approves FMAG for Easy Fire: Source

FEMA encourages individuals to prepare and plan for wildfires, including potential power shutdowns. Residents of California and Arizona should listen to local authorities, remain safe, and follow evacuation guidance. The Hagerty Blog Team will continue providing information and updates on current events and disasters impacting the nation, visit Disaster Discourse for the latest information.

FEMA Guidance on Power Outage Preparedness: Source

EVACUATIONS AND EMERGENCY DECLARATIONS

THE GOVERNOR OF CALIFORNIA, GAVIN NEWSOM, HAS DECLARED A STATE OF EMERGENCY AMID THE SCALE AND MAGNITUDE OF FIRES THAT ARE BURNING THROUGHOUT CALIFORNIA.

Here’s the breakdown of public advisories from NOAA’s NHC in decreasing order of severity:

HIGH WIND WATCH:

  • Santa Monica Mountains Recreational Area
  • Ventura County Mountains
  • Los Angeles County Mountains excluding the Santa Monica Range, Including the cities of Lockwood Valley, Mount Pinos, Acton, Mount Wilson, and Sandberg
  • San Bernardino County Mountains
  • Riverside County Mountains
  • Santa Ana Mountains and Foothills
  • San Gorgonio Pass Near Banning
  • Orange County Inland Areas, Including the cities of San Bernardino, Fontana, Rancho Cucamonga, and Banning

RED FLAG WARNINGS:

  • Los Angeles County
  • Ventura County Mountains
  • San Diego County Inland Valleys
  • San Diego County Mountains, Including The Palomar And Descanso Ranger Districts of the Cleveland National Forest

EVACUATION ORDERS

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