Natural Disaster
Los Angeles Fire Commission President Genethia Hudley Hayes said a draft report had been sent to Mayor Karen Bass’ office for “refinements,” raising concerns about outside influence
Los Angeles Fire Chief Jaime Moore acknowledged that the department’s after-action report on the deadly 2025 Palisades Fire was edited to reduce criticism of LAFD leadership
Families of wildfire victims say trauma, illness and suicide followed the Palisades Fire, filing lawsuits that name Los Angeles Department of Water and Power and other agencies as responsible
Fueled by predicted 90 mph Santa Ana wind gusts, the Palisades and Eaton fires erupted hours apart on Jan. 7, 2025, burning 59 square miles, killing 31 people and destroying 16,246 structures
After-action reports one year after the Palisades and Eaton fires point to staffing, coordination and evacuation gaps, driving changes to improve future wildfire response
Truckee firefighters extended a ladder across swollen river waters to safely evacuate nine people from a riverside home
Through the National Disaster Search Dog Foundation, rescued dogs with extraordinary drive are trained, paired with firefighter handlers and prepared for complex search environments
From icy rivers to prolonged winter rescues, EMS teams must prepare for the harsh elements. Here’s how to stay warm, alert and effective in cold-weather emergencies.
Dispatch logs show firefighters reported “nothing showing” and cleared a call at the earlier Lachman Fire, despite LAFD leaders’ statements that crews returned to “cold-trail” the burn area
David Richardson reportedly distanced himself from day-to-day operations before resigning from the nation’s top disaster agency
The Pack Fire near California’s Nevada border has damaged at least 15 structures, closed part of Highway 395
Investigators found serious emergency planning lapses at MonteCedro in Altadena and The Terraces at Park Marino in Pasadena, where elderly women were left behind as flames closed in
A new after-action report on January’s catastrophic Palisades Fire praises officers’ heroism but details major coordination breakdowns, unclear command structures and recordkeeping lapses
A Texas A&M Forest Service spokesperson said the Mill Fire in Gregory is approximately 50% contained
A new after-action review says agencies were overwhelmed, the EOC was largely ineffective, alert tools went underused and outdated policies delayed orders, echoing Woolsey-era warnings as west Altadena burned during the Eaton fire.
LAFD Interim Chief Ronnie Villanueva said crews “cold-trailed” the 8-acre fire and didn’t use thermal cameras, a decision critics call “hard to justify”
Supervisors grilled fire and OEM leaders over late, confusing warnings during the Palisades and Eaton wildfires
The U.S. Forest Service is delaying prevention grants, while FEMA and the National Weather Service trim services and warn of funding gaps
Turn fragmented systems into seamless collaboration during critical incidents
Unable to hose 200-foot crowns, crews battling the Garnet Fire climb the trees to knock out smoldering debris after sprinklers and clearing spared the famed Sierra Nevada grove from damage
The fast-moving 6-5 Fire scorched more than 4,000 acres, forcing evacuations in the Gold Rush town of Chinese Camp
With no radios or resources, firefighters improvised networks and used personal boats to save thousands
Laura Russell’s first hurricane activation as a paramedic turned into a fight for survival as levees broke and chaos spread
As we mark 20 years since Hurricane Katrina, Chief Marc Bashoor reflects on recent shakeups at the agency and its ultimate responsibility
Two decades after the devastating hurricane, FEMA’s role is under fire — and the lessons still feel unlearned
FEMA workers who joined a 180-signature letter warning that staff and budget cuts imperil disaster response have been put on indefinite paid leave
Experts say Katrina’s communication breakdowns, coordination gaps and aid delays still shape policy and should guide today’s debates over FEMA’s future
The “Katrina Declaration and Petition to Congress” calls out reductions to CERT, the National Fire Academy and hazard grants as weakening national disaster readiness
The Pickett Fire in Napa County and the Flat Fire spanning Deschutes and Jefferson counties have prompted evacuation orders and warnings for more than 5,000 residents
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