Natural Disaster
Is your department ready to launch a natural disaster response amid reduced staffing and backup systems?
Severe flash flooding across western Maryland prompts rescues from cars, houses, schools and businesses
FEMA’s planned shift of disaster recovery duties comes as the Trump administration pushes to downsize federal operations, 17 days ahead of a hurricane season expected to bring above-average storm activity
Veteran fire officials told a Senate hearing the Palisades blaze was a predictable result of failures in local decision-making, not a failure of firefighters
FEMA’s Disaster Relief Fund should cover near-term storm response even if a partial government shutdown begins at midnight on Jan. 30
As questions swirl over the Palisades fire response, the LAFD Foundation acknowledges using donor money to hire a Hollywood PR firm to shape public messaging
The executive order pushes FEMA and the Small Business Administration to preempt state and local permitting and let builders self-certify standards
Local ranchers serving as liaisons helped incoming fire crews navigate terrain and resources during large fires like the Cottonwood Peak Fire
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.
Follow along as the Science and Technology Directorate (S&T), the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), and first responders from across the country put some robots through the paces to gauge whether the commercially available systems meet responders’ demanding operational need
Fire Chief Jaime Moore said he is focused on future improvements, not assigning blame, after acknowledging that the official after-action report downplayed leadership failures
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
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
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