At LAT, Steve Lopez writes of Mayor Bass:
She told two local TV news outlets she wouldn’t have gone to Ghana as part of a presidential delegation on Jan. 4 if she’d been aware of the fire risk in Los Angeles. “If I had all the information I needed to have, the last thing I would have done was to be out of town,” she told KABC.
She should have called me. I had all the information I needed, along with a garden hose at the ready, and so did everybody else. After months of drought, Southern California was a tinderbox, one spark away from going up in flames.
On Jan. 3, the National Weather Service warned of “critical fire conditions” that constituted a “major risk — take action.” Presumably that meant action other than waving goodbye and heading off to a social gathering on another continent, as the mayor did on Jan. 4.
If the fire chief didn’t call Bass, OK, shame on Crowley. But phones are designed for both outgoing and incoming calls. Given the forecast and warnings that dominated the news, why didn’t Bass call the chief?
A Fire Weather Watch is in effect Tuesday-Friday for portions of LA/Ventura Counties. There is the potential for damaging north to northeast winds, that are likely to peak Tuesday-Wednesday.
With no significant rainfall yet, fire season will continue in to the New Year! #CAwx pic.twitter.com/fahxe7RIpI
— NWS Los Angeles (@NWSLosAngeles) January 3, 2025
Fire Weather Watches & High Wind Watches are in effect Tuesday-Friday next week (see graphics for exact times). Strong/damaging N-NE winds will be possible, likely peaking Tuesday-Wednesday. Stay up to date with the forecast as we get closer to the event. #CAwx #LAwind #Ventura pic.twitter.com/ouoLirXxPf
— NWS Los Angeles (@NWSLosAngeles) January 5, 2025
Widespread damaging winds and extreme fire weather conditions are expected Tuesday afternoon through at least Wednesday.
Scattered downed trees and power outages are likely, in addition to rapid fire growth and extreme behavior with any fire starts. #CAwx pic.twitter.com/omtvx4Q5k2
— NWS Los Angeles (@NWSLosAngeles) January 6, 2025
HEADS UP!!! A LIFE-THREATENING, DESTRUCTIVE, Widespread Windstorm is expected Tue afternoon-Weds morning across much of Ventura/LA Co. Areas not typically windy will be impacted. See graphic for areas of greatest concern. Stay indoors, away from windows, expect poweroutages. #LA pic.twitter.com/yl83LxeMEc
— NWS Los Angeles (@NWSLosAngeles) January 6, 2025