As wildfires ravage SoCal, firefighting resources have been stretched thin

As the Bridge, Line and Airport fires threaten communities across Southern California, firefighting resources are being stretched to their limit.

For all three fires, a lack of available resources has been cited in reports summarizing firefighters' efforts. One update on the Line Fire stated bluntly that lack of resources "continues to hamper control efforts."

"All the firefighters we have available are either assigned or they're on [rest and relaxation]," said Lisa Cox, a public information officer who's part of the California Interagency Incident Management Team working on the Bridge Fire.

"We aren't able to draw any more resources from our Southern California area or outside of it," she said, "so we're really relying on our mutual aid agencies and those who are in unified command with us to provide resources as well."

For example: Fire officials ordered Type 2 initial attack crews and hotshots to fight the Bridge Fire, now the largest fire in the state. However, it's unclear if and when the extra resources will arrive.

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What we know about resource issues

It's not clear exactly which resources were delayed, when in the firefight they were requested and which firefighting efforts might have been affected by too few personnel.

LAist has reached out to public information officers assigned to each incident.

"The bottom line is there's a finite number of resources across the board," said Adrienne Freeman, spokesperson with the U.S. Forest Service.

Hot shots, for instance, have been fighting fires in Oregon and Idaho.

"There's a new priority now: Southern California. So, I think you'll start seeing the prioritization shift. As crews get off the fires, finish their assignments and get reallocated," she said.

Long fire seasons continue to stress resources

It's not unusual for firefighting resources to become limited as the fire season trudges on. At this point in the year, exhaustion spreads and firefighters hit the maximum number of days they're allowed to work before needing to take vacation. That's especially true during active seasons like the one we're now in.

“Late in the fire season, it’s a difficult balancing act to get the resources where we need and multiple incidents all want unlimited resources," said Ed Fletcher, public information officer with CalFire.

“There’s multiple complex fires happening at the same time that demand air and ground resources, especially these fires that are in steep rugged terrain where it’s difficult to get people to," he added.

As the fires continue to rage, crews from further and further out, including outside the country, could be tapped for service.

Did lack of resources make these fires worse?

Firefighters meet the flames head-on on hillside behind homes as the Bridge fire bears down on the mountain community of Wrightwood on September 10, 2024 in Wrightwood, California.

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Gina Ferazzi

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Los Angeles Times

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We can't assume that more bodies on the ground would've changed the outcome of any of these fires. Without more specifics about what was requested and where, it's hard to judge.

The current fires are burning in extreme fire weather that includes high heat and strong winds. When those conditions are coupled with dense vegetation and steep terrain, you get the aggressive and chaotic fire behavior we've seen this week. And that can make containment lines all but impossible to establish.

And that's nothing to say of the safety concerns. If firefighters are performing structure defense amidst an unpredictable blaze and, say, defensible space hasn't been properly prepped around a home, saving the structure may be out of the question.

We see over the top scenarios like these just about every single Santa Ana wind season here in Southern California, which starts in just a few weeks time.

Resources to prep and cope with wildfire

• Listen to The Big Burn, our podcast that will get you motivated to get ready
• Wildfires are getting worse. What you need to know
• Every day is now fire season. Let's get you ready for the next wildfire burning near you
• Evacuation terms can be confusing. Here’s what they mean and how to sign up for alerts
• How to keep yourself safe from wildfire smoke
• This is why fire officials don't want you to stay and defend your home
• What does 'containment' of a fire mean, exactly
• What to do — and not do — when you get home after a wildfire
• If you want to help fire victims, resist the urge to volunteer