Los Angeles County is facing a pivotal moment. Our county continues to struggle with rising crime, homelessness, and aging infrastructure—challenges that require strong, proactive leadership. Now, the recent Pacific Palisades and Eaton fires have raised two important concerns: our preparedness for natural disasters and the need for better fire prevention strategies.
Wildfires are a known threat in Southern California, and yet the response to this latest blaze highlighted gaps in prevention, preparedness, and emergency response. While our first responders did a heroic job battling the flames and ensuring public safety, it is clear that more could have been done to prevent the fire in the first place.
One of the key issues at play is the presence of encampments in wildfire-prone areas. Despite well-documented fire risks, these encampments have continued to grow without enough intervention. At the same time, homeowners are required to comply with strict brush clearance regulations—an important safety measure—but similar enforcement has not been consistently applied in high-risk areas where fires are more likely to start. A balanced and fair approach to fire prevention is necessary to protect everyone, housed and unhoused alike.
The link between homeless encampments and fire danger is well established. According to the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD), encampment-related fires have increased dramatically in recent years, with more than 24% of all reported fires in Los Angeles in 2023 linked to homeless encampments. Many of these fires stem fromunattended cooking flames, open burning for warmth, and makeshift electrical hookups, all of which pose a significant risk in dry, brush-heavy areas like the Pacific Palisades. While it is critical to address homelessness with compassion, allowing unsafe encampments to persist in wildfire-prone regions puts both the unhoused and surrounding communities in danger.
Another area for improvement is the county’s investment in modern wildfire detection and response technologies. In Rancho Palos Verdes, we have deployed AI wildfire detection systems, which use advanced cameras and artificial intelligence to identify smoke and alert emergency responders before fires have a chance to spread. These systems provide real-time monitoring, allowing for quicker response times and potentially saving lives and property. Other cities in California, such as San Diego and Malibu, have also adopted similar technologies.
Yet, Los Angeles County has failed to make comparable investments, relying on outdated methods while neighboring communities take advantage of cutting-edge solutions. If a smaller city like Rancho Palos Verdes can implement these tools, why hasn’t the County of Los Angeles?
It’s also crucial that our emergency communication strategies are clear and efficient. Reports of delayed or confusing evacuation orders during the Pacific Palisades fire suggest there is room for improvement in how information reaches residents in real time. Investing in better emergency alert systems, such as integrated siren networks and AI-driven text alert platforms, could make a significant difference in future crises.
Beyond prevention and response, we must address fire hazards through better land management. Los Angeles needs to expand its investment in controlled burns, fuel reduction programs, and fire-resistant landscaping. Additionally, county officials must work more closely with CAL FIRE, local fire departments, and private landowners to develop long-term strategies for mitigating risk in high-fire areas.
Public safety must remain a top priority for county leadership. While there are many pressing issues facing Los Angeles County, we cannot afford to overlook disaster preparedness, fire prevention, and emergency response planning. These are not partisan concerns—they impact all of us, and we must work together to find effective solutions.
Los Angeles County has the resources and expertise to lead in wildfire prevention, but it will take a proactive and solutions-oriented approach to get there. By addressing the root causes of fire risk, investing in modern technology, and ensuring fair and consistent enforcement of safety regulations, we can better protect our communities.
Let’s use this moment as a call to action—not just to critique what went wrong, but to push for the improvements we need. Our county deserves a future where wildfires are met with readiness, not regret.
John Cruikshank is a Board Member of the Los Angeles County Taxpayers Association (LA-Tax) and the former mayor of Rancho Palos Verdes. You can reach him at john@johncruikshank.us.