Wednesday, July 15, 2026

L.A. County Fire Pre-Deploys Crews Across Foothills as Heat Wave Raises Wildfire Risk

The Los Angeles County Fire Department has augmented staffing and pre-deployed additional firefighting equipment across the county ahead of a dangerous heat wave that forecasters warn will heighten wildfire risk through Thursday, Supervisor Kathryn Barger said in a July 14 news release.

The pre-positioning carries particular weight for the foothill communities of Barger’s Fifth District, including Altadena, where the January 2025 Eaton Fire killed at least 19 people and destroyed more than 9,000 structures. The National Weather Service has issued an extreme heat warning for inland Los Angeles County running from Tuesday through 8 p.m. Thursday, with afternoon highs forecast between 90 and 110 degrees and Wednesday expected to be the hottest day.

Forecasters expect temperatures to exceed 100 degrees in some areas of the county, and the National Weather Service has cited low humidity and dry vegetation as conditions that increase the potential for wildfire. Monsoonal moisture is expected to raise humidity and worsen heat impacts, with warm overnight lows offering little relief.

In anticipation of the conditions, the Fire Department pre-deployed 15 fire engines, four water tenders, four hand crews, two bulldozers and additional Fire Dispatch personnel, the release said. The department, led by Fire Chief Anthony Marrone, is one of the nation’s largest metropolitan emergency-services agencies, serving more than 4.1 million residents across 60 cities and unincorporated areas from 176 fire stations.

“When wildfire conditions intensify, preparation can make all the difference,” Barger said in the release. She said she appreciated Marrone and the department “for taking a proactive approach by positioning personnel and equipment before conditions worsen.” Barger, whose district includes foothill communities and rural North County areas that face some of the region’s highest wildfire risk, encouraged residents to remain weather aware, avoid activities that could spark a fire and follow guidance from public safety officials throughout the heat event.

The readiness push comes to a district still recovering from the Eaton Fire, which the Fire Department has described as the second-most destructive wildfire in California history. The county’s handling of that fire drew scrutiny: a September 2025 review by the McChrystal Group, commissioned by the Board of Supervisors, cited outdated policies, staffing shortages and information-sharing failures, while a separate review by Citygate Associates, commissioned by the Fire Department, found that evacuation orders west of Lake Avenue were not delayed. California Attorney General Rob Bonta opened a civil rights investigation into the emergency response in February 2026.

County officials also urged residents to guard against the heat itself. In a separate county heat advisory, Board Chair and First District Supervisor Hilda L. Solis pointed residents to cooling centers at libraries, parks and other community spaces, saying, “Extreme heat can create serious challenges for many residents, and no one should feel they have to endure these conditions alone.” Kevin McGowan, director of the county Office of Emergency Management, said in the same advisory that the county plans “on an ongoing basis” for events including excessive heat.

County guidance urged residents to stay indoors during the peak afternoon hours, drink water regularly, check on older neighbors and never leave children or pets in parked cars. Residents can locate cooling centers at ready.lacounty.gov/heat and sign up for emergency alerts at alert.lacounty.gov. “The Los Angeles County Fire Department is doing its part, and we all have a role to play in preventing wildfires,” Barger said. “A little extra caution during periods of extreme heat can go a long way toward protecting our neighborhoods.”