Tuesday, August 25, 2026

County Fire Department Adds Staffing, Pre-Positions Resources as Area Faces Four-Day Heat Wave Peak

Los Angeles County Fire Department engines. [LACFD photo]

Dangerous heat, high wildfire risk expected countywide through Friday, Aug. 28

In response to peaking dry, hot temperatures and high wildfire risk beginning Tuesday, Aug. 25, the County of Los Angeles Fire Department is augmenting normal staffing and pre-positioning personnel and resources throughout Los Angeles County to ensure rapid response to wildfires.

The augmented staffing runs from Tuesday through Friday, Aug. 28, the department said in a public advisory. LACoFD is the fire agency serving unincorporated Altadena.

Public safety advisory

The County Fire Department strongly advised residents to check on vulnerable neighbors, family members and pets during the heat wave. Those visiting local beaches must exercise extreme caution, the department said.

The department reminded residents to:

• Sign up for emergency alerts at alert.lacounty.gov.
• If you see something, say something. Report any sign of smoke or fire immediately to your local fire department by dialing 911. If you dial 911 from a cell phone, be sure to know your location.
• Have your Ready! Set! Go! Wildfire Action Plan in place. It is critical for residents to be familiar with the Ready! Set! Go! program, which provides important pre-planning and evacuation information. The plan and how-to videos can be downloaded at fire.lacounty.gov/rsg.
• If you are headed to the beach, check in with the nearest lifeguard for ocean conditions and hazards.

Avoiding heat-related illness

The department said everyone should be extra careful to avoid heat-related illness by following these tips:

• Drink plenty of water and stay hydrated throughout the day.
• Apply sunscreen, wear light-colored and lightweight clothing, and put on a hat or use an umbrella.
• Shift outdoor activities away from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Never leave children or pets in cars, even if the windows are left open.
• Head to a free cooling center if you do not have access to air conditioning.

To find a county-operated cooling center nearby, call 211 or visit ready.lacounty.gov/heat.