Bay Area firefighters deployed to battle Palisades fire, others on standby

MENLO PARK, Calif. - The Pacific Palisades fire, which is burning out-of-control, is expected to continue into the night, fueled by even stronger winds that could spread the flames in unpredictable directions.

Firefighting crews in the Bay Area have already been deployed, while others are on standby, preparing to respond if needed. 

The Menlo Park Fire Protection District, along with other Bay Area fire departments, is prepared to mobilize at a moment's notice if the California Office of Emergency Services calls for assistance. Crews can be ready in less than an hour, according to fire officials.

"We have specific engines prepared with wildland equipment," said Jon Johnston, Division Chief Fire Marshal for the Menlo Park Fire Protection District. 

He explained that a typical strike team consists of five engines and 20 firefighters.

Meanwhile, chaos unfolded in Southern California as about 30,000 residents tried to flee the fire's path. Traffic gridlock complicated evacuation efforts, forcing many people to abandon their cars and flee on foot.

The Los Angeles Fire Department told Fox LA that there is zero containment of the fire, and it is difficult to pre-stage fire engines due to the unpredictable path of the flames.

"The majority of the head and body of the fire has burned in various directions," said David Ortiz, a firefighter with LAFD.  "We have open front all around this fire, all the communities that surround this fire are in a threat."

Jon Johnston noted that while Northern California faces Diablo winds, Southern California experiences Santa Ana winds.

"They are seasonal, however, we are seeing that they are lasting longer into the year, which is not typical," said Johnston. 

Cal Fire’s SCU and CZU teams, which serve several Bay Area counties, shared photos on social media showing their support for agencies like the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

Governor Gavin Newsom visited the fire lines and shared video of a briefing from fire officials. Hundreds of assets and personnel were pre-positioned on Sunday in anticipation of the wind event. He urged all residents to heed evacuation orders.

"We’re not out of the woods by any stretch of the imagination," Newsom said. "Having just quite literally an hour or so ago, gone up the canyon and saw firsthand the impact of these swirling winds and the embers and the number of structures that are destroyed… Not a few, many structures already destroyed. And the fact that people were still not evacuated, still did not heed the warning - where just coming down the canyon is a reminder of how serious this moment is."

Firefighters expect winds to intensify overnight until 5 am, which will shift embers and spread the fire in unpredictable directions. Crews will continue to adjust and move resources as needed.