On a recent day battling the wildfires in Los Angeles, the air was filled with the sounds of crackling radios warning of flames nearby while helicopters thudded overhead. Juan Tapia, a seasoned firefighter from Morelia, Mexico, was actively removing scrub brush taller than himself, having just arrived in California days prior. Meanwhile, Karley Desrosiers, who traveled from British Columbia, rushed to relay updates about the fires to a worried public.
At a nearby incident command post, rapidly established to serve as a central hub, crews coordinated aerial support, monitored weather conditions, managed the laundry for hundreds of smoke-drenched firefighters, and prepared thousands of meals daily. The operation to protect homes and lives amid the raging wildfires is immense, covering everything from direct firefighting efforts to logistical support for thousands of personnel.
The recent Eaton and Palisades fires, which ignited last week in the Los Angeles region, have claimed the lives of at least 25 people and destroyed thousands of homes. These blazes may rank among the most expensive wildfires in U.S. history, necessitating a massive firefighting response from across North America.
Firefighters from cities as far away as Portland and Houston departed from their families to assist in the battle against the flames in Los Angeles, while over 1,000 inmates from California’s prison system were organized into hand crews to help. Water-fighting aircraft, labeled “Quebec,” flew over the fires, and a Mexican fire brigade arrived to join the efforts, along with nearly twenty firefighters from the Navajo Scouts, a program overseen by the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
These firefighters worked around the incident command posts, which were set up in various locations such as parking lots, fairgrounds, or stadiums; the command post for the Palisades fire served as a central hub for approximately 5,000 personnel. Behind the scenes, teams were engaged in everything from securing helicopter landing spots to drafting a fresh daily action plan that was shared via QR code with all firefighting staff.
The operational strategy needed to be flexible as strong winds added to the unpredictability of the wildfires. On the slopes north of Los Angeles, within the charred remains of the Eaton fire site, crews were searching for lingering flames when a sudden plume of smoke alerted them through their radios.
As the winds intensified, a yet-to-burn area of dense underbrush ignited, sending flames and embers into the sky, dangerously close to nearby homes. Firefighters rushed toward the new flames, while two helicopters soared overhead, sounding alarms to clear the area before releasing water and fire retardant.
Once the helicopters evacuated the area, firefighters quickly took action, chopping away at underbrush and cutting down trees with chainsaws to eliminate the fire’s fuel source. One firefighter coordinated with the helicopters, directing them on where to drop their loads. This coordinated effort continued until the fire was extinguished, with firefighters visibly exhausted, their yellow jackets marked by ash and dirt.
To the west, at the Palisades fire, Desrosiers worked from a sprawling incident command post, the largest she had ever encountered. This extensive post stretched for miles along the beach and housed numerous fire engines, mobile kitchens, tents, repair shops, storage facilities, and even medical personnel.
“Seeing how everyone collaborates to maintain the operation smoothly is an eye-opener,” stated Desrosiers, whose role was to provide timely updates to both journalists and the public. Back in her home province of British Columbia, she typically worked alongside just one other public information officer, but at the Palisades fire, there were almost 50.
During quieter moments at the command post, personnel exchanged stories, talking about the sense of community within the firefighting world. “It truly feels like a family here in the camp, with everyone having each other’s back,” remarked Desrosiers. Rotating through the same command post were firefighters from Oregon, like Sam Scott, who made his temporary home in nearby Santa Monica. They would stop by to collect batteries, grab meals, and take what Scott described as an eight-pound lunch bag prepared for a full 24-hour shift.
As Scott worked tirelessly in devastated neighborhoods, his focus was to defend homes that survived and to search for any lingering flames or hot spots. He navigated through the ashes of once-thriving homes, with only charred chimneys and burned-out cars remaining. “Thinking about the memories associated with a family home makes it emotional,” he said, momentarily choked up. “It’s a weighty feeling for someone who has lost everything.”
After long shifts, firefighters would retire to clean and mend their gear before collapsing into sleeping bags for rest. For Tapia, a member of Mexico’s National Forestry Commission fire brigade, the weary expressions of U.S. firefighters were evident upon his arrival at camp. He remarked that the Mexican team brought energy and determination to support their U.S. counterparts, lifting spirits during these challenging times.
