The hurricane-force firestorm that ravaged areas of Los Angeles this January was historic in size and scope. It required an equally impressive response and recovery effort.
As the state’s leadership hub during all major disasters and emergencies, the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) responded, directed, and coordinated state and federal resources, and out-of-state mutual aid assets to the incidents throughout Southern California.
Cal OES also supported the City and County of Los Angeles by facilitating the ongoing response to their emergency and through the recovery phase. During this process, Cal OES is the state’s overall coordinator and agent to secure federal government resources through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA.)
It’s a massive undertaking and the statistics are only beginning to add up for the All-in State Response.
Story by the Numbers
Cal OES activated hundreds of personnel, coordinated ALL 200+ state agencies, and deployed hundreds of thousands of protective measures.
DMV: 4393 services provided
CDSS: 1,817 services provided
EDD: 2,366 services provided
CDPH: 2,062 services provided
CDFA
- 1,377 pets have been reunited with their owners.
- 220 animals remain sheltered in the Los Angeles region.
- Efforts are ongoing to reunite these animals with their owners or provide a new home for them.
Coordinated Actions Governor Newsom has Taken
- 16,000+ Firefighting and first responder personnel deployed
- 15 Executive orders signed
- $2.5 billion in Disaster relief package signed into law
- 7 of 8 schools have resumed instruction.
- 5 of 9 water systems are fully restored with water safe to drink
- $64.3 million in federal individual assistance disbursed
- 550,000 visits to CA.gov/LAfires hub
- 1,200+ federal hazmat crews in the field
- 8,148 properties assessed for hazardous materials
- 1,632 properties approved for next phase of debris removal
- 7,156 Right of Entry (ROE) forms submitted
- 18,273 visits to Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs)
DRC #1 UCLA
- Weekly total 464 customers assisted and 310 transactions completed.
- Total for DRC #1 since opening, 2,135 customers assisted and 1,647 transactions completed.
DRC #2 Pasadena
This DRC closed at the end of the day on Friday, January 31, 2025.
- Total for DRC #2 while opening, 2,389 customers assisted and 1,752 transactions completed.
DRC #3 Altadena
- Weekly total 541 customers assisted and 403 transactions completed.
- Total for DRC #3 since opening, 805 customers assisted and 604 transactions completed.
CHP
- 800+ officers deployed on Tactical Alert from 1/9 through the morning of 1/18.
- 372 damaged/destroyed vehicles were removed from roadways in the affected communities and stored.
- 20+ Special Response Team officers focused on looting prevention and patrol within affected zones were deployed on 1/15 and are still on patrol today, working 12-hour shifts (6a-6p & 6p-6a).
- 1,040+ enforcement contacts throughout fire zones with 3 arrests (2 for curfew/trespassing and 1 for active warrants)
CNG
- CNG has been supporting since day 1 and still has approximately 1,000 troops on active missions in LA.
- 2,525 service members from the Cal Guard (Army, Air, State Guard). About 1,800 of those were performing consequence management operations in support of the CHP, LA County Sheriff’s Office, LAPD, and other local law enforcement agencies.
- Over 100 traffic control points at both Palisades and Eaton fire incidents.
- 11 total helicopters (ten Type-1 for water drops) and one Type III Helo (nighttime helicopter coordination)
- 8 C-130 Modular Airborne Firefighting Systems (MAFFS)
- 14 Type I wildland firefighting hand crews from our Task Force Rattlesnake activated and assigned to both fires under CALFIRE’s control.
- Debris Removal Task Force (80 personnel, heavy engineering equipment) to support debris removal operations in the Eaton Fire impact area. That task force removed and stockpiled 294,000 cubic yards of debris and created a water flow channel to ensure the proper flow of the reservoir basin. This project removed debris that had filled this area for over 35 years.
- Task Force Watershed. CNG provided a few dozen drivers to conduct transportation and logistical support at the Santa Monica Airport and the Santa Anita Racetrack vicinity for the Eaton and Palisades Fires supporting county recovery operations.
- Type II hand crews activated, trained, and deployed to the incident — 200 personnel, two force packages. TType IIs are the cold line crews, used for mop op.
DCA
- DCA’s Consumer Information Center (CIC) set up a dedicated toll-free phone number – 1-800-799-831 – and email CAFires@dca.ca.gov to streamline inquiries from affected licensees.
- CIC has fielded 65 calls specific to the LA fires; 49 general inquiries that were directed to the appropriate agency, and 16 for DCA boards and bureaus which were directed to the appropriate board.
- Investigators from DCA’s Division of Investigation (DOI) assisted two of CSLB’s SWIFT Teams with public outreach in areas destroyed by the Pacific Palisades and Eaton Fires. Working in partnership with the California National Guard, the teams posted signs alerting unlicensed contractors that it’s a felony to contract without a license in a disaster area. The outreach operation went very well and throughout the day, the teams connected with several homeowners and contractors.
- Feb. 6– As of 10 a.m., the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation (DFPI) has received commitments for mortgage relief from 418 financial institutions. The list can be found on the webpage: dfpi.ca.gov/lafires/relief.