As cautious optimism builds in the battle against this week's fires, concern continues to grow about the state fiscal crisis and its impact on California's world-class mutual aid system. As part of an ABC News report, CPF President Lou Paulson makes the case for a new state Emergency Response Initiative.
Oxnard firefighters Graham Dunbar and Guillermo Garay are being hailed as heroes after rescuing an injured motorist from his disabled vehicle seconds before it was struck by a fast-moving Metrolink train.
Two Tujunga Canyon residents were hospitalized after they tried to ride out the explosive growth of the Station Fire by hiding in a hot tub. Thousands others have been safely evacuated as the Angeles National Forest blaze grew to over 35,000 acres Sunday -- nearly seven times its size 24 hours earlier. Two LA County firefighters died Sunday battling the blaze. Nearly 2,000 firefighters are on the front lines protecting more than 12,000 homes.
Residents are returning to their homes in Santa Cruz County as the Lockheed Fire is now more than 80% contained. The blaze, which erupted Wednesday evening about 10 miles south of Santa Cruz, had burned more than 7,000 acres by Tuesday. Evacuation orders have been lifted for all but a handful of residents of Bonny Doon and Swanton. Evacuation orders have also been lifted in Yuba County in response to the Yuba Fire, which has charred more than 3,600 acres and destroyed five homes. And firefighters are also corralling the Central California LaBrea Fire, which has burned nearly 90,000 acres.
Los Angeles County Firefighters and the California fire service and our state grieves the loss of two LA County firefighters in the line of duty. The two were on the front lines at the Station Fire in suburban LA County area with heavy smoke with zero visibility when their vehicle crashed.