New Wildfires Reported in Los Angeles County as October Storm Approaches and Rebuilding Continues

Multiple new wildfires were reported across Los Angeles County this week just as an October storm began moving toward Southern California. On Oct. 22, the Sacramento Bee reported both the Sunset Fire and another new wildfire in Los Angeles County. Those reports followed earlier wildfire activity in the county during the week, with the Sacramento Bee reporting a new wildfire in Los Angeles County on Oct. 19 and Hoodline reporting a new wildfire in the county on Oct. 20. The recent conditions also prompted scrutiny of local emergency readiness: on Oct. 22, the Los Angeles Times examined how Los Angeles performed when facing its first fire weather since failures in the Palisades fire.

Local and state leaders are pursuing policy and operational changes following earlier wildfires. According to an announcement from the office of Los Angeles County Supervisor Lindsey P. Horvath, Supervisor Horvath is leading a motion to carry out a wildfire after-action recommendation to replace the Los Angeles County dispatch system. Meanwhile, financial and legal questions from past fires remain under review across California. National Mortgage Professional reported that California is probing lenders over delayed wildfire insurance payouts, and the Sacramento Bee reported that a utility leader urged California lawmakers to find a "durable" solution on wildfire liability.

In communities damaged by earlier blazes, recovery is still in its initial stages. The Los Angeles Daily News reported that a new survey says only 1% of survivors of the Palisades and Eaton wildfires have returned home. For residents working to reconstruct their properties, The Cool Down reported that Los Angeles wildfire survivors are able to rebuild 10% bigger and still have fees waived or refunded. Local organizations are also participating in the recovery: the Rams reported that Quentin Lake joined Habitat for Humanity Greater Los Angeles to help rebuild the Palisades.

Changing weather could soon affect fire conditions across the region. Earlier this week, The New York Times reported that a storm would bring rain to California, and FOX Weather reported that much-needed rain was set to soak the state. By Oct. 22, NBC4 Los Angeles reported that Southern California faces risks of downpours as the October storm moves in, while the Los Angeles Times examined what the rain means for Southern California's fire season. Along the coast, hazardous surf is already creating problems for residents: the Los Angeles Times reported that waves are battering the peninsula in Long Beach, noting that the situation was described as "quite shocking" and is about to get worse.