As hundreds of firefighters continued their efforts Tuesday to fully extinguish the La Tuna fire, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a state of emergency declaration, which will help access state and federal aid. The motion, introduced by Supervisor Kathryn Barger, also directs the Department of Public Works to continue to repair and reinforce roads, drainage systems and other infrastructure in the area, in anticipation of the upcoming rainy season.
“With the significant loss of vegetation, the risk of downstream flooding, debris flows, and mudslides will become sharply escalated during the upcoming rainy season,” Barger said in her motion. “Now is the time to prepare in order to protect life and property this winter.”