Is Los Angeles County Ready For What Comes After The Fires?

LOS ANGELES, CA — The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors asked firefighters, public health officials and public works employees Tuesday to assess the county's readiness to deal with the consequences of extreme weather, including wildfires.

Supervisor Hilda Solis called for the report.

"It is clear that extreme weather conditions are a byproduct of human- driven climate change, and abnormal weather is the new normal," Solis said. "Historically, Los Angeles has been known for our idyllic weather, but the Creek Fire, Rye Fire and the Skirball Fire are stark reminders of humanity's fragile coexistence with nature."

While the focus has been on fighting fires in a season without a rain storm, it will soon shift to the dangers of mudslides and debris flow, Solis said.

A report from the Office of Emergency Management, the Chief Sustainability Officer, Fire Department, Department of Public Health and the Department of Public Works is expected back in 30 days.

City News Service; Photo: A motorists on Highway 101 watches flames from the Thomas fire leap above the roadway north of Ventura, Calif., on Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2017. As many as five fires have closed highways, schools and museums, shut down production of TV series and cast a hazardous haze over the region. About 200,000 people were under evacuation orders. No deaths and only a few injuries were reported. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)