‘Recipe for disaster’: Mass. firefighters closely tracking out-of-control wildfires in California

MIDDLETON, Mass. — More than 7,500 firefighters are deployed across southern California to battle the flames from devastating wildfires driven by ferocious winds that have killed five people, ravaged communities, and sent thousands fleeing their homes.

Chief Fire Warden with the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation Dave Celino said there’s no immediate plans for Massachusetts firefighters to head to California, however, they start paying very close attention when they see events like this ramp up.

Celino said there’s a national system among local, state, and federal agencies and orders will go out when there’s a need for resources.

As southern California drains its capacity, more firefighters will come in from areas closer to California.

Celino said it’s the new normal that fire seasons are occurring anywhere any time of the year.

“We have sent crews to California in the past. A lot of times we end up in northern California and kind of that rugged country. But we’ve sent our interagency crew to almost every part of the country over the last since 1985, really, you know, the Appalachians, southwest, Rocky Mountain area, you know, so there’s a long history of us sending those resources,” he said.

Celino also said Los Angeles is facing the perfect alignment for a disastrous, catastrophic event.

“They’re seeing those winds are lined up perfectly coming through the Santa Ana mountains. The Santa Ana winds get dried out. They come out of those out of that mountain range rung out of any moisture. And so they hit those fuel types you know in and around that LA County area with 80 to 100 mph winds, single-digit humidities, and then that’s just the recipe for the disaster that they’re facing,” he added.

Celino said compared to the New England brush fires from last fall, fuels were super dry but there was not single-digit humidities.

They’re also seeing structure-to-structure ignition.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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