Is Orange County Ready for its Next Wildfire?

Is Orange County Ready for its Next Wildfire?

Is Orange County Ready for its Next Wildfire?


Although Orange County California has the potential to go up in flames the way Los Angeles did in early 2025, the Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) is doing everything it can to be prepared.

The concern is if the weather will cause a new spark in Orange County and how aggressively it would burn.

Thanh Nguyen

OCFA Captain Thanh Nguyen

The red flag warning issued by the National Weather Service is mainly for everything in inland Orange County,” Orange County Fire Authority Captain Thanh Nguyen told OrangeCountyLawyers.com. “We’re encouraging everyone to be vigilant and not do anything outdoor activity-wise that may actually cause a spark.

Wind-fueled wildfires struck certain enclaves in Los Angeles on Jan. 7. Since then, an estimated 28 people have died and thousands of homes have been destroyed.

CalFire estimates that some 57,000 acres in Southern California have burned in the month of January so far.

During red flag conditions, Nguyen asks that residents be more aware of their surroundings.

It’s a partnership,” Nguyen said. “When it comes to public safety, everybody has to do their part. If you’re doing any outdoor activity, make sure it’s not going to contribute to what’s happened so far.

Risky activities include throwing a cigarette butt into dry vegetation after it’s been smoked or operating gardening tools that may cause a spark. Vegetation, also referred to as fuel, includes grass, bushes and trees.

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Orange County has had several fires in Mission Viejo, Lake Forest, Aliso and Woods Canyon but because of an increase in fire authority staffing, the flames have been contained. The goal is to keep 95% of the fires to 10 acres or less, according to Nguyen.

We’ve recalled people to make sure that those stations are covered,” he said. “We’re increasing staffing with fire engines and heavy equipment. Our hand crew is increasing their staffing hours so they’re around the clock. We have all three helicopters on duty 24 hours. That’s in addition to what we normally do.

Weather Plays a Critical Role in Wildfires

Overall, however, the threat of fire danger is unpredictable day to day because it depends on the weather.

There are different elements that go into a wildfire,” Nguyen said. “If the fuel is dry, it’s going to be more susceptible to burning than when it’s wet. Wind will not only lower the relative humidity, but also cause the fire to accelerate a lot quicker.

Part of the problem has been a lack of rain, but recent showers have helped.

Intermittent rainfall swept through Southern California over the weekend but by the start of the week, there were muddy landslides and some flooding.

Rain is critical,” Nguyen added. “When we are facing drought conditions, no rain just makes the fuel more susceptible to the drawing [of a spark.]

The fire authority isn’t missing anything, in particular, such as equipment, personnel, water storage or infrastructure.

The OCFA is fortunate to be a well-resourced all-risk fire department that is prepared to quickly and efficiently respond to any and all emergencies,” Nguyen added. “Like all agencies, we continuously seek to build on that excellence with additional training and equipment but there are no specific needs at this time.

Photo of fire truck produced by Google ImageFX

Juliette Fairley
Juliette Fairley

Juliette Fairley covers legal topics for various publications including the Southern California Record, the Epoch Times and Pacer Monitor-News. Prior to discovering she had an ease and facility for law, Juliette lived in Orange County and Los Angeles where she pursued acting in television and film.

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