Local News
Several residences on fire from the Pacific Palisades Brush fire in California
“Firefighter down” reported by Los Angeles fire department amid pacific palisades wildfire.
LOS ANGELES, CA — Southern California is grappling with a potentially destructive windstorm, raising the risk of wildfires across the region.
The National Weather Service (NWS) has described the conditions as life-threatening, with gusts peaking at 80 mph and isolated mountain areas experiencing winds exceeding 100 mph.
The storm has fueled a wildfire in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, prompting evacuations and an all-out emergency response.
The Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) is battling the Palisades Fire, which broke out in the foothills of this coastal neighborhood.
As of Tuesday afternoon, the fire has led to chaotic scenes, with people abandoning vehicles and fleeing on foot. The LAFD reported a “firefighter down” incident and confirmed that people were trapped in the affected area.
Evacuation orders have been issued for residents in the wildfire’s path. The LAFD advised:
“Pack all people and pets into your vehicle and leave the area immediately. If you are not in the mandatory evacuation zone, stay off the roads to allow first responders and evacuees to move quickly.”
An evacuation center has been established at the Westwood Recreation Center, located at 1350 South Sepulveda Boulevard.
The Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) has temporarily relocated students from three campuses in the Pacific Palisades area.
Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) declared a citywide tactical alert to assist with evacuations and firefighting efforts.
While there are no confirmed reports of injuries or structural damage at this time, authorities are bracing for further challenges as the wildfire spreads.
LAFD Capt. Erik Scott highlighted the urgency of the situation:
“We threw everything we had at it really quick. We knew that if we didn’t get it in 20 minutes, it would grow to hundreds of acres and become nearly impossible to control, even with a significant initial attack.”
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass acknowledged the coordinated response in a statement, noting that strike teams had been pre-deployed in anticipation of the high winds.
Firefighters from Los Angeles County, Los Angeles City, and Ventura County are working together, utilizing the region’s extensive aerial firefighting resources.
The NWS has issued red flag warnings, effective through 6 p.m. Thursday, for multiple areas, including:
- The Malibu coast
- Santa Monica Mountains Recreational Area
- San Gabriel Valley
- San Fernando Valley
- Santa Clarita Valley
- San Gabriel Mountains
- 5 and 14 Freeway corridors
These warnings underscore the heightened risk of wildfires due to the extreme winds and dry conditions.
Residents across Southern California are urged to remain vigilant and follow evacuation orders promptly.
Those outside the evacuation zones are advised to avoid travel in impacted areas to ensure emergency vehicles and evacuees can move freely.
The cause of the Palisades Fire remains under investigation, but authorities stress that conditions are ripe for additional fire outbreaks.
Los Angeles County residents “can really be proud that we arguably have the largest initial attack of aviation resources in the United States,” Capt. Scott added, emphasizing the robust mutual aid between local and regional agencies.
Further updates will be provided as more information becomes available.
UPDATE: Search efforts have been suspended following the sinking of the commercial fishing vessel Lily Jean off the coast of Gloucester, Massachusetts, marking another tragic loss for the city’s historic fishing community.
The U.S. Coast Guard was alerted early Friday morning by the vessel’s emergency beacon after it activated in the water; no mayday call was received.
Responders located a debris field, an unoccupied life raft, and one deceased individual in the water.
Six other crew members remain missing and are presumed lost after an extensive air and sea search yielded no additional results.
The Coast Guard cited frigid water temperatures, challenging weather conditions, and the vast search area in its decision to suspend operations.
GLOUCESTER, Mass. — Authorities have identified all seven individuals who lost their lives after the commercial fishing vessel Lily Jean sank approximately 25 miles off Cape Ann, Massachusetts, early Friday morning, marking a devastating loss for Gloucester’s historic fishing community.
The Lily Jean, a commercial fishing vessel measuring between 72 and 80 feet in length and homeported in Gloucester—the nation’s oldest working fishing port—activated its emergency position-indicating radio beacon (EPIRB) at approximately 6:50 a.m. Friday while returning to port.
No mayday call was received, and subsequent attempts to contact the vessel were unsuccessful.
The U.S. Coast Guard immediately launched a large-scale search and rescue operation, deploying an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter and multiple surface assets to the area of the distress signal.
Crews located a debris field and an unoccupied life raft roughly 25 miles offshore near the EPIRB activation site, confirming the vessel had sunk to the ocean floor. One deceased individual was recovered from the water.
The remaining six crew members were later presumed lost after extensive search efforts yielded no additional results.
Officials confirmed that seven people were aboard the vessel at the time of the incident, revising earlier reports that indicated six.
The seven individuals who perished aboard the Lily Jean are:
- John Paul Rousanidis, 33, of Salem/Peabody, Massachusetts
- Sean Therrien, 44, of Lynn/Peabody, Massachusetts
- Freeman Short, of the Marshfield/Scituate area
- Captain Gus Sanfilippo, a well-known and respected Gloucester fisherman
- Paul Beal Sr., deckhand
- Paul Beal Jr., deckhand and son of Paul Beal Sr.
- Jada Samitt, 22, of Virginia
Jada Samitt, the seventh crew member identified, was serving aboard the vessel in the role of a federal fisheries observer with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). She had recently relocated to Massachusetts to pursue her passion for environmental biology, graduating last year. Family members said joining the Lily Jean crew was her first major professional role at sea and a lifelong dream.
Her aunt, Heather Michaels, described Samitt as a compassionate and driven young woman who deeply respected her captain and dedicated herself fully to her work. “She put her heart and soul into this opportunity,” family members said, noting her commitment to marine conservation and the fishing community.
Officials said the Lily Jean had reported taking on water shortly before contact was lost.
The vessel is now presumed fully submerged.
The tragedy has sent shockwaves through Gloucester’s close-knit maritime community.
Ashley Sullivan, a local business owner who knew the vessel’s owner, emphasized the daily risks faced by commercial fishermen. “I hope people really take a moment to understand the sacrifices these men and women make to put food on our tables,” she said. “This is heartbreaking.”
Massachusetts State Senator Bruce Tarr also expressed condolences, highlighting Gloucester’s deep fishing heritage. “Gloucester has a long fishing history, and that history includes tragic loss,” Tarr said. “It appears we are experiencing another of those painful chapters.”
Governor Maura Healey released a statement saying she was “heartbroken over the devastating news out of Gloucester,” adding that her administration has offered full assistance to local officials and the Coast Guard. She extended prayers to the victims’ families and the broader fishing community across Cape Ann and the Commonwealth.
Community members and local businesses have continued to share messages of remembrance and solidarity. Taylor Hunt, a relative of Freeman Short, posted a tribute honoring the crew, writing in part: “The salt has been in our blood for generations… A man is not lost while the sea remembers his name. Fair winds and following seas.”
The Lily Jean had previously been featured on the History Channel series Nor’Easter Men, which documented the dangers and demands of New England’s commercial fishing industry.
While search operations have concluded, the Coast Guard and relevant agencies continue to review the circumstances surrounding the sinking. Officials have stated that further updates will be released as additional information becomes available.
Authorities have urged the public to keep the victims’ families and Gloucester’s fishing community in their thoughts and prayers during this period of profound loss.