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L.A. Fire Chief: Palisades Fire is "One of the Most Destructive Natural Disasters" in the City's History; Five Major Fires Burning Across L.A. County as Thousands Flee; L.A. Co. Sheriff: Unclear How Many People have Died in Fires; At Least 2,000 Buildings Destroyed, Unknown Number of People Dead as L.A.-Area Wildfires Continue with 0 Percent Containment; Rep. Brad Sherman (D-CA) Discusses About California Wildfires; L.A. Mayor: Budget Cuts Didn't Contribute to Magnitude of Disasters. Aired 3-3:30p ET

Aired January 09, 2025 - 15:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

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[15:00:41]

BORIS SANCHEZ, CNN HOST: Thank you so much for sharing part of your afternoon with us. I'm Boris Sanchez alongside Brianna Keilar in our nation's capital.

And right now, Los Angeles County is bracing for a return of intense wind as it endures one of the most destructive wildfire outbreaks in its history. The largest, the Palisades fire, has charred some 17,000 acres, and that is just one of five wildfires ravaging one of the most populated areas in the country.

Winds are slightly down compared to yesterday, but all the fires are still far from full containment. The Eaton fire, notably, is responsible for at least five deaths.

BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN HOST: And the sheriff says that that number is tragically sure to go up. More than 180,000 people are under evacuation orders. The number of structures damaged or destroyed runs into the thousands. And for those whose homes were spared, they're grieving for the neighborhoods that are now ashen wastelands.

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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: My home is standing, but it's one of the few homes in the area. And I have a lot of guilt about that because I have a lot of people that I care about in the community that are just completely devastated. Some neighbor that I've never met before came, and we just hugged and cried. Never met each other before, but we just shared that same pain and just the question mark of what's coming next. We have no idea. We're going moment to moment right now.

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KEILAR: CNN's Julia Vargas Jones is in Altadena, California, where five people, again, confirmed dead so far. And, Julia, as we mentioned, that number is expected to grow. Officials have not been able to move through these homes at this point. Tell us how things are there right now.

JULIA VARGAS JONES, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes. Look, part of that thought process, Brianna, is that they just need to see what is it that they come back to. This is what people are coming back to. A lot of it is this, just entire blocks of homes destroyed. It's quite jarring. We've been moving around Altadena today, trying to see what the situation is like in different parts of town to kind of get a sense of, you know, how widespread is this, where is it, what does it look like. And this is - we've seen this over and over again. But, you know, on the other side of the street, we have homes that are fully untouched. I won't say untouched. We really don't know the situation of these homes on the backside, but they look perfectly fine.

So, yes, I think people are coming - trying to come back home and trying to assess the situation. And we're just beginning to understand what is it that happened here, how bad it really is. And officials were saying earlier today, it's not just people's homes, it's infrastructure, it's transportation, it's power lines. Look, like, down the street, we've just seen all these downed power lines, a lot of them have been cut off. We know there's about 215,000 people - households, I should say - are without power. Half of those are on purpose, especially to avoid those kinds of new sparks that could spread this fire.

And another thing is that we're hearing now that the winds are expected to pick back up later today and into the weekend. Meteorologists are telling us that that could also mean that we're really far from being out of the woods, Brianna.

SANCHEZ: Julia, obviously it's still very early, but we know that officials have begun the process of investigating what sparked these fires. What can you tell us about that?

JONES: Well, we know that the Eaton fire, which - it started in, you know, up in this area, the mountains. There's probably a wall of smoke behind me, so you can't quite tell. But this is where it came from, right? And it spread into this area.

We are hearing from authorities that there are arson investigations in the Palisades fire. They have a team of over 20 investigators looking into what is it that could have caused the fire that is the largest of the fires, of the five fires burning now in the Los Angeles area and one of the most devastating in the whole history of California, Boris.

[15:05:03]

SANCHEZ: Julia Vargas Jones, thank you so much for the update from Altadena.

We want to discuss some dramatic video that was captured as someone was apparently fleeing the Palisades fire. It shows traffic as this person was fleeing the fire. Chris Reid captured the footage and joins us now live from West Hollywood.

Chris, thank you so much for being with us.

I understand you evacuated to a hotel in West Hollywood. How are you holding up?

CHRIS REID, EVACUATED PACIFIC PALISADES HOME: I'm doing well, was able to check out the place today. I'm lucky that our place is currently still there and safe, but, you know, only time will tell. We just got to keep holding out - hope.

SANCHEZ: When did you first realize that you had to get out? What was it that got you moving?

REID: Honestly, I left for work like 8:15 that morning. By 10:30, my boss came in my office and was like, hey, is your neighborhood okay, and then I looked up and had to rush home because the dog was there.

SANCHEZ: And talk to us about that process when you got there and had to get your dog out. What was that like for you?

REID: I mean, it was sitting in bumper-to-bumper traffic on PCH. I finally was able to get into the Vons on PCH and Sunset, and I just started walking up. And, yes, I'm up in the Highlands and it's, you know, a three - three-and-a-half-mile, four-mile walk. And luckily there was a landscaper heading back the other way because we have a fire road exit that was shut off because of the fires, but was able to catch a ride with them.

SANCHEZ: And what's going through your mind as all of this is happening? I mean, how - do you imagine that your neighborhood might endure something like this? Some of these scenes just appear to be out of an apocalyptic movie.

REID: Yes, I mean, you never expect it. You live in California, so, you know, there's a possibility, but I don't think that's any way someone lives their life is expecting something to happen. You just kind of deal with it as it comes by. And, you know, I was able to check it out today and just the scenes in the Palisades is unbelievable.

SANCHEZ: Yes, relieved ...

REID: You know, my heart goes out to the community.

SANCHEZ: Yes, no doubt. I'm relieved to hear that. It sounds like your home is relatively intact. I understand that the Santa Ana winds are going to pick back up this weekend. Do you have a plan if conditions worsen?

REID: I mean, right now, the Highlands is on lockdown. The cops have it on lockdown. There's security watching everything. So I don't know when we can go back. And my place is okay right now, but we don't know how these things change, how the wind's going to change, how's it going to affect fire movement.

But, you know, I really - I would love to, you know, call on our leadership in the town to get a plan in order. It was a bit alarming when Mayor Bass had her press conference this morning and had no idea what was going on in the Highlands and it's where the fire started. So, if - you know, I know everyone's dealing with something, but if the community could call on Mayor Bass, call on our Councilwoman Traci Park, we need some water drops up here.

SANCHEZ: Chris Reid, thanks so much for sharing your experience with us.

REID: Appreciate you.

KEILAR: For now, the response is pushing firefighting crews to the breaking point. With us now is Kenichi Haskett, Los Angeles County Fire Department Section Chief, who is assigned to the Palisades fire.

Can you talk to us a little bit about it? You just heard from a Palisades resident who's saying they need fire drops. Can you give us sort of a real-time idea of what's happening up there and kind of speak to that concern? We're not there. You are there. He's there.

SECTION CHIEF KENICHI HASKETT, LOS ANGELES COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT: Chris, I'm glad he got out safely. That was our first and foremost task, to make sure everyone got out safely, and alive and unharmed. Unfortunately, we did have several injuries to both firefighters and personnel.

To directly address Chris' question and your question, we have both fixed wing and rotary wing flying. We had them flying until the winds were reaching in excess of a hundred miles an hour at those ridge tops. So, at this time, we have over 2,300 firefighters here. We're getting more, not only throughout the state of California, but throughout our bordering states. So we have firefighters coming in from out of state.

So we're getting there as fast as we can. We urge people to please stay out.

KEILAR: Yes. And we saw you have them from out of country as well, coming in from Quebec and other parts of Canada, which is really amazing that they're coming to help. Can you talk to us about the winds, where things stand right now with getting those aircraft up?

[15:10:04]

The limiting factor on some of the aircraft, are any of them up and what you're seeing for the prognosis of more winds coming?

HASKETT: Yes. So aircraft, we have both rotary wing and fixed-wing. When the winds sustain to those levels, those hundred to 60-mile-an- hour levels of winds, that makes it - aircraft can't fly in those type of conditions. It's dangerous. They can crash.

But right now, we're taking advantage of the weather. We got aircraft up all last night. We had over seven helicopters flying throughout the night. Today, we have all our fixed-wing and rotary wing that we can get up.

Today, though, unfortunately, this afternoon, here in the next couple of hours, winds are supposed to start increasing back to those ridge top reaching, according to the National Weather Service, up to 60 miles per hour. KEILAR: And so, obviously, that's going to be the limiting factor there. Tell us, how are the fire crews doing? They have been so taxed now, going days into this?

HASKETT: We had guys coming off the line today that went up on initial attack. That means the first call to service, the 911 calls that came in at 10:30 on Tuesday morning, that just came off the line today. They're exhausted. We ask people when - something I would love - like to stress is when we issue an evacuation order, we need people to be leaving. When we issue a warning, we need people to be ready to go. That doesn't mean you get ready. When a warning is issued, you need to be ready within minutes to evacuate your home, taking all your pictures, your medications, your pets, your animals, everything.

So - but we have over - and we're getting firefighters, like you mentioned, not only out of state, but out of the country and we will definitely take that help and we'll put them on the line.

KEILAR: Yes, no doubt. And Chief, earlier, the L.A. Fire Department said that arson investigators are actively looking into the Palisades fire. Is there reason to believe that this was arson?

HASKETT: For - most - statistically 90 percent of wild land wind- driven fires, unfortunately, are human-caused. So, I'll leave it at that, statistically. They will investigate that. That will be released as soon as possible. But again, we want to urge your viewers to please stay out of the area, let my firefighters get in there to work, and get this fire out as soon as possible.

KEILAR: And can you talk to us a little bit about, if you could, the Eaton fire? Because we're talking now about five people who are confirmed dead, but the expectation is that's going to grow, and I think a lot of folks are concerned it could grow dramatically. I mean, we just know -even anecdotally, talking to people, talking to our reporters who live not far from there, they know people in those neighborhoods who are disabled, and they have not been able to confirm that they got out. This is a picture of the Eaton fire that we have up right now. Can you speak to that and the concerns about casualties?

HASKETT: We don't want casualties. Our number one priority is to make sure life - that people, animals, pets, your loved ones get out safely. We are answering 911 calls, unlimited amount - over a dozen 911 calls during the evenings and the afterhours through Tuesday night into Wednesday morning to get people out, at least of the Palisades fire.

It's a tragedy when people get injured, let alone they lose their lives. But to speak to your point specifically, it's tragic. We have our deepest sympathy for those families and my condolences.

KEILAR: Yes. No, it's horrible. Chief, thank you so much. We certainly appreciate the update. Not great news about the winds, but hopefully they'll die down soon. Thanks for being with us.

HASKETT: All right, thank you. KEILAR: So, here's how to help those who have lost so much to the wildfires. You'll find groups to contribute to by going to cnn.com/impact or texting wildfires to 70-70-70.

And still to come, more coverage of the catastrophic wildfires in Los Angeles. We'll ask a congressman who represents the area how the federal government is helping those impacted.

SANCHEZ: Plus, the body of President Jimmy Carter is returning to his hometown of Plains, Georgia, after an emotional state funeral in Washington.

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JOE BIDEN, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Today, many think he was from a bygone era, but in reality, he saw well into the future.

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SANCHEZ: We're live outside Carter's hometown church, where a private burial service will begin later this afternoon.

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[15:19:24]

SANCHEZ: At any moment, President Joe Biden is set to call our next guest as firefighters battle five different fires in the Los Angeles area. Let's get straight to Democratic congressman Brad Sherman of California. He represents a large portion of L.A. County, including the Pacific Palisades.

Congressman, thank you so much for being with us.

Obviously, we'd be in the way of this call from President Biden, so feel free to interrupt if you have to. I wonder, what are you going to share with President Biden? What are you going to ask for?

REP. BRAD SHERMAN (D-CA): Well, first, I'm going to thank him for making the major disaster declaration that's going to help people in all these fires in L.A. County.

[15:20:06]

And thank him for the emergency firefighting grants as well. I've got to ask him, first, to try to get the money obligated in the remainder of his presidency, as much as he can. Usually, these things - you know, you have to - I know everybody's focused on the emergency here, but the rebuilding is going to take months and years. And we do have funds in FEMA that could be obligated so that Trump can't mess with them starting January 21.

And second, I'm going to ask him for an emergency supplemental. I don't think we can pass that in Congress or will in the next couple of weeks, but giving his imprimatur to that is going to be so important. This is not only the most costly fire in American history; it's more costly than the other 10 fires that you would list. This is a - the Wall Street Journal has already done an analysis showing a $50 billion cost and the fire isn't contained yet.

So this - we have to meet people's emergency needs. We have to hope that we do not see any fatalities in - from the Palisades fire. And our heart goes out to those in the Easton fire that have lost loved ones. But this is going to be a multi-year project. The whole town is mostly burned down.

SANCHEZ: Congressman, it strikes me that you seem to have concern that President-elect Trump might - I think you described it as "mess" with FEMA funding that could negatively impact your community. How real is that concern? Speak to that.

SHERMAN: You just never know what Trump is saying seriously and what indicates just kind of a proclivity. But if you - and I'm sure you've shown your viewers the tape of him speaking in October, where he says, well, if there are disasters in California, we'll just tell them to - you know, we're not going to help.

And that is obviously of concern. I hope it's not true. There's a lot of bluster from President-elect Trump, and let's hope he wasn't taking himself seriously. But as a representative for this area, I have to worry about the fact that maybe he's being serious.

SANCHEZ: Sure. Congressman, I've seen a number of claims on social media about fire hydrants running dry in Pacific Palisades. You brought up President-elect Trump and what he's been sharing on social media. He's echoed some of those, also repeating criticism of state and local officials and the lead up to these devastating fires. Do you understand what happened with those fire hydrants? Could that have been prevented?

SHERMAN: Yes. Look, we have enough water in Los Angeles. We're all taking showers this evening. Getting huge amounts of water into the Palisades and having the water pressure be significant is difficult. And the system was not designed to deal with this unprecedented fire. You - it's easy now to say it should have been. But there are three million - I think it's million-gallon tanks that are created in order to have the water flow down from the tank and give you the pressure throughout the Pacific Palisades. And this was an unprecedented event and those tanks that provide the water pressure were fully exhausted.

We are bringing in the water now. And more importantly, we're bringing in the firefighting planes and helicopters that do the huge water drops. So, this system was not designed for the biggest fire in American history - bigger than the next 10 combined.

And as we deal with climate change, we're going to have to engineer not only for the things we know, but things that might be 10 times bigger than what we're familiar with.

SANCHEZ: Yes. Some of those images out of Southern California are just staggering. I do have to ask you about the approval of a budget cut of $17 million for the L.A. Fire Department. L.A. Mayor Karen Bass has been criticized for that cut, as well as being outside of the country when these fires broke out. What do you make of those criticisms? Do firefighters have what they need? And how much did those budget cuts potentially affect their response?

SHERMAN: Well, the budget cuts relate to money that's going to be spent in 2025 and were chiefly for training. And I'm pleased to have gotten the federal government to give us a new site that we're going to use for firefighter training in my district.

[15:25:06]

I would expect that there will be appropriations at the L.A. City level for our firefighters that go beyond what they've done so far. Looking back, it'd be - obviously, you can say we should have done - you know, these cuts, I think, will be reversed and should be. And they were perhaps ill-advised. But they're not a reason why the Palisades have suffered this. This was money to train people in 2025. And if, for political reasons, you can explain that that somehow affects firefighting on the ground now, then you're - I don't know how you would do that.

As to her being out of the country, yes, this is a - there's a lot of wind now. I'm sure that when she made these plans, there wasn't wind. It's hard to predict wind. And if you were to tell a mayor of Los Angeles, never leave town if there's something on the list to worry about, this is a big city. This is the biggest county in the country by far. There's always something to worry about.

So you can say that the mayor should never leave town. The fact is that people who are on the ground that dealt with this issue were there. They're doing an excellent job. Again, this is a bigger fire than America's ever seen.

SANCHEZ: Congressman Brad Sherman, we'll let you get to that call with President Biden. Please do let us know if there's any message you want us to get out.

SHERMAN: I think it's great that he is taking another opportunity to express his concerns to the people of my district and of Los Angeles in general. And he has already done an excellent job of providing federal assistance, not just at the present time, but to put us on the road to recovery in the years to come.

SANCHEZ: Please extend him an invitation to CNN NEWS CENTRAL. The President is more than welcome to come on anytime to answer our questions. Thank you so much, Congressman.

SHERMAN: Good.

SANCHEZ: Stay with CNN. We're going to take a quick break. We'll be back in just moments with live coverage of the apocalyptic scenes playing out in Southern California.

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