(NewsNation) — Kenichi Haskett, section chief for the LA County Fire Department, urged the public to trust emergency alerts despite a false evacuation warning sent to millions of LA County residents this week.
“Unfortunately, it went out,” Haskett told NewsNation’s “Elizabeth Vargas Reports.” “I hope people don’t avoid a warning. … If they see smoke, smell smoke, they should be at least ready and packed to go. You need to be packed and ready to go under a warning. Under an evacuation order, it’s time to go.”
“If it helps save your life,” Haskett added, “protect your loved ones, your children, and your animals, I’d rather err on the side of safety. Our goal is not to have erroneous alerts go out.”
More than 36,000 acres have been burned in total as wildfires continue to rage across the Los Angeles area, and at least 10 people have died. Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said Friday that 153,000 residents are still under evacuation orders, and 16,000 are under evacuation warnings.
The Biden administration detailed actions to support local firefighters. There are already five U.S. Forest Service air tankers in operation, and an additional one is en route. More than 20 federal firefighting helicopters are being used, and two air firefighting system units have been deployed.
There are also 10 Navy helicopters with water buckets en route to help with aerial suppression efforts. Colorado has also announced it will be assisting.
Click here to view the LAPD’s interactive evacuation zone map.
