OCFA chief details Orange County support for Los Angeles fires, warns of continued high winds

OCFA Division 1 Chief Craig Covey briefed the council on Orange County’s response to wildfire activity in Los Angeles and on local readiness.

Covey said Orange County sent strike teams, engines, mechanics, arson investigators and specialized canine teams to assist in LA and also staged local resources to cover the county. He said at the operation peak OCFA supported “up to 9 strike teams” and that Orange County coordinated mutual‑aid deployments while keeping a portion of resources available locally.

Covey described extreme wind conditions and the county’s prepositioning of resources. “We had winds that were 94 miles an hour on the day of the fire that started in LA,” he said, adding that sustained extreme winds can make firefighting ineffective until conditions abate. He also said OCFA had personnel on damage inspection teams and that two arson investigators were deployed as part of an ATF task force.

Why it matters: Covey’s remarks described both Orange County’s mutual‑aid role and the county’s own exposure to wildfire and wind risk. He said local staff and operations centers are staffed, multiple engines and helicopters are staged, and the county remained cautious for another 24–36 hours of strong winds.

Quotable: “We are very in tune with that,” Covey said of wildfire risk, and he noted the department’s recent investments, including additional aerial assets, when describing the county’s capacity to respond.

Ending: Covey closed by encouraging continued vigilance; the council later moved to schedule further briefing and coordination on fire resilience and preparedness.