Even a "typical" wildfire season can kill people and destroy homes. That was the central message from fire officials across Southern California at the 2026 Fire Season Outlook press conference on June 12, and it applies directly to residents in Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach, Redondo Beach, El Segundo, and Hawthorne.
LA County Fire Department Chief Anthony C. Marrone hosted the annual Region I Meeting at department headquarters, joined by leaders from CAL Fire, the U.S. Forest Service, the Los Angeles Fire Department, the Orange County Fire Authority, and the Ventura County Fire Department. The event showcased regional air and ground resources staged for deployment to high-risk areas.
"We will show up. We show up every time, across every jurisdiction ... That's not a question," said Los Angeles City Fire Department Chief Jaime Moore at the press conference. But without defensible space at individual homes, Moore said, it becomes "very difficult for us to be able to combat those fires."
A wet winter doesn't mean a safe summer
Fire weather analysts predict coastal Southern California will see a typical wildfire season after an unusually wet winter, according to the Los Angeles Times. But officials stressed that dry conditions through June are drawing down fuel moisture, and that fire danger remains serious through September even in a "typical" year.
Mid-May fires already proved the point: the Sandy fire in Ventura County destroyed one home and damaged two more structures, and a blaze on Santa Rosa Island burned through a third of the island.
What residents should do
Fire officials at the June 12 press conference outlined specific steps for homeowners:
- Cover vents with mesh to block embers from entering the home
- Install multi-paned tempered windows less likely to shatter in extreme heat
- Clear dead vegetation from yards
- Maintain spacing between shrubs and trees
- Create a 5-foot buffer around homes with nothing combustible, including plants
Officials also urged residents to sign up for evacuation alerts through their local fire department and to evacuate at the sight or smell of smoke, even without an official order.
Local connections
LACoFD directly serves Hawthorne through contract services, operating Station 161 at 4475 W. El Segundo Blvd. El Segundo, Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach, and Redondo Beach maintain their own fire departments, but the regional outlook and preparedness guidance applies across all five cities.
Fourth of July raises the stakes
The outlook arrives with the Fourth of July weekend days away. Nearly 85 percent of wildfires are caused by people, and the number of fires spikes every year on July Fourth because of the sheer volume of ignitions, according to the Associated Press.
Personal fireworks are banned across South Bay cities. Illegal fireworks in Southern California have caused fires and serious casualties, including a July 2025 explosion in Pacoima that engulfed four homes and killed one person, the Los Angeles Times reported.
Residents can download LACoFD's Ready! Set! Go! Wildfire Action Plan at fire.lacounty.gov/rsg/ for detailed home-defense guidance. To report illegal fireworks, contact your local police department's non-emergency line.
