More than two dozen people are dead, that we know of so far.
Amid all that, Raines spoke with Deadline about what the past week has wrought.
So, my question is, what has the past week been like for you?
Dallas Raines on air in Los AngelesABC7 Los Angeles
DALLAS RAINES:Just doing my job, Dominic.
And thats the real key is try.
And, can we forecast well enough in advance without scaring people.
L.A. firefighters stand guard at a home on Mandeville Canyon Road in the Palisades Fire Jan. 11Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
DEADLINE:How do you mean?
I was saying, you know what, this looks really bad as far as damage.
That it was going to be an excessive Santa Ana wind event.
RAINES:To be honest, I really wasnt surprised about what happened.
It kind of goes back a ways, but it was so close to what we had this time.
DEADLINE:Density certainly has proven an issue.
RAINES:Well, I think that you gotta listen to a credible source.
Nowadays, there are people out there on the internet that have all kinds of information.
You have people forecasting.
Now, what their credentials are, we never know, nor their experiences.
check that that the information that theyre getting is correct and coming from a credible source.
So, I think thats a concern.
But it is also true that these fires are not new to Southern California.
With varying degrees, they happen several times a year and have for decades …
RAINES:Yes.
When I first arrived in Southern California, I was really shocked at two things.
That every year the Santa Ana winds come, a fire is ignited.
It burns up peoples homes, and we start over again.
DEADLINE:What would those two things be?
Now I know, people say thats inconvenient.
Itll be a slight inconvenience.
Close down the main canyons.
You cant close down everything, but you’re free to close down the main roads.
So, close down the major canyons, and then get individuals working with their communities.
DEADLINE: How so?
Have them do a community watch.
They can just come up and say, hey, its red-flag warning you cant be up here.
Look, nobody loves hiking more than I do.
DEADLINE:So, where do we go from here, once we get past these next few days?
RAINES:Well, the population will continue to increase, for one.
I predict too that they will completely rebuild Pacific Palisades.
RAINES:Why not?
Its the most beautiful area in the world, and people want to live and enjoy that.
So, these two things I think would happen would really help.
I think youd see a major drop in these types of outbreaks.
It wouldnt completely eliminate them, but I think youd see a tremendous drop in these fires.
DEADLINE:Well, that would be good.
