Episode 1: Get the Boys Ready
As the nation watched in shock and horror as the Palisades Fire brought Los Angeles to its knees, a group of civilians stepped up to defend their home turf. The Community Brigade Program is a first-in-the nation experiment that trains everyday people to work alongside first responders during disasters. Host Adriana Cargill takes us into the heart of the deadly Palisades Fire to ride alongside two childhood friends hellbent on saving the place they call home.
Episode Transcript →
Episode Notes
Community brigade members on the PCH in Dukes Parking lot at 1:40pm on January 7, 2025 mustering to organize, break up into groups and head into different neighborhoods to evacuate residents. The group's number one priority is life safety so they spent days evacuating an estimated hundreds of residents from the Palisades, Topanga and Malibu neighborhoods.
Brigade members pictured from left to right: David Barton, James Dragonas, Gabe Frolick, Michael Capello, Shea Broussard and David Hertz.
Photo Credit: Clay Bush
The Palisades Fire coming down Las Flores Canyon headed to the ocean at 11:33pm on January 7, 2025. When the community brigade was evacuating people in this neighborhood late in the night this is what they saw advancing towards them.
Photo Credit: Keegan Gibbs
A home burns in the The Palisades Fire on January 7, 2025.
Photo Credit: Connor Nelsen
The Palisades Fire burns into the hills of the Pacific Palisades on January 7, 2025.
Photo Credit: Clay Bush
Homes burning along the PCH on Jan 7, 2025.
Photo Credit: Clay Bush
A community brigade member watches the fire burning in Temescal Canyon from Tyler Hauptman’s backyard on Jan 7, 2025.
Photo Credit: Tyler Hauptman
A community brigade refurbished Type 6 truck from Point Dume, Malibu. Evacuations were the number one priority for the brigade on the night of the fire.
Photo Credit: Connor Nelsen
Community brigade member Aron Marderosian laying out hoses to get ready to put out hotspots.
Photo Credit: Connor Nelsen
Aron Marderosian (left) and Keegan Gibbs (right) during the early hours of the Palisades Fire.
Photo Credit: Connor Nelsen
Sources:
The 24 Hours When L.A. Went Up In Flames - The New York Times
Palisades Fire Incident - The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE)
Progression Map - The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE)
National Weather Service Warning on Jan 3rd of Critical Fire Danger - LA Times
$300 Million Turned to Ash: See How These Malibu Beach Homes Were Wiped Out - Wall Street Journal
See How Surfers Are Helping The Firefighters And Their Communities In South California - CNN
Los Angeles Palisades Fire Explodes To 770 Acres In Hours - KTLA 5
Los Angeles County Fire Department V-1 Audio Feed., Jan 7, 2025 First 12 Hours Of The Incident From 10:30am-10:30pm