LA County Fire strike teams spends night at Malibu ranch and ready to dispatch

La County fire crews are gearing up for a long night. The county is adding extra staffing during Red Flag conditions.

"This is the driest, windiest conditions we've had this year. This is extreme. " according to LA County Fire Chief Mark Whaling.

Five engines along with some 22 strike teams are spending the night at King Gilette Ranch in the Santa Monica Mountains.

"Sometimes on strike teams we get sent out and we sleep on our cots in the brush... And so here we get to bunk up... There's bathrooms we get to wash up as well." said firefighter Tim Hast.


The ranch owners offered the property to firefighters for free. A place to sleep but these crews are also ready to mobilize at any moment.

"Dispatch will contact us... We'll load up within minutes and be ready to respond. Any place here in the Santa Monica Mountains.... Some place in the county or any place in the state." said, chief Mark Whaling.


Red Flag Warnings remain in effect for the Southland until Wednesday evening. Aready, fires have sparked up due to the windy, dry conditions.

Crews in granada hills battled a series of fires this morning including two along the 1-18 freeway and one near Hansen Ham.

In Rancho Cucamonga fire burned near the 15 and 210 freeway shutting down the 210 as crews battled the smoke and flames.

And in Ojai, firefighters battled a 150 acre brush fire that broke out near highway 33 and Casitas Vista Road.

La County Fire chief Mark Whaling says SoCal residents need to be ready for anything.

"We need them to be ready set go... To have an evacuation plan and prepare to move at a moments notice should a wind driven fire be threatening their home." Chief Mark Whaling.