Malibu beach camp houses firefighters to battle LA wildfires Climate crisis news

A huge village has sprung up on the golden sands of Malibu Beach to house thousands of firefighters.

Firefighters from across North America eat, sleep and recuperate at Zuma Beach as they battle wildfires across Los Angeles.

About 5,000 first responders were mixed in trailers and tents. The campground comes alive before dawn, with thousands of people lining up for breakfast.

Dozens of fire battalion standards marked the presence of teams of firefighters from California and across the American West, as well as newly arrived Mexicans.

For many people, breakfast is the most important meal of the day, an opportunity to replenish calories before a shift.

The meals were prepared by a group of inmates at a California prison who were brought in to help deal with one of the largest disasters the state has ever seen.

Terry Cook, a correctional officer who oversees inmates at the base, said he occasionally sees a familiar face among rank-and-file firefighters, people who are getting back on track after serving their time.

“I met prisoners in my camp two years ago and I saw them lining up here and I shook their hands and said 'congratulations,'” he said.

Two fires in Los Angeles have burned 40,000 acres (16,000 hectares) since breaking out in high winds last Tuesday.

The fires have killed at least 24 people, destroyed more than 12,000 structures and forced 92,000 people to flee their homes, including in affluent Pacific Palisades just miles from a firefighter camp.

After breakfast, teams prepare their vehicles and prepare snacks, sandwiches, drinks and sweets.

With large swaths of the region facing the threat of dangerous winds, some units are tasked with extinguishing new outbreaks while others are tasked with extinguishing the initial fires.

Upon receiving the order, each team sets off, fanning out along the streets into Pacific Palisades or into the pristine brush of Topanga Canyon.

For some, this is their first time fighting a fire; for others, it’s just another day in a long week.

As Jake Dean prepared to climb into Mandeville Canyon, he said he had never seen a fire so destructive in his 26 years as a firefighter.

“After the first day, many of the people I had known at base camp for a long time barely recognized me,” he said. “My phone doesn't recognize that I'm on and I'm tired and dirty.”

But with the massive air operation bogging down on all fronts, Dean can feel his work is paying off.

“Today won't be that bad,” he said. “We're going to pace ourselves, drink a lot of water, and be ready for the long haul here and for the next fire.”