The Wire - January 9, 2025

//The Wire//2300Z January 9, 2025//
//ROUTINE//
//BLUF: CALIFORNIA WILDFIRES CONTINUE TO SPREAD.//

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-HomeFront-
Texas: Overnight an electrical substation caught fire and exploded in Fort Worth. AC: Right now it is not clear as to if this incident was an accident or the result of a malign actor.

Virginia: Shortages of bottled water have been reported as the water crisis in Richmond continues. So far, no solid timeline for repairs has been provided, and the boil-water advisory continues (though right now the biggest concern is not contamination, but access to water outright).

California: Wildfires have continued to expand in the vicinity of Los Angeles. The Palisades Fire alone has burned over 17,000 acres. Most of the larger fires also remain at zero percent containment. Following the larger Palisades, Hurst, Woodley, Eaton, and Bridge Fires, dozens of smaller fires have been deliberately started by homeless persons or mentally unwell individuals who have settled throughout the area.
Access to water continues to be a difficulty for firefighters during this crisis, along with the rapid nature of smaller fires spotting across roadways and in random places.
Regarding the damage so far, most of the Malibu waterfront is gone as the Palisades Fire has grown. In the north, the Eaton fire has consumed much of Altadena, making progressing overnight south towards Pasadena, and east towards Sierra Madre.

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Analyst Comments: As with most wildfires that achieve significant press coverage, arsonists usually make an appearance as well to add to the chaos. As of right now, this does appear to be occurring with the Los Angeles fires as well, to some degree. Most of the smaller spot fires have emerged suspiciously close to major roadways, as is in line with well-known practices used by arsonists to rapidly infiltrate and egress from an area they wish to target.

Analyst: S2A1
//END REPORT//