Lorenzo Lamas slams California officials, LA fires ‘could have been avoided’
Lorenzo Llamas has criticized California’s bureaucracy for not having a plan of action before the Palisades Fire ravaged his hometown.
Llamas, 66, who was born in Santa Monica and grew up in Pacific Palisades, said the Los Angeles fire could have been avoided with better disaster preparedness.
The “Falcon Crest” actor was outraged at the loss of life in the fire and questioned how much could go wrong.
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Lorenzo Lamas reprimands city officials for lack of preparedness against LA fires. (Getty Images)
“The fire was absolutely devastating. My four daughters are in Los Angeles, and they’re all fine,” Lamas told Fox News Digital from his home alone as he recovers from hip surgery. “I have friends who lost everything. You know, Vernon Welles from ‘Mad Max,’ he and his wife Grace were in the Palisades — they lost everything.”
“It makes me angry because I see it as something that can be avoided.”
Lamas added, “I’m going to go out on a limb and tell you that a year after this happened … we probably would have had a different set of circumstances. At least, I think Los Angeles was a little better. It is set a year after the current one and I am talking from the management level.
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Llamas, like other locals, watched news broadcasts during the disaster to see if his childhood home was still standing.
Lorenzo Lamas rose to fame starring in the hit 80’s show “Falcon Crest.” (CBS Photo Archive)
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“It’s absolutely devastating, and it pisses me off to no end that we weren’t prepared for it,” he said. “I could go into a whole list of things.
“It’s absolutely devastating, and it pisses me off to no end that we weren’t prepared for it.”
“I’m just praying for the people affected by this fire who lost everything – them, their families, the families of the people who were lost. It’s just, it’s an absolute disgrace.”
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The “Renegade” star recalls growing up on the beach and how disaster preparedness was part of his childhood.
“I’ve lived in Southern California for most of my life, 50 plus, 55 years, and we’re used to … we used to dive under the desk for earthquakes at school, but we never thought a fire would be at this level of danger,” Lamas said. Only the lack of it is alarming.
Lorenzo Lamas is “praying” for friends and family affected by the Los Angeles fires. (Gilbert Flores)
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“Every season there is a fire in the city we know. Why don’t we have enough water to fight these fires? You know, they are talking about the pump pressure not going up to the pipe. Give me a break. You know, there was not enough water in the water tanks.
The Palisades Fire has burned 23,713 acres and is now 19% contained, the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection reported Wednesday. Since the fire broke out on Tuesday, January 7, eight people have reportedly died, and more than 2,100 buildings have been destroyed or damaged.
“It’s just the lack of preparation. I’m telling you, it’s just the lack of preparation that’s shocking.”
Less than 30 miles away, the Eaton Fire that started in Altadena on Jan. 7 has burned 14,117 acres and is now 45% contained. 16 people were confirmed dead and more than 4,600 buildings were estimated to have been damaged or destroyed.
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Although Llamas spent decades in Los Angeles, he now calls Idaho home. He recently had hip replacement surgery after years of arthritis.
“It was bone on bone for about a year, and I just didn’t practice because of the lack of mobility,” Lamas said. “I’ve always been active and it was time. So, I had my hip replaced at Northwestern Orthopedic in Spokane, Washington – Dr. Jay Wojcik – Great sports medicine man… Actually, I’m doing well.
He relied on his daughter Alexandra for extra help in the recovery process, “It’s important for everyone to have that support at home.”
Llamas celebrated his first wedding anniversary with his wife, Kenna Nicole Scott, in October. After dating for five years, the couple regularly boast about their love for each other on social media.
Lorenzo Lamas and former model Kenna Nicole Scott celebrated their one-year wedding anniversary in October. (Gilbert Flores)
He admits that there is a secret to not damaging their union and staying connected.
“Communication, understanding…I would say forgiveness is a big part of it,” Lamas said. “Also, not guilt. Because in a relationship, there are two people, and it takes two people to make it or break it. And if you always want to blame each other for this and that, you will never go. Do you know that peace?
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