L.A. County fire chief backs training for residents to stay behind and defend homes from wildfires

Los Angeles —When wildfires threaten neighborhoods, the official directive is always the same: evacuate immediately.

But now, fire officials in Los Angeles County are starting to break from that long-standing message, saying some residents may be able to stay back and fight to protect their homes amid a growing threat .

"We've always told people that when the evacuation order comes, you must leave," L.A. County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone told CBS News. "We've departed from that narrative. With the proper training, with the proper equipment, and with the proper home hardening and defensible space, you can stay behind and prevent your house from burning down."

Marrone's stance may signal a shift in how officials talk about wildfire response.

After the flames ripped through the P