| 1.16.25

Thousands Displaced as Climate Change Fuels Wildfire Catastrophe in Los Angeles

Are you concerned that climate change threatens your home?

It's been a week of unprecedented destruction in Los Angeles. So far the Palisades, Eaton and other fires have burned 35,000 acres, destroyed or damaged over 12000 structures, forced the evacuation of hundreds of thousands of people and resulted in at least 25 deaths.

Although the proximate causes of the Palisades, Eaton and other fires are not yet known, the underlying conditions that set the stage for this disaster are undeniable. Scientists have long warned that climate change would fundamentally alter California's fire regime. Rising temperatures, shifting precipitation patterns, and more frequent extreme weather events have created conditions that amplify fire risks. 2020 was an especially devastating year when 4.1 million acres of California burned in 5 of 6 largest wildfires in state history.

This year, during what is typically its rainy season, Los Angeles has received only 1.25 percent of its normal precipitation since summer. This stands in stark contrast to Northern California, parts of which have been inundated with back-to-back atmospheric rivers. The swings of the pendulum are wide. At the start of 2024, 96% of California was free of drought. By contrast, according to a report released by the US Drought Monitor this week, currently 59% of the state is in drought conditions. Perversely, the high rainfall of the last two rainy seasons in California has also contributed to the risk and severity of wildfires by encouraging rampant growth of natural grasses in remote areas which ultimately dry out and provide ample fuel for fires.

On January 7, Los Angeles' parched conditions met with a wind storm of disastrous intensity. The Santa Anas, desiccating warm winds that typically blow from the desert over the mountains to the coast in the cooler months, are well known to Southern Californians. With wind speeds typically between 40-65 mph, the Santa Anas have always presented a fire danger. They increase the possibility of a fire sparking by lowering humidity and drying out vegetation, and if a fire does start, the winds can quick spread a fire by carrying embers great distances. The path of the Santa Anas is usually narrow and long. However, on Tuesday the National Weather Service warned that an unprecedentedly strong and widespread wind event was on the way with wind gusts possibly reaching between 80 and 100 mph.

By the time the blazes sparked, the winds were so strong that firefighting aircraft could not be safely scrambled, leaving the battle entirely to firefighters on the ground contending with a municipal water system that was designed to fight house fires rather than wildfires. In Pacific Palisades, the lack of fire suppression from the air may have also contributed to the fire hydrants losing pressure and going dry after hours of extreme water demand.

It is not yet known whether climate change is affecting the intensity of the Santa Ana winds, but it is clear that the cycles of the extreme weather that California has been experiencing are producing conditions that magnify the fire danger of winds. As the fires rage on, the true extent of the destruction will not be known for weeks but one thing is certain— thousands of Los Angelenos are now climate change refugees, facing the loss of their homes, places of work, schools and neighborhoods.

Donate Now to Help Los Angeles

Los Angeles Fire Department

https://supportlafd.org/

California Fire Foundation

https://www.cafirefoundation.org/

California Community Foundation Wildfire Recovery Fund

https://www.calfund.org/funds/wildfire-recovery-fund/

LA Food Bank

https://www.lafoodbank.org/

Baby2Baby

https://donate.baby2baby.org/give/648067/#!/donation/checkout

World Central Kitchen