The greater Los Angeles area of California has been suffering from wildfires since November of 2024, causing detrimental effects to the community and its residents. Despite extensive efforts from the firefighting department and government officials, the more damaging of the fires—notably the Pacific Palisades fire— have only been partially contained.
Los Angeles’ large population is densely packed along dry wild lands, cultivating the ideal conditions for a wildfire. Although lightning strikes are a common cause of wildfires in the U.S., the more common and destructive fires are started by human activities. Authorities investigating the Palisades fire believe it may have originated on burned ground from a previous New Years fire sparked by fireworks, but they have yet to conclusively determine the cause. In 2024, human recklessness was the cause of about 95% of California’s 8,024 wildfires. Climate change has also influenced the rise and severity of wildfires by creating a drought and wildfire cycle that is affected by climate variability. As temperatures have risen due to greenhouse gasses accumulating in the atmosphere, weather conditions become warmer and drier which extend the fire season. Climate change also contributes to stronger winds and less rainfall which hinder fire fighting abilities. Additionally, the upcoming Santa Ana winds,dry winds that originate as a result of high pressure over the Great Basin and blow northeast towards the coast, pose a significant threat to Southern California. These winds are expected to both spread and increase the severity of the wildfires in their path. Santa Ana winds are tied to some of the worst wildfires in California history as their strong gusts are prone to knocking over power lines and their dry air plummets humidity levels.
California is one of the most fire prepared states in the U.S., so why have recent fires been so devastating? Due to the persistence of wildfires, California officials are extremely diligent about preventative measures and have implemented policies regulating housing materials, fortifying communities and creating a forestry and fire protection department. However, due to the housing crisis, neighborhoods are built in dangerous areas surrounded by vegetation which serves as dry fuel for fires. These communities are also difficult for first responders to reach as they are in remote locations with roads that are not suited for rescue vehicles. Additionally, many fire hydrants in the area of the fires had run dry which is due to the hydrants connections to a water distribution network of pipes that are fed by local distribution water reservoirs. Despite controversial claims blaming the government, the lack of water is not a shortage but a storage issue as the local reservoirs had reached full capacity. Due to increased demand the local hydraulics systems were not prepared for the exhaustive fire and water pressure in fire hydrants dropped which blocked firefighters access to them.
Los Angeles communities are facing ongoing repercussions as almost 1 in 10 residents have lost their homes and over 12,000 structures have been destroyed. Angelenos lifestyle’s have been uprooted as many have been forced to leave behind their possessions and are unable to attend school or return to work. The devastating effects of these fires have left over tens of thousands of people displaced and at least 27 people dead.
Firefighters from Oregon to Texas and crews from Mexico have joined in the battle against the ongoing fires and further assistance has been found in California inmates who volunteer to participate in the efforts. However, with unpredictable weather and the continued appearance of new fires it is unclear when the wildfires will die down. Meanwhile, California officials work to find solutions to the housing crisis which has been exacerbated by the fires. Plans to rebuild the Pacific Palisades are underway, yet despite the emergent need for houses, urban planners are hesitant and suggest changes need to be made in order to protect the residents from future disasters. Relief charities that support wildfire victims include the Red Cross, the California Community Foundation and the LAFD Foundation.
