In the last week you may have come across discussion of the ongoing wildfires in Los Angeles – whether in the news, on social media or during dinner time conversations. At the time of writing, 24 people have been confirmed dead, over 150,000 people have been evacuated and around 40,000 acres have been burnt. The largest of the fires (the Palisades fire and the Eaton fire) can even be seen from space, having been identified from satellite images.
Wildfires need fuel, oxygen and heat to ignite and spread. LA has experienced only 0.16 inches of rainfall since October, leaving an abundance of dry and flammable material to fuel the fires. The offshore Santa Ana winds have provided plenty of oxygen and accelerated the spread of the fire by blowing it forward. LA’s climate is also classed as Mediterranean, and whilst the region is expected to have a rainy winter, it maintains relatively warm temperatures all year round. Moreover, 2024 was the first year to pass the 1.5C global warming limit above pre-industrial levels and was the hottest year on record. The triggers of these wildfires have not yet been identified, but with no reports of lightning, arson and utility line faults are being investigated.
With a population of 3.8 million (2023), urban sprawl, a lack of vegetation clearing and an inadequate water system, LA was left vulnerable to the wildfires. California Governor, Gavin Newsom has been blamed by President-elect Donald Trump for LA’s struggle to maintain water supply, although Trump’s claims appear to have limited evidence. Among the thousands of homes lost, celebrities such as Mel Gibson, Paris Hilton and Miles Teller have been featured in the media with both support and controversy. Jamie Lee Curtis has been criticised for comparing the LA fires to Gaza and other ‘war torn’ regions, with people arguing that her comments ‘lack sensitivity’. Whilst the celebrity attention of this crisis has been important in spreading awareness and driving fund relief, it should not be forgotten that there are many people affected by this disaster who won’t have the same level of economic support. Testimonies from people affected really drive home how devastating and historic this fire is, with it being described as “truly apocalyptic” with “literally nothing to go back to. No home, no library, no store… no community centre”.
Destruction follows destruction and unfortunately people often benefit from these situations. Around 20 people have been arrested for looting evacuated homes, with two of them dressed as firefighters in an attempt to deceive authorities. Hotels and landlords are also profiting from the situation with enormous, illegal price hikes. According to California law this so-called “price gouging” (adding more than 10% to pre-disaster prices) can result in sentences of up to a year in prison. LA real estate mogul and Selling Sunset star Jason Oppenheim has condemned such actions, offering to represent people who have lost their homes for free.
Evidently, there are some selfless people trying to help, whether that be the firefighters themselves, volunteers at relief centres or families and friends taking in the displaced. Almost 1000 prison inmates involved in the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation programme are aiding in fighting the fires – although this kind of labour can be controversial. Prison firefighters earn just $10.24 per day which is less than the hourly minimum wage in California. Nonetheless, their support in tackling these fires is critical to the protection of thousands of people and property. Hundreds of pets have been rescued from the streets by volunteer workers, and GoFundMe pages have been flooded with support. I only hope this catastrophe serves as a continued reminder that action in fire prevention, education and climate change mitigation needs to be faster and more robust to prevent future tragedies.