Los Angeles Wildfires: Causes and Impact

January 10, 2025 – The ongoing wildfires in Los Angeles have claimed at least 10 lives, destroyed over 10,000 buildings, and forced nearly 180,000 residents to evacuate. The fires, driven by powerful Santa Ana winds, continue to rage despite efforts by thousands of firefighters. The fires have been fueled by dry conditions and record-low rainfall, exacerbated by climate change, with the Palisades fire being the largest, burning over 20,000 acres. Five major fires are active, with Palisades and Eaton being the most severe. The fires, especially in regions like the Angeles National Forest, have raised concerns about the strain on fire services due to budget cuts. Governor Gavin Newsom highlighted that the state faces “fire year,” not just a fire season, pointing to the growing role of climate change in intensifying these fires. Additionally, a drought that lasted decades has left the region vulnerable, with higher temperatures, prolonged dry spells, and low humidity contributing to the ongoing devastation. The wildfires have created severe public safety issues, leading to the deployment of the National Guard and numerous evacuations. With more dry conditions expected and winds continuing to stoke the flames, experts predict that the situation will persist for days. The linkage between climate change and wildfires is becoming increasingly clear, as experts call for urgent climate action to mitigate such disasters in the future.