Southern California is facing its most devastating winter wildfires in over 40 years, an unusual occurrence for a season when such fires are typically rare.
Firefighters are at a critical juncture in their six-day battle against the deadly wildfires in Los Angeles. While crews have made progress, officials warn that the fire threat remains extremely high as dangerous winds are expected to return later this week.
At least 24 people are confirmed dead, and over a dozen remain missing as multiple wildfires, fueled by severe drought conditions and powerful Santa Ana winds, continue to devastate Southern California.
Approximately 105,000 people remain under mandatory evacuation orders, with an additional 87,000 under evacuation warnings.
This man saved a bunny from the Los Angeles fire. ? pic.twitter.com/vw1oTiGEzQ
— Tiffany Fong (@TiffanyFong_) January 11, 2025
California Governor Gavin Newsom has faced criticism following the wildfires, particularly after Newsweek reported that he had reduced funding for wildfire and forest resilience efforts by over $100 million just months prior to the disaster. This was followed by the Democratic leadership in California cutting the Los Angeles Fire Department’s funding by $17.6 million just months before the devastating wildfires struck.
Thousands of firefighters are battling several massive wildfires across 45 square miles in densely populated Los Angeles County. The largest blaze, the Palisades Fire in Pacific Palisades, has consumed nearly 24,000 acres, destroyed thousands of structures, and is only 11% contained. Meanwhile, the Eaton Fire in Altadena has burned over 14,100 acres and is 27% contained, while the Hurst Fire near Sylmar has scorched 799 acres and is 89% contained.
Mainstream isn’t reporting here but Los Angeles is on fire.? pic.twitter.com/oxpVbzMNrY
— TD Leaker (@TdLeaker) January 8, 2025
Jennifer K. Balch, a University of Colorado fire scientist, last October examined 60,000 fires that broke out in America since 2001 and found that the fastest-growing ones have more than doubled in frequency since 2001 and caused far more destruction than slower, larger blazes. She published her conclusions in Science Magazine (The fastest-growing and most destructive fires in the US [2001 to 2020]).
“The most destructive and deadly wildfires in US history were also fast,” Balch wrote. “Using satellite data, we analyzed the daily growth rates of more than 60,000 fires from 2001 to 2020 across the contiguous US. Nearly half of the ecoregions experienced destructive fast fires that grew more than 1620 hectares in 1 day. These fires accounted for 78% of structures destroyed and 61% of suppression costs ($18.9 billion). From 2001 to 2020, the average peak daily growth rate for these fires more than doubled (+249% relative to 2001) in the Western US. Nearly 3 million structures were within 4 kilometers of a fast fire during this period across the US. Given recent devastating wildfires, understanding fast fires is crucial for improving firefighting strategies and community preparedness.”
Humans are guilty but animals are not.
I am extremely sad for them. #LosAngelesFires #animals pic.twitter.com/kHEj3OUq0E— NatureNeedsUs??♻️? (@Nature_NeedsUs) January 11, 2025
The Eaton and Palisades Fires are considered to be the second and fourth most destructive wildfires in California’s history, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire). California’s unique geography and climate make it particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.
According to Fox News, California has enlisted the help of firefighters from Mexico and nearly 1,000 prison inmates to assist in combating the deadly wildfires ravaging the state.
As of Saturday evening, the Palisades, Eaton, Kenneth, and Hurst fires had burned approximately 62 square miles, an area larger than San Francisco, according to Cal Fire. The Palisades and Eaton fires, the two largest blazes, have scorched a combined 59 square miles.
