The January 2025 Southern California wildfires are becoming a historic event.
Since Jan. 7, fires have raged in Southern California. As of writing, there have been over 40,000 acres burned, over 12,300 structures destroyed and at least 27 people killed with dozens more still missing.
On Jan. 10, a health emergency was declared in the Los Angeles County due to the fire events and windstorm conditions.17 million people are under a windblown dust and ash advisory, but residents at risk can get free N95 masks at L.A. public libraries.
Of the 30 fires that were active, 25 have been contained. The two largest ones, the Palisades and Eaton Fires, as well as three smaller blazes, are still active.
The Palisades Fire has burned more than 23,000 acres threatening the suburban neighbourhoods Brentwood and Encino, and the commercial city neighbourhood Westwood. As of Jan. 15, the blaze was only 18 per cent contained.
Southern California is facing “extremely critical fire conditions” caused by the Santa Ana winds, with windspeeds recorded as being up to 70 miles per hour (about 112 kilometres per hour). That is about nine-tenths as fast as a hurricane.
Meteorologist and climate journalist Eric Holthaus said in a BBC interview that the winds not only help spread the fire but also make it difficult for aircrafts to safely get above the fires to drop loads of retardant and water. The lack of precipitation combined with the warm winds also further dry out the vegetation, allowing any sparks to grow into full-on fires.
Although there is no lack of water for the firefighters to use, the dry vegetation is the main problem, making kindling out of dry grass, brush and trees. The weather forecast does not expect any rain until the end of January, possibly into February, which is a huge concern and very unusual considering this is usually the peak of the rainy season in Southern California. Holthaus said this is the driest start to the rainy season on record, “revealing some climate change signals.” Holthaus predicts this weather will likely continue for several weeks.
Evacuation orders are in effect for about 92,000 residents and 89,000 are in evacuation warning zones, meaning they are advised to be ready to leave at a moment’s notice.
Among the firefighters risking their lives to contain the wildfires are about 950 inmates from California’s prison systems.
The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation’s (CDCR) Conservation Fire Camp Program allows incarcerated individuals to shorten their sentences by working as firefighters. This is not an uncommon practice in the United States. The inmates make up about 30 per cent of California’s wildfire-fighting force and are paid about $10 per day.
This has become a very controversial topic, with some inmates accusing the state of exploiting a vulnerable population and others insisting it is a great voluntary opportunity for them to give back to the community. Other people in the community have questioned the ethics of the choice to volunteer for the program given the perks of reducing inmates’ sentences and criminal record expungement. California Fire Public Information Officer John Clingingsmith Jr. assures that certain convictions disqualify inmates, including violent crimes and arson.
Roadblocks and patrols by the National Guard have increased in the devastated areas, with more than 60 arrests made in evacuated areas mainly for looting and burglary according to BBC News. Elsewhere, price-gouging and scamming have also been reported according to CBS News.
With thousands of homes destroyed and more still at risk, many families are left with nowhere to go. A New York Times article describes evacuees scrambling to find places to sleep in shelters, hotels and even cars. A lot of people evacuated so suddenly that they have nothing but the clothes on their backs. Rehousing people will take months if not years, said Democratic Congresswoman Judy Chu to BBC News.
According to Global News, officials say they are better prepared going into the second week with crews from across the U.S., Canada and Mexico in place. In the third week however, stronger winds are expected.
CBS News assures the public that the Grammy Awards, scheduled to take place in Los Angeles in February, will not be cancelled or postponed, “but instead will refocus on fire relief efforts.” The Recording Academy will be raising funds to support wildfire relief efforts and honour firefighters and other first responders.
Some people are accusing Los Angeles firefighters of being too slow and weak in their initial attack of the Palisades Fire, which many say was due to understaffing. Whether having more firefighters on scene at the beginning would have made a difference is unknown. The cause of the Palisades Fire is still being investigated.
Some celebrities who live in Los Angeles have made major donations to L.A. fire relief and rebuilding efforts. Jamie Lee Curtis, Beyoncé, Paris Hilton and Leonardo DiCaprio have each donated between $100,000 and $2.5 million, according to a CNN report. L.A. County also reports that there has been an overwhelming flow of generosity as individuals and charities across the country donate. In-person donations are currently at capacity, but the county recommends making monetary donations to organizations dedicated to emergency work like Emergency Network Los Angeles.
As this tragedy is still ongoing, the exact number of victims and structures destroyed is currently unknown.