As you may have heard, Los Angeles, California, has caught on fire recently, becoming one of the most destructive wildfires in California history. This tragedy has sparked interest in climate scientists across the nation, like Alexandra Syphard, a Conservation Biology Institute research ecologist who said, “I do not believe there is anything that wildland management could have done to qualitatively or substantially alter the outcome of these fires.” This quick-spreading fire has expanded to over 9,400 acres within hours, driven by strong winds and dry brush that serve as fuel. Southern California, in general is incredibly susceptible to catching on fire due to several factors, including its naturally dry climate, flammable vegetation like chaparral (thick, tangled shrubs and thorny bushes), strong winds like the Santa Anas, and prolonged droughts which leave the landscape highly susceptible to flames. This combination of dry fuel, hot weather, and strong winds creates optimal conditions for wildfires to spread rapidly and intensify. Together, let’s find out more on how these fires started, and what you can do to help.

Los Angeles has a mix of vegetation, including grasses, shrubs, chaparral, and tumbleweeds, with many blaming poor plant management for the disaster. These plants are highly flammable, and the lack of rain in LA made the fire even more severe. Daniel Swain, a climate scientist in Los Angeles, told the New Yorker that even a tiny amount of rain would have been able to prevent such “explosively dry vegetation,” one of the key causes for these drastic fires. 

Similarly, the harsh Santa Ana winds were also to blame for the tragedy. Santa Ana winds are dry, warm, and gusty, which blow inland from Southern California toward the coast opposite the usual onshore flow that carries moist air from the Pacific. Santa Ana winds occur when high air pressure builds over a large desert area called the Great Basin, which overlaps into many western states. This dry air moves in a circle and heads toward Southern California. As it travels, it has to squeeze through mountains that separate the desert from the cities near the ocean. Like water speeds up when it rushes through a narrow space, the wind also speeds up as it moves through mountain passes and canyons. As it comes down from the mountains, it gets even drier and warmer, making it intense and hot when it reaches the coast. These winds are incredibly dangerous as they end up significantly decreasing humidity levels in the area, drying out vegetation and making the surroundings highly flammable, leading to high-risk wildfires. 

This fire is unlike any in the past, primarily because it is happening in winter (due to the Santa Ana winds), when most fires on the West Coast take place during the summer. Additionally, many outlets and researchers, such as Ian Sue Wing, a professor in economic analysis of energy and environmental policy, says that much of the fire is fueled by infrastructure such as buildings. These researchers strongly argue that mitigating the risk of highly destructive wildfires in Los Angeles cannot be achieved by trimming vegetation, as the abundance of densely packed buildings, their materials, and urban infrastructure contribute significantly to the overall fire hazard. They emphasize that structural vulnerabilities, combined with extreme weather conditions, play a crucial role in the rapid spread and intensity of wildfires, making it essential to address both natural and built environments in fire prevention strategies.

Overall, the wildfires in Los Angeles are absolutely heartbreaking, and the dry climate of Los Angeles is to blame. Dry plants, strong winds, and drought make fires more likely, but buildings and infrastructure also play a significant role in how fast they spread. Many people in Los Angeles are struggling, with thousands losing their homes and unsure how to return. If you’re able, Los Angeles would love your help and support. At the bottom of this article, you'll find a link to LAHSA for information on resources and donations, along with a link to the California Fire Foundation, where you can contribute to help those in need.

A satellite image of a neighborhood in Los Angeles shows hundreds of homes engulfed in flames from California's wildfires. (Maxar Technologies/Handout via Reuters).

Please donate if you can!

https://www.lahsa.org/newsArticle/resources-to-support-those-during-the-la-fires

https://www.cafirefoundation.org/

References

AP News. “Wildfires: What Are California’s Santa Ana Winds? | AP News,” January 7, 2025. https://apnews.com/article/santa-ana-winds-california0b2c68cdc29a7c354238c6ccc09c830c.

McDonald, Jessica. “What We Know About What Led to the L.A. Wildfires - FactCheck.org.” FactCheck.org, January 17, 2025. https://www.factcheck.org/2025/01/what-we-know-about-what-led-to-the-l-a-wildfires/.

Bland, Alastair. “‘Literally off the Charts’: LA’s Critically Dry Conditions Stun Scientists as Fires Rage.” CalMatters, January 15, 2025. https://calmatters.org/environment/wildfires/2025/01/dry-danger-zone-california-fires-climate-change/.

Author. “Palisades Fire | CAL FIRE,” n.d. https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/2025/1/7/palisades-fire.

The Palisades Fire, captured on January 8th. As of January 9th, it remained 0% contained. Photo: CAL FIRE Official.