Just two weeks into 2025 and two of the most tragic natural disasters in U.S. history already occurred. Two California blazes in the Palisades and one in Eaton killed 29 people as well as incinerated over 37,000 acres of land.
While the main cause of these fires is still unknown, California is home to many mountain ranges including the Santa Ana mountains. These mountains create very powerful winds that move from high to low pressure, leading them to drive towards the Southern California Coast. These winds cause outbursts in fires like the recent ones in California. According to the University of California (www.universityofcalifornia.edu), the region sees about 10 Santa Ana wind events a year, typically occurring from fall to January. When conditions are dry and humid, as they are right now, these winds create a severe fire hazard. All of these factors play a big role in why the damage has been so catastrophic.
Another big issue is finding a way to fully contain these fires and stop them from spreading. When a fire breaks out, the usual response from local fire departments is to create a perimeter and attempt to contain the fires. But with dry 10%-humidity levels and windstorms that gust up to 100 miles per hour, these methods have little effect on the ferocious blazes. According to Time magazine, as of January 14, only 18% of the Palisades fires have been contained and only 35% of the fires in Eaton were contained (time.com).
These fires have had substantial effects on many Americans. Over 30,000 structures including homes, schools, and businesses were consumed by these formidable fires, affecting thousands of people living in the area. Talia Lawrence, age 32, of Loz Feliz shared her experience living near the fires and how she had to evacuate from her home. “My initial reaction was shock! It was scary to hear about friends and family having to leave their homes, and their homes possibly being lost. The shock turned into panic when I had to pack up and evacuate. It was surreal to throw my most treasured items in a bag and leave town,” Lawrence expressed. Evacuation orders like this are customary for residents in Southern California. The air pollution was terrible, making it very difficult for Californians to breathe. Lawrence revealed the severity of the air conditions: “It was so hard to breathe in Los Angeles, and I was getting bloody noses and headaches from the air.” She expressed her sympathy for the many affected: “I felt sad that so many people do not have a place to escape to or were not able to do so because of their circumstances.”
Californian Johnny O’Hara, age 43, also spoke about the tragedy that has impacted so many lives. O’Hara explained, “Many of my friends have lost their houses completely. They are currently living in hotels, waiting to see what they can recover from the wreckage. I’m afraid these strange windstorms will happen again, but we hope the current fires are contained soon and that more efforts are put towards being able to handle this again.”
The families in dire situations need all the help they can get. There are so many organizations that are helping the thousands in need of shelter, clothing, and food. Representatives at the California Community Foundation, a non-profit specializing in helping Los Angeles communities through these troubling times, spoke about the ways they help people in need: “We help to provide housing for displaced individuals, and we also provide mental health services and case management to help rebuild communities after disaster. We also provide follow up medical care and supplies as well as upgraded support services for phone lines and safety equipment for first responders. Our fund seeks to support the most impacted and most vulnerable individuals.” When asked about ways people who want to help can contribute, a representative responded, “We accept monetary donations that go to our Wildfire Recovery Fund that goes straight to those affected by the fires as well as supporting firefighters and attending to the needs of the people that have been affected. All other information regarding the Wildfire Recovery Fund at www.calfund.org.”
Those who want to play a part in aiding California fire victims in need, there are many charities providing help, including the following:
American Red Cross (redcross.org): Assisting first responders, providing shelter, food, relief supplies, and medical care to wildfire victims.
California Wildlife Relief Fund (cafirefoundation.org): Providing food and emergency medical supplies to people and animals, supporting temporary shelter and emergency supplies to displaced families, providing support to front-line workers, such as meals and gas.
Delivering Good (delivering-good.org): Delivers critical supplies like socks, blankets, clothing, home goods, and other essentials to those in need.
Canine Rescue Club (caninerescue.club): Fostering and rehoming animals affected by wildfire displacement. We will continue to send our best wishes and prayers to all those affected by this disaster.
