According to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, the first fire broke out in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles at 10:30 a.m. local time on January 7. Investigators are still trying to figure out the exact cause of this terrible wildfire, but a combination of factors created the ideal conditions for a fast and fierce fire.
California typically experiences wildfires in June and July, and they can last until October, but this year, the wildfires broke out in January – the coldest month of the winter.
Southern California, where the wildfires occurred, has been experiencing drought conditions and has not had significant rainfall for months. According to the US Drought Monitor, last year, less than 4% of California was affected by drought, while this year the rate is nearly 60%. The EPA report found that climate change has contributed to the increased frequency, duration and extent of wildfires. Dry conditions caused by Santa Ana winds – hot, dry winds common in the region – are likely to have fueled the wildfires.
Dry desert air moves from the interior of the region to the coast and offshore. It contributes to wildfires by significantly reducing the humidity in the environment due to its dry nature. This causes vegetation to become dehydrated and more flammable. In these cases, any spark can start a fire, whether it is a cigarette butt, a vehicle or a power line.
According to AccuWeather meteorologist Danielle Ehresman, wind gusts of up to 100 mph were recorded at high altitudes on the night of January 7.
In addition to dry vegetation, Los Angeles also has other flammable materials such as low-hanging power cables and wooden telephone poles. Santa Ana winds have caused severe wildfires in California in the past, including the Woolsey Fire in November 2018, which killed three people and destroyed 1,600 structures.
However, experts warn that this year’s weather conditions are dire.
“We’ve never really seen a season as dry as this one after a wet season like last year with all the overgrowth of grass and vegetation, followed by a wind of this magnitude while the weather is still extremely dry,” said Daniel Swain, a climate scientist at the University of California, Los Angeles.
How big are California wildfires?
Rapid spread
The fire started in the Palisades on the Pacific Ocean and quickly spread to other neighborhoods. A second fire broke out in Eaton at 6 p.m. on January 7. A third fire broke out that same day in Sylmar in the San Fernando Valley northwest of Los Angeles, called the Hurst fire.
Five other fires broke out in California on January 8: the Lidia, Sunset and Woodley fires in Los Angeles, the Olivas fire in Ventura and the Tyler fire in Riverside.
Land Burned
According to the California Department of Fire, here’s the current status of the major fires as of the night of January 8 (US time):
- Palisades: At least 6,970 hectares
- Eaton: At least 4,290 hectares
- Hurst: At least 346 hectares
- Lidia: At least 140 hectares
- Sunset: At least 17 hectares
The Woodley Fire has burned 12 hectares, while the Olivas and Tyler fires have each burned 4.5 hectares.
Containment
A fire’s containment rate is the perimeter or control line that firefighters have established around the fire to prevent it from spreading further. A control line can be any physical barrier around the fire, such as shallow trenches dug into the ground.
Fires in California are largely uncontained, which means there’s no way to stop them from spreading further.
The Palisades, Eaton and Sunset fires are 0% contained, while the Hurst fire is 10% contained and the Lidia fire is 40% contained. Meanwhile, the Woodley, Olivas and Tyler fires are 100% contained.
How is the government responding?
The fires are out of control, according to local fire departments. California Governor Gavin Newsom said that as of the evening of January 8, there were 7,500 firefighters on the scene.
US President Joe Biden has canceled an upcoming trip to Italy to focus on the federal response, the White House said. Biden posted on his X account that the government has provided five firefighting planes and 10 firefighting helicopters. However, high winds are hampering air rescue efforts.
Los Angeles Fire Chief Anthony Marrone said at a news conference that firefighters from six other states, including Nevada, are being brought to California. In addition, 250 fire departments with 1,000 personnel are being dispatched from Northern California to Southern California. However, resources are running out.