The deadly fires continue to ravage the Los Angeles metropolitan area, with at least 10 people dead.
Although authorities have not yet determined the exact causes of most of the fires, Los Angeles police have arrested one suspect on suspicion of starting some of them. But what has become clear is that abundant dry vegetation and windy weather are fueling the fires and shocking strained water systems.
Fire crews on Friday were hoping for a brief respite heading into the weekend as winds in Santa Ana were expected to briefly calm down, but were expected to pick up again Sunday.
Firefighters backburn in front of the ongoing Kenneth Fire in the West Hills neighborhood of Los Angeles on January 9, 2025. (Ethan Swope, Associated Press)
Which fires are still burning and are they completely contained?
As of noon Friday, there were five fires burning over 10 acres, but there were also many smaller fires scattered throughout the greater Los Angeles metropolitan area.
- of palisades fireThe damage that devastated the Pacific Palisades area began Tuesday morning and has now expanded to 20,438 acres. Cal Fire says the fire is only 8% contained.
- of Eaton FireThe fire north of Pasadena started Tuesday night and has grown to 13,956 acres with only 3 percent containment.
- 771 acres Hurst FireA fire in the San Fernando Valley also broke out Tuesday night and is currently at 37 percent containment.
- of lydia fireA fire that broke out Wednesday in the Angeles National Forest is 75% contained and has burned 395 acres.
- The fifth large-scale fire kenneth fireThe outbreak began Thursday near Highway 101 in the West Hills area and has grown to 1,000 acres and is 35 percent contained. Los Angeles police are currently investigating the possibility of arson in connection with the fire and have arrested one suspect.
The devastation of the Palisades fire seen early in the morning in the Pacific Palisades area of Los Angeles on January 10, 2025. (John Locher, Associated Press)
Is the air in the LA area breathable?
Possible direct smoke effects from some major fires include: cause unhealthy air quality The county Department of Public Health says it has spread throughout Los Angeles County. The smoke is expected to have the most severe impact on coastal areas in the northwestern part of the county, including the Pacific Palisades, Altadena, Pasadena and San Fernando, the agency reported.
“Smoke and ash can be harmful to anyone, including healthy people,” Los Angeles County Health Officer Muntu Davis said in a statement.People at high risk include pregnant women and the elderly. , children and people with a heart, it added. Lung conditions and decreased immunity.
Public health officials urged residents to use air conditioners to circulate air and filter harmful particles, and to wear N95 or P100 masks if they must go outside in smoky conditions. .
The federal government's AirNow air quality map shows Air pollution can be easily detectedMuch of the Los Angeles area has been labeled from “unhealthy to sensitive groups” to “dangerous.”
The most dangerous air quality levels were in areas adjacent to actively burning fires, where stations in those areas showed pollutant concentrations that were “dangerous” or “very unhealthy,” but in Long Beach. Even areas far away from the fires showed “unhealthy” pollution levels.
Garrett Yost collects water from a pool while surveying properties in his fire-ravaged neighborhood in the aftermath of the Palisades Fire in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles on January 10, 2025. (John Locher, Associated Press)
What about water?
As far as water quality is concerned, the Department of Public Health said it has issued advisories. Marine water advisory “Use extreme caution” as wildfire debris can flow into the ocean, beaches, rivers, streams and ponds.
Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power Precautions when boiling water In certain areas, residents are being advised to use boiled tap water or bottled water to avoid stomach and intestinal illnesses.
Another water-related issue wreaking havoc across the region is the lack of sufficient supplies to put out fires. President-elect Trump repeatedly blamed Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) for the lack of water availability after attempts to fill large storage tanks left fire hydrants high and dry. .
Trump accused Newsom of blocking efforts to pump more water from Northern California to the Los Angeles area, an accusation the governor's team denounced as “complete fiction.” On the other hand, experts argue that moving more water in this way is impractical from an infrastructure point of view and is completely unnecessary.
Water is dropped from a helicopter on the ongoing Palisades Fire in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles on January 7, 2025. (Etienne Laurent, Associated Press)
Did climate change play a role?
Climatologists have long warned against attributing any single event to climate change. But climate change, driven primarily by greenhouse gas emissions, is creating conditions where fires like the one in California are much more likely to occur and much more difficult to extinguish.
In recent years, climatologist Daniel Swain of the University of California, Los Angeles, hashydroclimatic whiplash” The state experienced years of drought conditions into the 2020s, but record rainfall occurred in late 2022 and into 2023, largely due to the “atmospheric river” weather phenomenon. It was something.
This rainfall has encouraged above-average vegetation growth, and while last summer experienced a historic heat wave, an unusually dry start to the rainy season left large amounts of grass and brush vulnerable to fire. Ta. The downtown Los Angeles area typically receives about 4.5 inches of rain by this point in the season, but less than 1 inch has fallen since October.
Drought conditions have also reduced water availability for firefighting and reduced opportunities for controlled burns needed to control dry brush.
Houses in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles burst into flames as the Palisades Fire progresses on January 7, 2025. (Ethan Swope, Associated Press)
Does a fire affect property insurance?
The total damage caused by the fire is $135 billion to $150 billionAccording to the latest preliminary analysis released Thursday by AccuWeather's Global Weather Center. These numbers were more than double the estimates released the previous day, which at the time were between $52 billion and $57 billion.
“Sadly, lives changed forever in a matter of minutes,” AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Jonathan Porter said in a statement. “The recovery process will be extremely expensive and emotionally difficult over the coming months and years.”
Analysts say the dire situation will only worsen California's existing insurance crisis, with more companies dropping policies or refusing to issue new policies and reducing premiums in high-risk areas. expected to cause a rise in prices.
“Families and businesses need access to insurance at reasonable rates, but insurance companies cannot continue to absorb huge losses after huge losses. It's a big issue that needs to be addressed,” Porter said. Weather effects. ”
Meanwhile, California's insurance commissioner on Thursday issued a one-year moratorium on policy cancellations and non-renewals in areas affected by the fires. of Mandate prohibits companies You may not cancel or refuse to renew an insurance policy for real property within or adjacent to a fire protection zone.
