The Fire in Los Angeles Turns Out to Be the Largest in the Last 20 Years, Here’s Why

Kapanlagi.com - The wildfire that has struck Los Angeles, California, is now the worst disaster to occur in the last two decades. The fire, which has been raging since Tuesday night, January 7, 2024, has forced more than 70,000 people to evacuate their homes and caused widespread damage in several elite areas of the city. This fire is suspected to have been triggered by extreme dry weather conditions in the region.

One of the hardest-hit areas is Pacific Palisades, where the fire has consumed thousands of hectares of land, claimed at least five lives, and destroyed hundreds of properties. Los Angeles Mayor, Karen Bass, is now under intense scrutiny for being perceived as slow to respond to this crisis.

Strong winds reaching speeds of 112 km/h have further exacerbated the situation, making aerial firefighting efforts nearly impossible. Additionally, the low rainfall over the past few months has created conditions highly conducive to the spread of the fire.

Here is more information about this disaster, summarized by Kapanlagi.com from various sources, Friday (10/1).

1. Triggered by Extreme Weather

The fire that swept through the northeastern foothills of Los Angeles on Tuesday night sparked panic as flames rapidly consumed land, fueled by strong Santa Ana winds reaching speeds of 160 km/h.

This wind, coupled with prolonged drought that has reduced rainfall by 10% since October 2024, created perfect conditions for the blaze to spread into mountainous areas and foothills. Extremely dry vegetation and low humidity became "natural fuel" that exacerbated the situation.

When firefighting aircraft were forced to halt operations due to high winds, emergency measures were taken by calling in off-duty firefighters. However, the massive scale of the fire clearly made all these efforts feel insufficient to control the raging flames.

2. Affected Area Reaches Tens of Thousands of Hectares

The Pacific Palisades area, known as a residence for Hollywood celebrities, is now mired in sorrow after more than 15,832 hectares of land burned, destroying almost half of its natural beauty.

Not only that, the fires also struck other areas such as the Eaton Fire which consumed 10,600 hectares and the Hurst Fire which scorched around 855 hectares. The flames raging in the Sunset area even spread to Hollywood Hills, approaching the tourist icon Walk of Fame.

In this disaster, more than 1,100 buildings, both homes and businesses, have been destroyed, forcing tens of thousands of residents to leave their homes for safety, following evacuation orders from authorities.

3. Firefighters Overwhelmed

The Santa Ana winds have now become a frightening specter in the firefighting efforts sweeping through Los Angeles County. With alarming speeds, these winds not only accelerate the spread of the fire but also render firefighting helicopters powerless in the sky.

Ground teams have also been forced to work extra hard facing the expanding flames, while Fire Chief Anthony Marrone expressed their feelings of being overwhelmed due to the limited number of personnel. The difficult mountainous terrain adds to the challenge, making their efforts feel like fighting against the current.

"We are doing our best, but the number of firefighters in Los Angeles County is still far from enough to handle this urgent situation," Marrone said, describing the heavy burden they bear.

4. As Many as 70,000 Residents Evacuated

The devastating fire that swept through Pacific Palisades not only destroyed luxury homes but also resulted in economic losses reaching billions of dollars in the most expensive real estate area in America. Several magnificent homes owned by famous celebrities like Tom Hanks and Ben Affleck suffered severe damage, while more than 70,000 residents were forced to evacuate, leaving their homes with few valuables.

Now, many families are forced to seek refuge in emergency shelters, facing the uncertainty that looms over their future. Amid this disaster, sharp criticism of the Mayor of Los Angeles is growing louder, especially after last year’s decision to cut the fire department budget by $17.6 million was deemed to have worsened the response to the crisis threatening residents' safety.

5. President Announces Disaster Status

President Joe Biden has declared a major disaster in Los Angeles, opening the door for federal funding to expedite recovery from the recent wildfires. California Governor Gavin Newsom quickly responded with a state of emergency, directing all state resources to take this situation seriously.

The safety of citizens is the top priority, while efforts to control the fires continue despite dry weather and strong winds still posing a threat. This significant challenge is expected to last for years, but the government and local communities are coming together to rally support for the victims while formulating strategies to prevent similar disasters in the future.

"President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. confirms that a major disaster has occurred in California and has ordered federal assistance to support recovery efforts in areas affected by wildfires and high winds since January 7, 2025," according to an official statement from the White House.

6. What is the main cause of the fire in Los Angeles this time?

The fire that has hit this area is caused by a combination of very concerning factors: severe drought, wild Santa Ana winds, and extremely low humidity.

7. Which areas are most affected by the fire?

Amidst the beautiful expanse of nature, Pacific Palisades, Eaton Fire, Hurst Fire, and Sunset Fire now hold sad stories with significant damage.

8. Q: How is the government addressing this situation?

President Joe Biden along with Governor Gavin Newsom has taken decisive action by declaring a state of emergency, a strategic step to quickly channel assistance from the federal and state governments to face the existing challenges.

(kpl/srr)