Efforts to control the fires have been extensive, but officials are deeply concerned about their size. L.A. County Office of Emergency Management Director Kevin McGowan described the situation as a historic natural disaster during a recent press conference. He emphasized that this is not a typical red flag warning.
During the press conference, local leaders discussed the challenge of fire hydrants running dry in the county while firefighters worked to put out the flames. Reports on this issue were covered by local media and also circulated on social media platforms. L.A. Department of Water and Power CEO Janisse Quiñones explained that in Palisades, the water tanks supplying the region had emptied due to the high demand and delays in refilling. The department plans to send additional water tanks to assist the fire department.
The strain on the county’s water system has led to a decline in water quality, prompting boil water advisories for residents in the Pacific Palisades area. Additionally, power outages have affected a significant number of customers in Southern California.
Since declaring a State of Emergency, California Governor Gavin Newsom has mobilized thousands of firefighters to combat the fires in the region.
The fires in Los Angeles have been exacerbated by a lack of rainfall, warmer temperatures, and a windstorm. Stanford Professor Noah Diffenbaugh highlighted the extreme risk posed by the combination of strong winds, dry conditions, and high temperatures that were forecasted in advance.
These fires are occurring outside of the usual wildfire season in California, which typically spans from May through late October or November in Southern California. Ongoing climate change, characterized by warmer temperatures and prolonged droughts, may lead to wildfires happening outside of their traditional season.
As climate change continues to impact the region, wildfires are expected to become more frequent, larger, and last longer. This trend could be further amplified by the wildland-urban interface, where natural vegetation areas are developed for commercial purposes.
Experts suggest that proactive measures like controlled burns and vegetation management are essential to mitigate the risk of wildfires in the future.
To manage fire risks effectively, experts emphasize the importance of communities having evacuation plans in place and considering wildfires when planning any development. Wildfires have long been a natural occurrence in California’s ecosystem and are expected to persist in the future.
“There have been wildfires in California much longer than there have been cities,” states Diffenbaugh. “The key question for living with wildfire is how we, as humans, manage the risks.”
For further information or inquiries, please contact Simmone Shah at simmone.shah@time.com.
