US West Coast Wildfires in Palisades and Eaton Reach Full Extinguishment: After weeks of devastating wildfires, the Palisades Fire has been fully contained, bringing relief to Los Angeles County residents who have lost homes and loved ones.
The prolonged droughts and extreme winds that fueled one of the worst wildfires to strike Los Angeles County have finally been brought under control.
The Palisades Fire, which was the largest of several concurrent wildfires, has been fully contained after burning through neighborhoods on the west side of Los Angeles and destroying over 23,448 acres (95 square kilometers).
The Devastation Caused by the Fires
The two fires, which started on January 7, were the most destructive in the history of LA county. They killed at least 29 people, with 17 deaths attributed to the Eaton Fire and 12 to the Palisades Fire. The fires also damaged or destroyed over 16,000 structures, leaving many residents without homes.
The Cause of the Fires
The official cause of the fires is still under investigation, but researchers have linked the dry weather conditions to climate change. ‘All across the western and southern US we expect to see increasing drying effects with climate change, meaning more flammable conditions,’ said a lead author of a World Weather Attribution (WWA) study.
Climate change refers to significant long-term changes in the Earth's climate, including temperature, precipitation, and wind patterns.
Human activities such as burning fossil fuels, deforestation, and industrial agriculture contribute to greenhouse gas emissions, leading to global warming.
Rising temperatures cause more extreme weather events, sea-level rise, and altered ecosystems.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reports that the past decade was the warmest on record, with 2020 being the hottest year globally.
Rebuilding Efforts
The containment of the fires is a significant milestone, but rebuilding the region will take many years and billions of dollars. The Palisades Fire destroyed over 6,837 structures, while the Eaton Fire destroyed 9,418 structures. Many of these buildings were historic homes in Altadena, a historically inclusive community known for its Black professionals and artists.
The Role of Climate Change
Climate change played a significant role in the spread of the wildfires. The region has had less than 10% of average rainfall since October 1, creating perfect conditions for wildfires to spread quickly. A combination of drought-like conditions and powerful offshore winds prompted fire weather that was described as ‘about as bad as it gets‘ by the National Weather Service.
Government Response
The government responded quickly to the fires, with Gov. Gavin Newsom moving state fire personnel and equipment to Southern California as a precaution. The recent storm that brought significant rainfall to parts of Southern California also helped firefighters working on the deadly L.A. blazes.
Conclusion
The containment of the Palisades and Eaton Fires is a significant milestone in the fight against wildfires, but it’s clear that climate change will continue to play a role in these devastating events. Rebuilding efforts will take time and resources, but it’s essential to learn from this experience and work towards preventing such disasters in the future.
