
By Emma Dognin and Genesis Oquendo
As wildfires rage across California, residents in Los Angeles and surrounding areas are dealing with smoke, evacuation orders, and the increasing strain on local firefighting resources. The Palisades and Eaton fires, among the largest in the state's history, have already claimed at least 27 lives and caused widespread destruction.
"I can smell smoke when I go outside. The air quality is really toxic right now," said Jintong Ye, a Santa Monica resident, who described the effects of the fires in Los Angeles County. "The Sunset Fire in the Hollywood Hills was blown toward us, casting large clouds of smoke throughout the sky and polluting the air. We had to wear masks to protect ourselves," added Lucia Laski, a Mid-City resident.
Ye has faced evacuation orders twice in recent days, the first of which was a countywide error, and the second sent at 4 a.m. the following day. "Even though I knew I didn’t have to evacuate, I felt the need to be prepared just in case, so I packed my essentials," Ye said.
While snow blanketed the ground in the Northeast, about 3,000 miles away in California, skies were filled with orange smoke from some of the worst fires in the state’s history, centered around Los Angeles. Southern California's fire season typically spans from May to October, but with rising temperatures and decreased precipitation due to global warming, the season has lengthened.
"I have not experienced something as bad as this in my lifetime," Laski said. "The Palisades and Eaton fires are some of the most destructive fires in California’s history. Sure, we’ve had fires like this before, but these fires are something else. The Santa Ana winds dry out our vegetation and are incredibly strong, provoking terrible wildfires."
These winds, which originate in the desert regions of Nevada and Utah, can reach speeds of up to 100 mph and contribute to the rapid spread of the fires.
As of Friday, Jan. 17, at least 27 people have died from the fires. The fires, including the Palisades, Eaton, Hurst, and Kenneth fires, have destroyed or damaged thousands of structures.
The Palisades Fire, which began on Jan. 7, scorched 23,713 acres. High winds made containment difficult, and by the time it was fully contained, 2,869 structures had been destroyed and 508 damaged. Ten deaths have been confirmed.
"My area was 10 minutes away from the Palisades fire, but I didn’t have to evacuate," Ye said. "I could see the fires when I was driving, and the air quality was really bad. Most schools in LA closed, and I had to be virtual for a couple of days." While her home remained unaffected, Ye described how some of her close friends and peers lost their homes. She also noted that several shops she frequented in the Palisades area had burned down.
Laski, whose K-12 school was also impacted, said, "One of the preschool campuses of my school burned down in the Palisades."
The Eaton Fire, which also began on Jan. 7, has burned 14,021 acres. As of Thursday, the fire was 55% contained. It has destroyed or damaged around 7,000 structures and resulted in 17 deaths, along with several injuries.
As wildfires have become more destructive, many insurance companies have stopped providing home coverage in California's high-risk areas. However, on Dec. 30, a new regulation passed by the state mandates insurers to provide coverage in these areas. Under the new rule, coverage will increase 5% every two years until it reaches 85% of the insurance market share. This includes both major and regional insurance companies.
In Pacific Palisades alone, insured losses are estimated at nearly $10 billion, according to J.P. Morgan Insurance.
The Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) faces additional challenges. With a population of 4 million, the department has about 3,500 firefighters, resulting in a ratio of roughly seven firefighters for every 8,000 residents. The department’s budget has been cut by $17 million, and some of its fire trucks have become inoperable due to lack of funding. These challenges have made it difficult to manage the increasing number of wildfires and daily emergencies.
Despite these difficulties, residents express deep gratitude for the work of firefighters.
"I think the LA fire department, and everyone involved, is doing the best they can, working around the clock to try and get [the fires] contained. I really appreciate firefighters saving houses and lives. They’re truly our heroes," Ye said.
For those looking to help, donations can be made to organizations such as the American Red Cross, the California Fire Foundation, the Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation, the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority, and the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank.
Laski summed up the collective spirit in the face of disaster: "This situation has made us Angelenos grow closer, realizing that we are dependent on the spirit of our communities for survival."
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