California Fires

By Christopher Lundquist, 2028

Published 2/2/2025

California has seen some pretty big wildfires in the past. Most of these wildfires have been confined to rural areas like woods, forests, and occasionally small towns, but not close to big cities as there aren't enough trees to fuel the burn in urbanized areas. This was true until the Palisades Fire broke out on January 7, 2025, at 10:38 AM (PST). 

The Palisades Fire ignited between Santa Monica and Malibu, cities that are known for their scenic beauty. This fire swept through the landscape with an intensity never seen before, highlighting the growing dynamics of wildfire risks associated with climate change. As the temperatures surged and dry conditions persisted, the fire escalated, consuming everything in its path and threatening thousands of homes along the coast.

The Eaton Fire--which resulted from the Santa Ana winds blowing embers from the Palisades Fire-- broke out on the same day at 6:18 PM (PST). This secondary fire compounded the devastation caused by the Palisades Fire. Within hours, both fires merged into a catastrophic wildfire event, marking it as the largest and deadliest wildfire Los Angeles County had ever faced. Evacuations were ordered, firefighters battled fiercely against the flames, and emergency services worked around the clock to protect lives and property.

These were the two biggest and deadliest wildfires Los Angeles County had ever seen. More wildfires and other big natural disasters like these will keep happening due to climate change. Thus, the events of January 7, 2025, serve as a wake-up call for everyone: it is up to us to stop climate change and prevent these natural disasters from destroying millions of lives and homes.