23,713 acres. 5,000 structures estimated, destroyed, or damaged. 113 crews. 50 mile an hour winds. 31% containment. Yet the Palisades fire keeps burning, and it is not the only one.
On January 7th, 2025 at 10:30am, the Palisades fire erupted in western Los Angeles. Not eight hours later, the Eaton Fire flared up in northeastern Los Angeles, north of Pasadena. The Eaton fire is slightly smaller, and containment is about double that of the Palisades; however, it is still just as deadly with 16 confirmed fatalities from CalFire.
Though sometimes deadly, fires are a natural part of the California landscape. Some plants and trees will only release seeds during the extreme conditions of a fire. Fire-dependent ecosystems need wildfires to maintain their health while fire-adapted ecosystems have evolved to survive the blaze.
“As we build in natural areas we often suppress fires from forming in order to protect infrastructure investments – that fire suppression can lead to the over accumulation of dry vegetation and then disrupt the life cycle of plants like chaparral shrubs which relies on fires to germinate,” said AP Environmental Science teacher, Ms. Tilton.
Despite these few benefits, with the fire season being extended to all year long due to climate change, these fire dependent and adapted ecosystems are starting to suffer.
“For Southern California global warming is leading to higher daily temperatures and longer drought periods,” continued Tilton. “This then increases the likelihood that we experience more frequent and more intense forest fires.”
For humans, these fires pose a deadly threat. The particulate matter from ash and smoke can be even more dangerous than other types of air pollution and can spread miles away, affecting communities far from the fire. Only adding to this harmful cloud, many of the buildings in the Palisades area that have burned were built before the 1980s, when asbestos, a common insulating material and carcinogen was used.
“The most immediate acute impacts of the fires are related to air pollution, which include releasing tremendous amounts of particulate matter and cancer causing agents into the air,” said Tilton. “The materials that make up buildings and homes, once burned, release innumerable toxins and can cause dangerous levels of air pollution and low air quality for locals.”
According to CalFire, the Palisades and Eaton fires are confirmed to have destroyed or damaged around 12,102 structures combined, leaving a black scar of devastation in the fires’ paths. For many residents, their homes have been completely destroyed, leaving them with whatever they took while evacuating.
Many in our community still remember and feel the loss of the 2018 Montecito mudslides. The process of evacuating for many is scary and frantic, and with so much chaos, it is easy to forget important things.
“Because of that experience with the fires and then later the mudslides, we have a ‘go box’ of stuff,” said senior Ben Watson, a Montecito resident at the time of the mudslides. “Sad reality, talk about [evacuating] with your family and all be on the same page of who’s in charge of bringing what and stuff like that. Or, if you have pets, make sure you know what you’re doing with the pet.”
The Santa Ana winds continue to howl as crews continue to try to contain these fires. With gusts of up to 72 miles per hour reported, embers from these enormous fires can be carried into new areas, sparking new fires. On Monday night, a small fire broke out in Ventura along the riverbed, bringing the LA fires much closer to home.
There are many ways to get involved to assist the many people displaced and affected by these fires. Organizations such as the Red Cross and ShelterBox are providing much needed aid packages and other relief services but for those watching from afar, one of the best ways to help is to donate money. In a post on X, the city of Pasadena detailed how the city is incredibly grateful for the donated food and other items but that they are overwhelmed by the amount and are no longer accepting any more donations. By donating money on a trusted site, you can ensure that your donation goes towards things residents are asking for, and will be much more meaningful.
