Residents of Los Angeles, California have been experiencing severe wildfires. The city is in rubble: many have lost their homes, severe damages have been caused, and lives have been lost. Many people are aiding in LA’s recovery efforts from local first responders to national organizations.
According to “LA fires: What’s the latest on Los Angeles wildfires and how did they start?” from BBC, from 2022 to 2023, there was lots of rain, which brought substantial vegetation growth. However, LA has been in a drought since last summer and has only received 0.16 inches of rainfall since October. The vegetation quickly dried, making it easier for fire to spread. This dry period, in addition to the Santa Ana winds created ripe conditions for the wildfires. According to “How and Why the LA Wildfires Grew So Fast—and Lessons for the Future” from Boston University Today, typically, during the fall and winter, Southern California experiences very strong and dry winds brought upon by temperature gradients between the warm coast of Southern California and cooler areas of the desert at a higher elevation of Nevada and Utah. This creates winds that blow out of the mountains to the warm coast. Additionally, the wind speed accelerates due to the topography of narrow mountain valleys from LA to the coast. When the Santa Ana winds are high, they fuel fires causing them to burn at higher temperatures, travel farther faster, and complicate containment efforts. Other causes of these fires include arson, sparking power lines, and fireworks; however, the fires vastly spread due to the drought and heavy Santa Ana winds.
“3 Facts About California’s Climate That Explain the LA Fires” from Earth.org states that the Los Angeles Wildfires are responsible for the death of 25 people, destroyed 40,000 acres in the greater LA area (larger than San Fransico), the destruction of entire communities, and over 12,300 structures. Financial losses are now estimated at $275 billion.
Relief is being offered to victims of the fires. For instance, “Resources to Support Those Affected by the L.A. Fires” from Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority adds that the Biden-Harris Administration Supporting Robust Response Efforts to California Wildfires, FEMA Fire Management Assistance Granted for the Palisades Fire, and FEMA Disaster Assistance are all federal efforts to provide aid. For those who lost their homes, emergency shelters, support, and housing are being offered through the American Red Cross Los Angeles, 211 LA and Airbnb partnership, YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles, and many more. These relief centers can provide housing, food and supplies, clothing, basic necessities, restrooms, and cell phone charging stations.
There are also many ways to help the residents of LA from New Jersey. According to “Here’s how to help those affected by California wildfires, from here in North Jersey” from NorthJersey.com, various local businesses have been hosting fundraisers, food drives, and clothing donations. For example, organizations such as the Salvation Army, the American Red Cross, the Wildlife Recovery Fund, the California Fire Foundation, and the Pasadena Humane Society are all looking for donations to aid the recovery efforts of Los Angeles.
