Special Live Wildfires Coverage
by Cary Harrison
Apologies for my voice but it’s torn by smoke. I’m certainly not the only one. In just a few minutes, I’m gonna open up the phones because it’s critical that you be heard during this time of horrific disaster. I’m want you to be able to resonate with your neighbors, offer information as you know it, and most importantly… Know that you are not alone. These fires don’t seem to want to stop. LA's densely populated urban landscape including miles of chaparral and dry eucalyptus trees…. also includes flammable material with hanging power cables, a city landscaped with wooden telephone poles going back to the 1920s….and homes built with wood …. wood… to satisfy earthquake codes. Then, you add in the bone dry, low humidity, and high temperature Santa Ana winds to fan wildfires… all blowing over the hilltops and down through the canyons.
The concept of the complete loss of the Pacific Palisades is unthinkable. While The remains of the Palisades look like Vesuvius, thankfully, we have minimal loss of life. We've been fighting a wildfire with urban water systems – corner fire hydrants and people attempting to use garden hoses. It's not that there’s not enough water here in Southern California; it's that there's not enough water in any given area for the several hours that you need it to saturate fires.
The devastating wildfires in Los Angeles have claimed at least 10 lives, destroyed hundreds of buildings, and forced nearly 180,000 residents to evacuate. Despite the efforts of thousands of firefighters, the biggest blazes remain uncontained, with weather conditions and climate change expected to fan the flames for days to come.
In LA County, 179,000 people are under evacuation orders, with another 200,000 on alert. More than 10,000 buildings have been razed, with 60,000 more at risk. Insured losses are expected to exceed $30 billion.
A man has been arrested on suspicion of starting a new fire, but the causes of the original fires remain unknown. National Guard troops have been deployed to prevent looting, with 20 arrests made so far.
The fires have also affected celebrities, including Mel Gibson, Leighton Meester, and Adam Brody, who have lost their homes.
Fire officials are battling five major fires, including the Palisades and Eaton fires, which have scorched nearly 20,000 acres and 14,000 acres respectively.
Questions are being raised about the city's preparedness for the fires, with some firefighters reporting hoses ran dry. Mayor Karen Bass has faced intense questioning about her leadership and the water issues. Meanwhile, KTLA reports there’s a camp set up in Brookside Park in Pasadena that’s feeding people, getting donations and telling anyone who needs anything to come on down.
The Wildfires ravaging Southern California, are fueled by high winds and dry conditions. But experts say climate change is the underlying factor, increasing the likelihood of these devastating blazes. The Southern California fires are a perfect storm of natural and human-induced factors. High winds, known as Santa Ana winds, are blowing at speeds of up to 70 miles per hour, drying out the land and spreading the flames. But researchers say climate change is altering the background conditions, making these fires more likely and more intense. Lack of rain in recent months, following a very warm summer have brought dry conditions that have created a tinderbox of shrubs and trees - perfect fuel for fires. A warming climate makes it more difficult to forecast the likelihood of landslides Which can happen as a result of sudden tree loss through burning.
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