On the morning of Monday, Jan. 7, 2025, fire broke out in Palisades, CA, the immediate cause of which is still unknown, but scientists agree that climate change has created the hazardous conditions that led to this disaster. Heavily fueled by the Santa Ana winds, the fire quickly grew to 3,000 acres in the first 24 hours, and over the following week, consumed 23,000 acres, proving to be incredibly challenging to contain.
Los Angeles is the epicenter of the entertainment industry. It boasts world-famous landmarks such as the Hollywood sign and Griffith Observatory. LA is also one of the most economically significant cities on the West Coast. Most importantly, LA is home to 3.8 million people, many of whom evacuated their homes, fearing for their safety and losing their most prized possessions.
On the same day, a wildfire broke out in the northern part of LA, now recognized as the Eaton fire. Destroying historic neighborhoods and celebrity homes, the Eaton fire has claimed over 14,000 acres of land. The New York Post reports the fire caused over 250 billion dollars worth of damage. This estimate surpasses the damage caused by deadly Hurricanes Harvey and Helene. Preliminary reports indicate that at least 150 structures have been destroyed, including homes, businesses and community facilities. In addition to the physical damage, the fires have disrupted daily life in LA, closing major highways and causing power outages.
Though the fires were in southern California, their effects are also present here, in northern California. FHS junior Mitansh Dutta describes the fear that was invoked by the disaster.
“I feel pretty scared because of the scale of the fire and how it essentially wasn’t controlled at all,” Dutta said. “Especially in a city like Los Angeles.”
FHS physics teacher Christian Royer expresses how these events have prompted him to more seriously consider a potential evacuation plan.
“Passports, birth certificates or documents that you cannot replace are top priority,” Royer said. ”Given a short evacuation time, memorabilia like family photos and prized possessions are things I would try to grab.”
Social media platforms are flooded with offers of assistance, from pet shelters to temporary housing. People across the world are reaching out to make donations and bring aid to the residents of southern California. However, the vastness of social media makes it difficult to differentiate scams from genuine charities. It is important for those who wish to help to do some research beforehand.
“To help, I’d be finding reputable donation organizations,” Royer said. “Sometimes just pure money can be most helpful, but many might accept physical objects. To help out, one should first educate themselves on what they need.”
