Battling the Blaze: How LA is Facing Its Wildfire Crisis

LA is going through a crisis and so are we!

Just a couple of days after the National Weather Service in Los Angeles talked about the high fire risk during an extremely dangerous and destructive windstorm, a terrible series of wildfires broke out in parts of the area.

Even if January in LA is bone-dry, the flaming outbreak started on 8th January 2025 amidst a violent windstorm. According to sources, a couple of fires started a day before that due to hurricane-force gusts that reached almost 90 mph.

The Eaton Fire, which started in the hills northeast of Pasadena, had spread to more than 10,000 acres as of early 8th January, as reports mentioned. Experts estimated that it had destroyed 100 buildings and forced evacuations in urban areas downstream of the fire.

Damages

Unfortunately, these damages aren’t only material and experts estimated that at least five people lost their lives due to this disaster. Moreover, the Pacific Palisades neighborhood has been hit hard, with lots of homes destroyed and thousands of people evacuated.

Experts estimated that the wildfires caused over $50 billion in economic losses, including both uninsured and insured disasters.

What happened?

In an email, John Abatzoglou, a climatologist at the University of California in Merced, stated that the fuels are still highly ready to burn because winter rains haven’t yet arrived in Southern California. Since the summer of 2024 was one of the warmest on record, this issue leaves the fuels parched.

Moreover, Mr. Abatzoglou believes these fires would not have occurred if there had been more rain throughout the autumn and early winter. And that’s not all. Given the dense population downslope of the ignition sites, the expert claimed that the exceptionally powerful Santa Ana windstorm rendered the incident a recipe for a natural disaster.

How far does the smoke travel?

Firefighters are working tirelessly to extinguish the fire, and experts believe that winds are more likely to bring smoke across Orange County in a matter of days or even hours. Even if the smoke initially stays in one area, it’s more likely to continue to travel.

Experts believe that the smoke from the terrible wildfires in LA can travel up to hundreds of miles depending on several conditions like the size of the fire, temperature, and wind patterns. What’s even more shocking is that the dense smoke can easily spread across the region, affecting lots of other areas far beyond the immediate fire zone.

Can the smoke affect you?

The particles in wildfire smoke can cause severe pollution, which deteriorates air quality. This can lead to unhealthy conditions, especially for individuals with respiratory issues, seniors, children, or pregnant women.

Doctors have pointed out that one of the main health concerns is that these particles can cause headaches, runny noses, burning eyes, scratchy throats, and even illnesses like bronchitis.

Experts say wildfire smoke can rise up to 14 miles into the air. Additionally, with the help of wind currents, it can be carried much further, affecting people far beyond the immediate fire zones. Even if you don’t live close to wildfires, you could still be exposed to toxic pollution depending on your location and how far the smoke travels.

During major wildfires, local authorities typically advise residents to limit outdoor activities and issue air quality warnings to keep everyone informed and safe.

How to protect yourself against California wildfire smoke

Experts recommend limiting activity and staying indoors in areas with poor air quality, but if that isn’t possible, there are steps people can take to ensure their safety. Take care of your health by wearing a mask outside to reduce your exposure to smoke and pollution.

Doctors say that N95 masks are the most effective way to lower your exposure to pollutants, but surgical masks or even a scarf covering your mouth and nose are better than nothing.

Moreover, you can use a portable air purifier to lower indoor air pollution. If you want to invest in a gadget like this, make sure it doesn’t produce ozone, which can be harmful. Also, check if the device is sized for the room so you can be certain it works effectively. If your home HVAC system has filters, check to make sure they are high-quality and current.

Another important tip from the expert is to run the air conditioning in your home and car on a recirculation setting to prevent the outside air from entering and causing potential respiratory issues.

It’s also important not to contribute to indoor air pollution, so don’t use aerosol sprays, propane, wood-burning stoves, or fireplaces, and don’t burn candles. Last but not least, avoid vacuuming, smoking tobacco products, and frying or broiling meat because you could be increasing air pollution.

Stay safe and take care of yourself and your family! Until next time, here’s another article to check out: Is Florida Sinking? Over 30 High Rise Buildings in Southern Florida Seem to Be