The Los Angeles fires started Jan. 7 and have raged since. A combination of weather conditions and climate occurrences created the perfect storm of wildfires to rapidly spread across the state.
The Palisades Fire — between Malibu and Beverly Hills — was the first to spark. At 23,713 acres, only 22% of the fire has been contained at the time of writing. Over 170,000 people across LA County are under evacuation orders and warnings, and at least 25 people have died as a result of the fires.
About 60 square miles and 12,000 structures have been engulfed by the flames. As LA prepares for the next week of wind storms, the destruction does not seem to be near an end.
Notably, the fires sparked outside of LA’s typical summer wildfire season. Severe weather and climate conditions made this unprecedented spread of wildfire possible.
Southern California is currently in a D2, or severe drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. Although this winter has been particularly dry for the region, the previous two years saw heavy rainfall. The abundance of dry vegetation quickly spread the fire.
Another factor to blame is the Santa Ana winds, which have been responsible for some of California’s worst wildfires in the past.
Santa Anas are dry, warm winds that develop in the desert during cool weather. By picking up speed as it travels through channels and valleys, these winds can reach upward of 100 miles per hour. From the desert, Santa Anas blows directly into Southern California. This creates a low-humidity climate and dries out surrounding vegetation.
After a summer of record-high temperatures, months without rainfall and the development of Santa Ana winds, the conditions created a perfect storm for wildfires to develop.
LA is home to over 3.8 million residents, many of whom are everyday people. Yet, the city is best known for housing the popular elite — the rich and famous who grace our screens and keep us entertained on the daily. Few celebrities have helped the fight and the firefighters quite like Hollywood producer Scott Budnick.
Budnick, best known as executive producer of “The Hangover” (2009), founded the Anti-Recidivism Coalition in 2013. The nonprofit organization is dedicated to ending mass incarceration and supporting those formerly behind bars.
Last week, ARC began a fundraiser to support “the fire crews of California’s prisons,” according to the Los Angeles Times. Over $40,000 have been raised.
Incarcerated firefighters make up 30% of California’s firefighting force. They often work 24-hour shifts and earn little pay, sometimes earning only $10 for a day's work. The program has been divisive, with both critics and supporters coming from around the country.
The money donated to ARC will go toward necessities, such as toiletries and gear. The rest will go toward scholarships and commissary accounts, according to Sam Lewis, ARC’s executive director.
ARC is one of many groups aiding the fight against the LA fires, but its novelty comes from the fact it is headed by one of the Hollywood elites himself.
