Kian Miranda-Rodriguez
It was Tuesday, January 7th, 2025. A series of devastating wildfires broke out in Southern California. There were lives lost, with 29 confirmed and counting, homes and businesses destroyed, and numerous families displaced. The night was described by Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass as one of the most devastating and terrifying nights that her corner of the city had seen.
There were several wildfires raging simultaneously in Southern California, with the Palisades, Ealisade, Eaton, and Hughes fires as the most well-known. The Palisades fire erupted the morning of January 7th in the Pacific Palisades, a Los Angeles neighborhood east of Malibu, with blazes expanding over 23,448 acres before being 100% contained weeks later. The fire damaged and destroyed over 6,800 structures and homes. The Eaton fire ignited hours later near a canyon in the sprawling national forest lands north of downtown Los Angeles. This fire ravaged 14,021 acres and was 100% contained roughly around the same time as the Palisades fire, with reports of 10,491 structures and homes in ruins. Over the next few days, more fires spread across Los Angeles, including the Lidia, Archer, Woodley, Sunset, Kenneth, Hurst, and Auto fires, which together scorched 2,399 acres. These fires were quickly contained and did not spread far. Two weeks later, the Hughes Fire began near Castaic Lake in northern Los Angeles County on January 22, quickly growing to over 10,000 acres. The Hughes fire was fully contained the next day after devouring 10,425 acres and affecting more than 200,000 people who were ordered to evacuate, many of whom had nowhere to go.
These wildfires have additional consequences for physical and mental health and the natural environment. For instance, there are many health issues related to wildfire smoke exposure. Wildfire smoke is mixed with many different pollutants, one of which is particulate matter measuring 2.5 micrometers or smaller (PM2.5), which is very hazardous when inhaled, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. These tiny particles can penetrate the lungs and even enter the bloodstream, affecting many different organs. Short-term exposure often results in mild irritations like runny noses and scratchy throats, with even more severe conditions such as bronchitis. The risks are even higher for children, the elderly, and pregnant people. Long-term exposure can result in increased inflammation, which can make people more susceptible to illnesses like colds and infections. Further, there are studies suggesting a higher risk of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression among those affected by wildfire smoke. Other health issues can include heart disease, asthma, cancer, and dementia.
There are further key implications to consider, such as how other species are harmed by wildfire exposure. Studies have confirmed that ash from forest fires can boost the growth of certain phytoplankton and microscopic algae at the base of aquatic food webs. This then triggers algal blooms, which create low-oxygen dead zones where marine life cannot survive. Plastics, heavy metals, asbestos, and more are burned in fires, creating more impacts on the environment and marine life. Climate change is the main reason wildfires in California are becoming more frequent and intense. Warmer temperatures, altered rainfall patterns, and longer fire seasons have dried out the landscape, making it more prone to ignition and rapid fire spread. Extended drought periods worsen this issue, with dry vegetation ready to ignite at the slightest spark. Wildfires can often be traced back to human activities and environmental conditions that create an ideal setting for ignition and spread. A single stray spark can ignite fires in areas where accumulated vegetation has built up due to fire suppression and changes in land management. Strong winds, such as Santa Ana and Diablo winds, can further accelerate the spread of these flames over large distances, making it difficult to control fires in dry conditions. As a result, the annual average burned area from 2020 to 2023 was three times higher than in the 2010’s.
Following devastation like this, it is vital to stay together and support each other because the world is igniting faster than we can respond. The best thing to do is spread awareness. We need to talk about the causes and effects of wildfires so we can reduce the number of natural disasters that are often caused by us. We have the power to make a change to our world, and although fires naturally occur, we have the power to eliminate human-caused fires. It will take time, but it is not impossible to reach the goal of providing a safer and more sustainable world for us all.
Citations
Stelloh, T., Lenthang, M., Cohen, R., & Helsel, P. (2025, January 17). California wildfires: What we know about L.A.-area fires, what caused them, who is affected and more. NBC News. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/california-wildfires-what-we-know-palisades-eaton-los-angeles-rcna188239
Baxter, A. (2025, February 14). The January 2025 California Wildfires are Fully Contained, But Their Impacts on the Ocean are Not | Oceana. Oceana. https://oceana.org/blog/the-january-2025-california-wildfires-are-fully-contained-but-their-impacts-on-the-ocean-are-not/
Salahi, L. (2025, January 9). Health impact of California wildfires to be felt for years to come. Association of Health Care Journalists. https://healthjournalism.org/blog/2025/01/health-impact-of-california-wildfires-to-be-felt-for-years-to-come/
Yu, M. (2025, January 15). California’s wildfire crisis: Expert insights on causes, spread, and solutions. Institute of Energy and the Environment. https://iee.psu.edu/news/blog/californias-wildfire-crisis-expert-insights-causes-spread-and-solutions
CAL FIRE. (2025). Palisades Fire | CAL FIRE. Ca.gov. https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/2025/1/7/palisades-fire
Romero, D. (2025, February). Deadly Eaton and Palisades fires 100% contained after 24 days. NBC News. https://www.nbcnews.com/weather/wildfires/palisades-eaton-fire-la-contained-rcna188338