Los Angeles: Los Angeles in California is facing one of the most devastating fire disasters in American history. The flames have spread rapidly, burning thousands of homes and leaving large parts of the city in ruins.
As of now, over 12,000 houses have been completely destroyed, and at least 16 people have lost their lives. The total damage from this fire is estimated to be between 135 and 150 billion dollars, making it one of the most costly natural disasters in the country.
Damages caused by fire
The fire has already spread across more than 35,000 acres, and efforts to control it have so far proven ineffective. Hundreds of fire safety helicopters have been deployed to fight the fire, but the flames continue to rage forward at their own pace. More than 1,50,000 people have been rescued from the affected areas, but the fire is still not under control.
One of the main factors contributing to this disaster is climate change, according to experts. California has been grappling with a severe drought for the past decade, with only a brief period of relief in the last two years.
This incident has led to dry vegetation, including trees and plants, which have become the perfect fuel for the fire. Additionally, 2024’s extreme heat and the lack of rainfall during the monsoon and winter have further dried out the region, worsening the fire conditions.
Factors that likely caused fire to rage
Santa Ana winds, which are dry and powerful winds that typically blow from the mountains to the Southern California coast, have also played a significant role in fueling the fire. These winds, which occur 10 to 12 times every year, are known to intensify wildfires. This year, the winds have been particularly strong, carrying the fire into the heart of Los Angeles.
Normally, the region’s trees and plants would have enough moisture by now to slow the spread of fire. However, due to the low rainfall and high temperatures, the moisture levels are insufficient, allowing the fire to spread quickly.
Studies conducted in previous years had shown that the autumn moisture in Southern California could reduce the risk of wildfires caused by the Santa Ana winds, but this year the lack of moisture has made the situation far worse.
2024 declared hottest year
The year 2024 has been declared the hottest year on record by the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service. This year marks the first calendar year in which the global temperature has surpassed 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.
Scientists believe that this increase in temperature, caused by climate change, has further worsened the fire disaster in Los Angeles.
