Devastating Toll on Urban Areas, Unprecedented Destruction in California History

A Devastating Toll on Urban Areas

The Eaton and Palisades fires, which erupted in Los Angeles last week, have torched more urban area than any other fire in the state since at least the mid-1980s. This is according to an Associated Press analysis of data from the Silvis Lab at the University of Wisconsin in Madison.

The fires have collectively burned almost 4 square miles of highly dense parts of Los Angeles, more than double the urban acreage consumed by the region's Woolsey Fire in 2018. This makes them the largest urban fires in California history.

Experts attribute this increase in urban wildfires to several factors. Urban areas continue to sprawl into wildland, increasing the interface between developed and natural areas. Additionally, climate change is raising global temperatures, leading to more severe weather, including droughts, especially in the western United States. These dry conditions create more flammable vegetation, making wildfires more likely.

The Eaton and Palisades fires have had a devastating impact on Los Angeles. They have killed at least 27 people, destroyed more than 12,000 structures, and put more than 80,000 under evacuation orders. The fires are likely to be among the most destructive in California history.

The fires' timing and path through the city are unprecedented in history. They began close to populated areas and were whipped by fierce Santa Ana winds, overwhelming fire crews. This highlights the increasing vulnerability of urban areas to wildfires.

While fires that begin close to populated areas are often caused by people, their proximity to people also means they are usually extinguished sooner. However, this was not the case with the Eaton and Palisades fires.

The 2017 Tubbs Fire in northern California's wine country provides another example of a devastating urban wildfire. Sparked by a residential electrical system, the fire tore through suburban areas of Santa Rosa, killing 22 people and destroying more than 5,600 homes, businesses, and other structures.

These recent fires underscore the need for increased preparedness and mitigation efforts to protect urban areas from wildfires. This includes creating defensible space around homes, hardening structures to resist fire, and improving early warning systems.