Parts of Los Angeles (L.A.) have been engulfed in massive wildfires since 7th January 2024, displacing over 175,000 people. While L.A. has witnessed several wildfires in history, the recent wildfires are being considered one of the most destructive.
The Palisades fire has burned over 20,000 acres of land, Eaton fire destroyed nearly 14,000 acres of land, etc., causing damages spanning billions of dollars. While the exact cause of the wildfire is under investigation, experts believe the following are potential causes behind the raging wildfires.
Santa Ana Winds
While the exact reason is being investigated, experts believe that the environment in L.A. was primed for ignition because of low humidity and damaging winds flowing at up to 100mph in some locations. The fire that started small in the mountainside to the west of L.A. was transformed into an uncontrollable wildfire after Santa Ana winds spread the flames through the already dry vegetation in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood.
Santa Ana winds are hot and dry, enough to whip vegetation of its moisture. Their rapid speed intensified the flames and pushed them to engulf a significant portion of the landscape. In some cases, Santa Ana winds can become the sole cause of fire, capable of igniting nearby vegetation and bringing down power cables.
Absence of Rain and Low Humidity
Los Angeles’s arid season is also a culprit. Over 83% of L.A. County reportedly faced drought conditions and had not received even a quarter of an inch of rain since April 2024. L.A. needed several wet winters for its vegetation to flourish, but the drought-like conditions converted it into an abundance of dry fuel. Low humidity is also a probable reason behind the dry vegetation that quickly caught fire.
Climate Change
Wildfires’ rising intensity and frequency result from human-induced and natural factors, primarily climate change. The world is witnessing hotter and drier conditions because of the rising global temperatures. Such conditions aid fire ignition and rapid spread. As 2023 and 2024 were among the hottest years on record, it primed the environment in L.A. to become an ideal fuel source for wildfires. It is believed that an increase in the fraction of a degree of warming can significantly increase the risk of wildfires.
Firebrands or Flying Embers
Santa Ana winds in L.A. fanned the flames to push the fire through the natural world and also carried embers with them. These flying embers or firebrands can travel far because of their size. Strong winds can quickly whip up firebrands from burning vegetation and spill just a few meters or up to tens of kilometers, igniting newer materials.
Even tiny amounts of firebrands entering the crevices of a house can burn the entire property. While firefighters can put out the fire in such properties, the challenge arises when firebrands ignite multiple properties simultaneously. Flying embers create a domino effect that becomes challenging to contain.
Hills and Canyons
Los Angeles’s topography also became a probable cause of the raging wildfires. Fires spread faster uphill, so locations with canyons, ravines, etc., can create extreme fire behaviors that are difficult or impossible to contain. Such topography increases the risk of rapid fire spread and makes it challenging to carry out timely evacuation efforts. It was witnessed in the Palisade area as people couldn’t leave quickly because of the narrow hillside roads.
Hydrants Running Out of Water
One of the reasons behind wildfires’ rapid spread is that some hydrants ran out of water. According to Chad Augustin, Fire Chief, there was a short period of time where pressure went low in some hydrants, preventing firefighters’ effort to contain the flames. Some hydrants also ran out of water in the elevated parts of Pacific Palisades. He said that hydrants went low on pressure because of multiple fire engines drawing water at the same time. The problem was, however, solved within a brief period.
Possibility of Arson
As investigations on the exact cause of L.A. wildfires are still ongoing, the possibility of arson cannot be entirely denied. Los Angeles’s District Attorney Nathan Hochman said their priority is saving lives and homes, assisting firefighters, etc. Once the situation is contained, they will focus on investigating the real cause that sparked the L.A. wildfires. If any man-made arson angle is detected, the involved people will be arrested, prosecuted, and punished to the full extent of the law.
Disruption in the Power Lines or Utility Equipment
California has a history of wildfires, with the current L.A. wildfires being one of the most destructive. Some of the biggest wildfires in California’s history were ignited because of disruptions in the power lines and other utility equipment. In one such fire incident in 2018, a deadly fire broke out due to damage to the power lines of the Pacific Gas & Electric utility company. It burned the entire Paradise town in California, killing nearly 85 people. Since investigations haven’t concluded yet, it can also be a potential cause behind the raging L.A. wildfires.
Other Possibilities
John Lentini, the owner of Scientific Fire Analysis, has investigated several large wildfires that took place in California. He believes every massive wildfire started as a small fire, so people must focus on finding what ignited the small or first fire blaze. While arson, climate change, dry winds, etc., are potential causes of wildfires, so are fireworks, debris burning, and a myriad of other possible sources.
For instance, a large wildfire was started in California in 2020 during a couple’s gender reveal stunt. They set off a smoke-generating pyrotechnic device in a field that quickly ignited dry grass, torching nearly 36 square miles of land. Similar causes can be behind the current wildfires, but the confirmation will come after the investigation finishes.
