Historic wildfires ripped through the Los Angeles area this week, leaving at least five people dead, tens of thousands displaced, and more than 2,000 residences, businesses, and other buildings destroyed. According to WIRED, the still-burning blazes are already “the most destructive in California history.”
The LA fires have been fueled by drought-like conditions and wind gusts of up to 100 miles per hour. As WIRED reported, wildfires and strong Santa Ana winds are common in the Los Angeles area, but climate change is increasing the risk of these kinds of late-season blazes in California, driven by warmer temperatures and low precipitation.
LA residents can use the Watch Duty app to track evacuation orders and threat levels in their area. LAist and Mutual Aid LA have compiled a list of resources for residents, including temporary shelter options, evacuation centers for people and animals, and locations where people can find food and beverages and charge their phones. KQED has also shared resources that detail how evacuations work, what to pack, and how to stay safe from wildfire smoke.
Stay up-to-date with the politics team. Sign up for the Teen Vogue Take
For those not in LA who want to help and are able to donate, there are a number of local and national organizations mobilizing to provide aid on the ground.
- World Central Kitchen's Relief Team is providing food and water to first responders and residents in the area.
- The Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation supports local LAFD firefighters. Donations fund wildfire equipment and supplies.
- California Community Foundation’s Wildfire Recovery Fund supports medium-term and long-term relief in underserved areas.
- Direct Relief delivers medical aid to first responders battling the fires as well as displaced residents.
Below, photos of the LA fires show how the blazes are impacting the city.
Pacific Palisades Fire
The fire that consumed the coastal community of Pacific Palisades was “apocalyptic,” according to a CBS News crew, leaving most of the neighborhood completely destroyed, except for an outdoor mall. CBS reported that more than 1,000 buildings were burned to the ground, and many evacuees will not have homes to return to. KTLA called the Palisades Fire “the most destructive wildfire in Los Angeles history.”
The Eaton fire
The Eaton Fire tore through the neighborhoods of Altadena and Pasadena in East Los Angeles, killing five people. Thousands of people have been under evacuation orders, fleeing their homes with what could fit in their cars. According to CNN, as of Thursday, January 9, both the Palisades and Eaton fires were 0% contained.
