Dear Friends,
I wanted to take a moment, now that the dust has settled (literally) to talk a little about the 2 fires that devastated Los Angeles on Jan 8. I have been watching and listening to not only the heartbreak, but also the inexplicable politicization of a natural disaster. I have found a few great resources that I wanted to share; resources for victims of the fires, as well as for anyone who would like to donate to some worthwhile organizations trying to help.
Call me if you need me.
Emily
Why did they happen?
I have learned a lot in the last few days about the LA fires and why this is happening. For the scientific specifics, an especially good source is Daniel Swain, the UCLA climatologist. Find him at www.weatherwest.com. There is also an Altadena weatherman Edgar McGregor who forecasted the Eaton fire. Many people say he saved their lives.
What happened in LA was what they call a perfect storm: Low humidity, 8 months of no rain, high winds. These events are all about the wind. And the California climate. And climate change. Read on for back story:
1. Los Angeles is not a desert, it is actually a Mediterranean climate. For six months of the year, we do not have rain. This can create very dry conditions. The other six months should contain significant amounts of rain.
2. The vegetation around LA is a brushy chaparral with smaller trees. During our six months without rain, this vegetation becomes very dry. Especially when there has been a lot of rain in the preceding winter. A lot of rain makes the vegetation grow, then in the summer it all dries out. That happened during the last couple of years, so there’s a lot of fuel for fire. It doesn’t stay moist and shady as in a tall, dense redwood forest, or in a Midwestern or eastern forest where rain occurs during the summer. In Southern California, it just all dries out. Every summer, no matter how much rain came in the preceding winter. Furthermore, much of the native chaparral vegetation is very flammable. Fires in this type of ecosystem happened regularly; Indigenous cultures had prescribed burns for centuries before we moved in and banned them, and some native plants depend on fire to propagate.
3. For most of the year, coastal California gets a lot of moisture-laden, cool wind coming from the Pacific Ocean and blowing onto the land. However, that changes during part of the year in southern California, typically from October to January. This is when the Santa Ana winds blow in the other direction. These are high dry winds coming from California’s inland desert areas blowing out towards the sea.
4. What can help prevent catastrophic fires is the fact that typically, by the time the Santa Ana winds start, the dry half of the year is ending and rains come. That is happening less consistently now. When the long dry season extends into October, and November, and December – as has happened in southern California this year – all that voluminous dry vegetation from the previous wet years is overlapping with the Santa Ana winds. This is a recipe for disaster.
5. When winds blow at these high speeds, with gusts up to 100 miles an hour, as happened in LA on Tuesday, fire is inevitable and can’t be stopped. Planes and helicopters cannot fly to drop water or retardant from the air. Sparks and embers will be blasted across even an extensive densely built urban area. Fires on that wind are like a blowtorch and can’t be stopped.
6. Only when the wind dies down, can effective firefighting happen. This is what firefighters and residents are battling in LA right now. This is how entire neighborhoods can be burned in one night, in multiple locations, creating conditions firefighters can’t stop, can only suppress until the conditions change. Like waiting out a hurricane. A hurricane of fire.
Who can you call?
CALIFORNIA ASSOC. OF REALTORS’ WILDFIRE/NATURAL DISASTER RESOURCES
SOTHEBY’S INTERNATIONAL REALTY’S LOS ANGELES FIRE RESOURCES PAGE
C.A.R. is committed to helping members and consumers recover from wildfires and other natural disasters. We’ve prepared these materials to keep you informed about how to protect your homes, keep your insurance coverage, and find new coverage when necessary.
A home is far more than four walls; it is a sanctuary, a place of comfort, and a foundation for building memories. We are committed to supporting you during this challenging time. Below is a list of resources to help you navigate through this difficult period and begin the journey of rebuilding your lives.
How can you help?
Donations
For those who wish to donate to those affected by the fires, here are a few excellent organizations that help the often overlooked victims of natural disasters.
South LA Cafe Foundation is giving away free groceries, water, and masks.
Help domestic workers who lost their livelihoods because of the Palisades and Eaton Fires.
World Central Kitchen is providing hot meals to anyone.