A week after wildfires tore through Los Angeles, destroying homes and forcing thousands to evacuate, firefighters continue their efforts to control the flames. Fanned by strong winds and fueled by parched vegetation, the fires have wreaked havoc across the region, leaving a trail of destruction and sending plumes of ash into the air.
Aerial photos reveal block after block of grey-brown ash, with only the skeletal remains of homes, restaurants, and shops standing where vibrant neighborhoods once thrived. According to the California Fire Department, the two wildfires that ignited on January 7 have scorched an area nearly equivalent to the size of Washington, DC.
The fires also robbed many residents of their health and safety, sending toxic smoke into neighborhoods and forcing them to breathe in the acrid pollution that has made the air quality in Los Angeles some of the worst in the country. Officials have warned that the smoke is so bad that it could cause respiratory problems and damage lung tissue even if people are not close to the fires.
Some residents of the smoky, destroyed Pacific Palisades and Altadena neighborhoods are now being allowed to return home as authorities relaxed evacuation orders and warnings Monday for the Eaton and Palisades fires. However, those who have stayed away must be ready for rain.
Forecasters warn that if it does fall, the debris flows from charred hillsides and canyons could wash down into streams and rivers and create mudflows that could threaten homes. In addition, the rain could trigger a flash flood, causing mudslides and landslides in the mountains and foothills.
Despite the dangers, local officials have been trying to prepare for rain as the fires continue to scorch the region. County workers are deploying barriers and filling sandbags while firefighters have been prepping for a possible mudflow threat.
On Friday, Vice President Joe Biden was in Southern California to meet with local leaders and inspect the firefighting efforts. He praised the firefighters’ efforts but said they would have to wait for the first rains to determine the full extent of the damage and how long it would take to contain the fires fully.
While the rain is much needed, it won’t come soon enough for some residents. The last time Los Angeles saw more than an inch of rain was around Easter, and long-term weather models don’t predict any rainfall for the foreseeable future.
The drought in California has lasted almost 25 years and was exacerbated by hot temperatures and record heat waves during the past year. Scientists have warned that climate change will make extreme weather events like these more frequent and more severe. The blazing wildfires have forced hundreds of thousands of residents — including celebrities like Mark Hamill and Mandy Moore—to evacuate their homes and flee to safer ground.
