Feb. 10, 2025
By Jacob Collins Dodd
Staff Writer
Fueled by powerful winds and exceptionally dry conditions, a series of wildfires destroyed over 57,000 acres of land in the Los Angeles metropolitan area of California. It caused over 180,000 residents to evacuate and led to 29 deaths. On Feb. 1, these wildfires reached 100% containment.
On the evening of Jan. 7, the Palisades Fire, the second-most destructive fire in the state’s history, ignited in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood, burning over 23,000 acres of land. Simultaneously, the Eaton Fire erupted in Pasadena, consuming over 14,000 acres. Vast areas of Altadena, a historically Black enclave, were decimated in the fire, forcing thousands of families from their homes.
Senior Izabel Graziani, the president of the Environmental Club, said she was shocked when she heard about the wildfires.
“I just felt very disheartened, of course, because of the houses that were [lost and] damaged, and just the result in general,” Graziani said. “Everyone that takes this seriously [understands] it impacts all of us.”
Seven months before the wildfires, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass cut the city’s 2024-2025 Fire Department fiscal budget by more than $17.5 million.
“[Los Angeles] should have poured more funding into that,” Graziani said. “We’ve regressed and not progressed in terms of the environment and the policies [the government is] making.”
Senior Chelsea Cardo, the vice president of the Environmental Club, said students in New Jersey can assist those who have lost property in the wildfires.
Organizations like the American Red Cross and Salvation Army are accepting donations to aid those affected by the wildfires.
“If you’re capable, I would say try to help… those who ask for help,” Cardo said. “Donations are important.”
According to the Los Angeles Times, the estimated damages from the wildfires total over $250 billion.
It will be much harder for affected families to recover money for their losses since many insurance companies have dropped policies due to the increasing wildfire risks in California. For instance, in 2024, State Farm terminated about 3,600 policies for homes in the Brentwood, Calabasas, Hidden Hills and Monte Nido neighborhoods of Los Angeles, which were all at severe wildfire risk.
“Everyone that takes this seriously [understands] it impacts all of us.”
“That was obviously a pure business approach,” Cardo said. “It shows [their] lack of empathy for those communities.”
Biology and environmental science teacher Ms. Manzella, who advises the Environmental Club, said the Santa Ana winds led to the wildfires’ rapid spread.
“They blow dry, hot air from inland down towards the coast,” Manzella said. “This can contribute to drying out vegetation, which can add fuel to the wildfires. Also, the strong gusts of wind can lead to [the] uncontrollable spread of the flames.”
Manzella said if implemented, brush clearance could have lessened the wildfires’ destruction.
“By removing dry vegetation, dead organic material and debris, the amount of fuel for the fire decreases, which can reduce the intensity and slow the spread of the wildfires, giving communities more time to respond and evacuate,” Manzella said.
She said climate change has contributed to the frequency and intensity of wildfires. Manzella said it has led to higher temperatures, reduced rainfall and faster seasonal snowmelt, which leads to drier conditions.
“Drier areas will experience more heatwaves, prolonged droughts and severe wildfires, while wetter areas may experience more flooding and hurricanes. This can have impacts on agriculture, economy and health,” said Manzella.
