LA Wildfires : How Climate Change creeps into our lives
- georgiastrack
- Mar 24
- 9 min read
Updated: Mar 24
Updated: March 24, 2025
In today's blog we will explore how climate change impacts wildfires and why this is an important topic. Working in wild-fire prevention is one way to mitigate the risks of wildfires devastating our climate, however many factors are involved in wildfire prevention and forest protection. We explore these factors in today's blog post.
Early morning on the 7th of January 2025 wildfires erupted in Los Angeles, California. The two largest fires burnt in the Eaton area of Altadena, over 14,000 acres, and the Palisades area of Malibu, over 23,400 acres. These fires continued to burn for nearly three weeks and only by the 27th of January were they reported as almost fully contained.
What causes wildfires?
Unfortunately, most wildfires are usually started by humans. Some instances occur where this may not be the case, such as lightning strikes. But more often faulty utility lines or intentionally set fires are what lead to wildfires.
The frequency and severity of these fires is ultimately exacerbated by climate change and poor environment management.
Prior to 2022, California experienced years of drought, a common result of climate change. This drought was followed by high amounts of rainfall in 2022 and 2023 that provided ample circumstances for excessive growth in lush vegetation. However, in the latter part of 2024, California again experienced another extremely dry period with reports of only 0.16 inches (4mm) of rainfall. Average rainfall in the winter months in Los Angeles is usually between 1.5inches (38mm) and 3.4inches (86mm). We can see that in comparison the 2024 rainfall was drastically lower. These factors combined meant that the large amounts of vegetation dried out and became the perfect kindling.
Swings between heavy wet and dry periods are a consequence of climate change. A warming world creates conditions conducive to fire, increasing the severity of fires and resulting in the fire season lasting even longer.
Combining these fiery circumstances with strong Santa Ana winds led to the perfect environment for the fires to take over. Santa Ana winds are strong, gusty winds that usually blow over to the coast from dry, desert environments. These winds therefore already lack moisture. As the air descends lower over the coast it dries and increases in speed as it funnels through valley areas. Low humidity in the air is key to the fire taking hold, it strips moisture from the vegetation allowing fire to catch quicker and vegetation to burn. Furthermore, the sheer speeds of the winds contributes to how quickly and how far the fire spreads.
A combination of all these circumstances are what led the fires in LA to be so disastrous.
Fire Management
There were many challenges involved in handling the fires, not just environmental. The county of LA's fire chief had warned that budget cuts would affect the fire departments ability to handle emergencies.
The county and its fire departments were not built to handle the scale of disaster they encountered. It was noted by Chief Marrone 'they were prepared for one or two brush fires, but not all four.'
Since the start of the fires, the fire department responded to 3,624 calls, a significant increase from their average of 1,500 in a 24-hour period. They were simply unprepared to battle the magnitude of the fires and were not equipped to tackle all that broke out.
Other challenges the LA firefighters faced were in putting the fires out. The water in fire hydrants in residential areas was generally reserved for residential use so was not equipped to tackle fires the size of which they were facing. They were battling with dry fire hydrants, low water pressure and lack of equipment and personnel. Heavy water usage during the fires affected the water pressure which in turn made it more difficult to fight the fires.
Thankfully help was sent their way. Up to 150 firefighters from Ukraine arrived to help. Canada provided water bombers to help spread water over fires, up to 250 firefighters and various essential equipment. More than 70 firefighters and relief workers came from Mexico to help fight and relieve the pressure on LA firefighters.
Not only that but nearly 800 of Californias prisoners helped fight the wildfires. They were not forced to join but the work from the prisoners contributed to an essential part of the efforts. Despite their key role in fighting the fires, they were working for a meagre wage of between $5.80 - $10.40 daily, with the possibility of an extra $1 per hour when responding to active emergencies.
With personnel somewhat under control, putting the fires out was key and one way this was done was using a fire retardant known as 'Phos-Chek'. This is a chemical, made by the company Perimeter, that has an infamous bright red and pink colour. It is dropped on fires and sprayed on vegetation and fire-prime land to quell flames and stop the spread.
The exact formula of the chemical is not public knowledge, however it is said to consist of 80% water, 14% fertiliser-type salts and 6% colouring agents and corrosion inhibitors. The colour is only a visual aid. Perimeter do advise to clean it off as soon as possible as the longer it is left to dry, the harder it is to remove. It can be removed with warm soapy water or, in larger areas, pressure washers.
'Phos-Chek' has been seen as controversial in the past over potential negative impact on the environment. In 2022 a lawsuit argued that the chemical kills fish and is ineffective. A US district judge agreed with this statement but use of the chemical was permitted due to a permit from the US Environmental Protection Agency. There is a ban on dropping fire retardants in sensitive areas such as waterways and habitats of endangered species, unless public safety is threatened.
Impact of the fires
Impact on Public Health
After days of intense burning negative outcomes are to be expected. An example is dust and ash that is left behind in the air which is then spread by winds. They may contain small particles that when inhaled can irritate or exacerbate pre-existing health conditions.
Similarly, wildfire smoke in the air is full of toxins such as carbon monoxide, as well as coarse matter. These toxins can damage lung tissue, lead to low blood oxygen levels and high blood carbon dioxide levels. These issues are particularly dangerous for children, elderly, pregnant individuals and those with existing heart and lung conditions.
Recommendations regarding safety suggest wearing a mask when outside in order to protect yourself from particles. When inside to keep doors and windows closed and try alternative ventilations such as an air purifier. The Air Quality Index Map (AQI) is a visual aid allowing maintenance of the climate and for citizens to view their city's air pollution levels in real time. It can indicate whether the air is of safe quality to breathe freely. However, even if signs indicate it to be okay, if you smell smoke or see ash in the air then danger is still lingering and caution is recommended. Some particles may be too large to be picked up by certain instruments on the AQI.
Impact on wildlife
Not only do the fires have terrible consequences for humans, but they also result in problems for wildlife. Wildlife that inhabit areas accustomed to fires may have some experience in escaping them. Animals will often try their best to move around and stay out of the path of flames and smoke. For example, frogs and rodents will seek refuge underground while some fish may swim to the deepest parts of the water they inhabit.
Despite this, as climate change increases the likelihood of fires, animals may be less prepared to escape them. Bears, mountain lions, squirrels and others that make LA home may have had their natural habitats devastated. With climate change increasing the risk of fire, 'fire-naive' animals that are accustomed to areas with less fire could find themselves increasingly at risk.
Not only are wildlife threatened by damage and mortality from flames, but they also face loss of habitat and food sources as well as severe damage from smoke inhalation. These issues can lead to significant deaths without flames even being present. After studies of a fire in South Africa it was seen that 60% of snake and lizard specimens collected were found to have died from asphyxiation or carbon monoxide poisoning. Similarly, smoke inhalation or gas intoxication likely killed nearly 250 elk in the 1988 Yellowstone wildfires.
Animals such as birds would be assumed lower risk because they can fly away from fiery conditions. But because of their unique respiratory systems they inhale a higher concentration of toxins which makes them more susceptible to smoke poisoning.
There are some wildlife rehabilitation centres that may take in injured or distressed wildlife to protect them from fires. However, these are not foolproof solutions. Centres need resources and staff which can prove tricky in emergency circumstances such as if evacuations are called. Also, unfortunately in emergencies most initial thoughts are not to save the wildlife around people's homes, which means it is difficult for animals to always be rescued in time. With the situations around fires constantly changing, situations around looking out for wildlife also has to change.
Impact on Ecosystems
While wildfires pose danger to animals, they also come with serious threats and long term damage to local ecosystems which can significantly impact a species survival. Damage to plant life can be caused by heavy blankets of smoke that may block sunlight, resulting in a reduction of photosynthesis. Large amounts of smoke also limits how far light can reach underwater. This can have a negative impact on organisms such as algae in the water.
Aerosols from smoke may enter water streams which can cause damage to the water quality and create issues with the breathing of fish and other aquatic animals. Similarly, run off from products used to stop fires containing chemicals and debris can change the water quality and potentially harm marine ecosystems.
Economic Impact
Not only do fires have a negative impact on the environment but they often cause serious economic consequences. In the United States, many natural lands are being converted into places where homes and manmade structures intermingle with trees and vegetation. This increases the risk of fire ignitions, damage and loss of life. In 2022, US wildfires burned nearly 1 million hectares of tree cover and cost roughly $3.3 billion in damages.
In regards to the 2025 LA fires, current estimates suggest the total capital and property losses could range between $95 to $164 billion. It is said that overall the wildfires destroyed 16,240 homes and properties, alongside countless personal belongings. These figures are all estimates as of February 2025 but over the coming months more accurate data will be released that can further quantify the economical damage these fires have done.
Economic damage does not just affect personal real estate either. The fires swept schools, libraries and tourism hotspots. This means for some people, not only did they lose homes and belongings, but schools and access to education, a loss of familiarity or even a loss of their own businesses. The economic damage is more than we can imagine.
Wildfire Statistics
It has been said that climate change is now a major driver behind the increase of wildfires.
Changing temperatures, whether that be heating up or cooling down can increase the likelihood of disasters. Similarly, change in weather conditions alter the climate. Places that may have never experienced extreme weather could now be at risk of these disasters. Increased winds, swings between wet and dry seasons and change in climate are all reasons for the severity of the LA fires and will be the causes of many other fires. It is also likely that due to climate change, air quality will continue to get worse due to an increase in fire that leaves smoke and ash lingering in the air.
Heatwaves are 5x more likely today than they were 150 years ago. A reason for this may be what is known as the 'fire-climate feedback loop'. When forests burn they release carbon, more forests burning leads to more carbon in the air which exacerbates climate change, that in turn contributes to more fires.
Wildfire Prevention: Reducing Emissions, Technology Innovation and Wildfire Prevention Jobs
It seems there is no solution to bringing fire activity down to historical levels without drastically reducing carbon emissions and breaking the fire-climate feedback loop. This would require significant changes across all systems.
Fire is used across many landscapes to maintain and improve ecosystems and wildlife. Whether that is use by farmers to control vegetation, rid invasive species or clear out dead materials, or by specialists who use fire to increase biodiversity. Fire plays a key role in the lives of indigenous people who have used it to shape and maintain the places they live for decades.
Preventing wildfires may be done by growing and diversifying the ranks of those who work with fire. This can help maintain fire's role, benefiting ecosystems while keeping it under control and increasing education of safe fire practices. A way this is beginning to happen is by the sponsoring of fire training opportunities where they safely increase the use of controlled burns and improve safety in communities by better managing the fuel wildfires use to burn.
There are currently efforts to use high-tech camera-based surveillance systems that watch for developing wildfires and also supercomputers that try to predict where wildfires are likely to occur. Finding a job in wild-fire prevention could involve working directly in government but equally, technological solutions exist that focus on alternative ways to prevent wildfires.
Kartik Narula, the co-founder of TimberTurn, has developed an innovative approach to wildfire prevention. instead of burning fire-prone forest waste, TimberTurn buries it in engineered underground chambers designed to prevent decomposition for at least a hundred years. Their revenue-sharing model empowers local communities to reinvest in additional wildfire prevention methods, creating a sustainable, virtuous cycle.
Changes like these that may not seem significant can lead to better fire control and help societies and communities prepare for fires.
At Jobs for Planet, we are proud to start-ups that are working in the wildfire-prevention industry. If you have any questions on these skills, or if you are looking to hire, contact us. Submit your vacancy or email us on hello@jobsforplanet.com
Further Reading
Find out more about TimberTurn here
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