Fires in Los Angeles

Starting January 7, wildfires tore across Los Angeles, California. As of January 9, when this article was published, several fires were still not contained. One had burned an estimated 1,000 structures, making it the most destructive in the city’s history. Homes, businesses, and beloved landmarks were destroyed. Five deaths had been reported. And the situation was changing day by day.

The fires forced more than 130,000 people to evacuate their homes. Some went to shelters, which offered a safe place to stay. Many schools and roads were closed. More than 1.5 million people lost power. Officials also asked people to conserve water. The city’s water supply was strained by firefighting efforts.

Recovery measures are still underway (see “Here to Help”). California governor Gavin Newsom addressed these on social media on January 9. “More than 7,500 firefighting personnel are on the ground working with local and federal partners to respond to California’s ongoing historic wildfires,” he wrote.

Dangerous Conditions

California’s wildfire season typically begins in June or July and runs through October. But high temperatures, heavy winds, and low rainfall can create fire conditions year-round. The fire season has been starting earlier and ending later in recent years.

It’s not yet known what started these fires, but they were spread by very high winds, which pushed them into dry areas. These areas have been especially vulnerable to fires due to drought. “We haven’t had any substantial rain for hundreds of days,” Max Moritz told NBC News. He’s a wildfire specialist at the University of California, Santa Barbara.

“It’s astounding, what’s happened,” President Biden said on January 8. “We’re prepared to do anything and everything for as long as it takes to contain these fires.”

Here to Help

Neighbors, firefighters, and organizations are helping people affected by the wildfires. Here are three groups assisting with recovery efforts.

• The California Fire Foundation supports California communities affected by natural disasters. It gives direct support to victims.

• World Central Kitchen is a global food-relief nonprofit. It’s providing first responders and evacuees with food and drinking water.

• Cal Fire Benevolent Foundation raises funds for firefighters and their families. This money will help firefighters who are hurt on the job.

Stop and Think!

WHY does the author point out, in the first paragraph, the date on which this article was published?