In early 2025, Los Angeles faced the second worst wildfires in California history. Approximately 16,000 homes and other structures were destroyed by two fires in the Los Angeles area.
Negative Impacts and Health Concerns:
Wildfires are among the most hazardous sources of potential injuries for humans and the environment. Once a fire consumes trees, shrubs, and plants they move on to bigger structures such as homes and buildings that make humans vulnerable. According to CalMatters, “… also where California has been building homes for decades – nearly 45% of homes built between 1990 and 2020 are located in places with lots of vegetation ready to fuel a fire.” This not only shows major warning signs of how dangerous it is for fires to occur in these parts of Los Angeles but also helps readers understand the horrendous effects of wildfires. A CalMatter analysis has found that as of 2020, one out of three Californians live in the 7-million-acre zone that makes up the WUI. WUI is wildfire-urban interference, which is the area where human development meets a high risk of wildfires. This is a major issue since nearly 14 million civilians are living in California. According to the U.S. Fire Administration, the WUI grows about two million acres per year nationwide. Not only did this affect land-based structures, but also marine life.
Effects on Marine Life:
Smoke and ash formed by these wildfires can cause serious health problems in humans including heart disease, asthma, certain types of cancer, dementia, and many more. Past studies have shown that the ash from forest fires can also affect marine life, boosting the growth of phytoplankton, microscopic algae at the base of aquatic food webs. This could trigger harmful algae blooms, which can create low-oxygen dead zones where marine life cannot survive. Also, plastics, heavy metals, asbestos, and more substances burned in LA fires can bring about potential impacts on the environment and marine life. These chemicals and metals make their way into the Pacific Ocean where the impacts can be drastic and harmful. The massive sediment load covers coral reefs and clouds ocean water so light cannot enter. As a result, photosynthesis cannot occur which causes the plants to die, resulting in the mass death of fish and invertebrates that need marine vegetation to survive. Furthermore, the Environment California Research and Policy Center stated, “The health of all marine animals may be threatened from the bioaccumulation of ‘forever chemicals’ into their bodies from their sudden influx of urban ash into their environment.” There has not been a lot of clear clarification of the impact these chemicals have on aquatic life, but earlier research has said that high exposure in laboratory animals has been known to cause developmental, reproductive, liver, kidney, and immune issues. Tides, currents, and winds can also spread and magnify these chemicals and their effects on our coastal waters.
Devastation of Property:
After this devastating event, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection is increasingly encouraging homeowners to “harden” their homes. Some of these features can include building or retrofitting key parts of a home, such as roofs, walls, windows, decks, garages, fences, and gutters with more flame-resistant materials. These materials can be made out of concrete or steel for sturdier and durable protection. Also, tempered glass windows are designed to withstand high temperatures and reduce the glass shattering from intense heat. Additionally, non-combustible decks and fences will be replaced by traditional wooden designs that have contributed to past fire damage. Architect Greg Chasen believes a number of these features helped save a home he designed and built, which survived the Palisades fires. These architectural changes have played a crucial role in reducing the risk of damage to the property. Moreover, roof sprinkler systems and ember-resistant vents became a standard in many high-risk areas. These new systems have been enforced to stop embers from entering homes, which is a leading cause of wildfires spreading.
Policy Changes and Government Funding:
To ensure the success of these wildfire-resistant rebuilding efforts, Los Angeles and the state of California are implementing new policies and regulations to help homeowners and developers adopt safer construction methods. The state is also offering challenges in wildfire recovery for homeowners securing insurance coverage. After the recent wildfires this year, many insurance companies raised premiums or stopped offering coverage in high-risk areas altogether. The California government has expanded the FAIR Plane, the state-backed wildfire insurance program to help residents access coverage for rebuilding their homes.
Acts of Kindness:
Even though this tragic event affected many people living in California, Californians showed great acts of kindness. They stepped up as a community to help each other and look out for one another. Many people have contributed to fundraising efforts for the Californians who lost their homes or suffered severe damage. The community funded and bought resources for people who couldn’t afford them or were injured. Some of the items that were donated included food, hygienic, and medicinal products. Overall, this symbolizes the Los Angeles community in times of distress and their acts of kindness towards people; something many others look up to.