The wildfires currently wreaking havoc in Los Angeles County weren’t triggered by climate change. However, the significant fluctuations in weather conditions observed over the last 20 years act like a powerful accelerant, intensifying the fires and expanding their destruction.
As a cinema enthusiast residing in Southern California, I can’t help but feel the weight of the grim reality that our beloved region is facing in the aftermath of the devastating wildfires in Malibu, Pacific Palisades, and Altadena. The sheer scale of destruction is bound to affect every industry within our vicinity, and unfortunately, not even exclusive firefighting squads or luxurious underground shelters can shield Hollywood from this calamity.
Debbie Levin, CEO of the Environmental Media Association for 25 years, states that the issue of climate change isn’t going to miraculously disappear overnight. Since the early 1900s, we’ve been emitting harmful substances into our atmosphere due to industrial activities, and we’re only now grappling with its consequences. It seems there’s still a lack of understanding about how local communities should address this issue.”
Debbie Levin states that climate change is not going away quickly, it has been an ongoing issue since the early 1900s due to industrial activities, and there seems to be a lack of understanding about how local communities should deal with it.)
In many desert ecosystems, wildfires play a crucial role that’s both natural and beneficial. However, human hardship due to these fires has significantly increased over the past century. This is because residential areas have been built in fire-prone, mudslide-vulnerable regions that also experience drought and irregular rainfall or snowfall. To make matters worse, climate change caused by greenhouse gases in the atmosphere exacerbates these conditions on a global scale.
Desert ecosystems rely on wildfires to thrive, but human suffering from them has increased due to the construction of homes in fire-prone areas over the last hundred years. Climate change, caused by greenhouse gases, makes these conditions even worse worldwide.
Stephanie Pincetl, a professor at UCLA’s Institute of Environment and Sustainability, explains this conundrum: Human activities are causing climate change which intensifies the fire season. While fires have always occurred in these areas historically, the weather patterns have become more extreme recently. It’s as if the hot spells are getting hotter, the dry spells drier, the wet spells wetter, and even the cold spells colder.
The situation that erupted in Los Angeles’ hot spots was sadly predictable, she adds.
In the environment where the vegetation was incredibly arid and powerful gusts were prevalent, even a small spark could swiftly ignite and quickly spread throughout the ecosystem, as Pincetl explains.
Monalisa Chatterjee, a professor of environmental science at USC, echoed Pincetl’s sentiments.
In Southern California, it’s common to experience strong Santa Ana winds due to its unique geographical arrangement, featuring mountain ranges running in all four directions. However, the recent gusts reaching up to 80-90 miles per hour are exceptionally intense, even for Santa Ana conditions. Moreover, the occurrence of these Santa Ana winds in early January is quite unusual. To put it simply, the events of January 7th resembled a hurricane, but instead of heavy rain, it brought about fire danger.
Chatterjee notes that Santa Ana winds occur here frequently, but what’s happening now is extraordinary and unlike anything we’ve experienced before.
As a movie buff, I’ve been living through an action flick with a harsh California weather plotline. In the years 2021 and 2022, the LA area was drenched by torrential downpours, causing hillside, canyon, and forest growth to surge like a steroid-fueled monster movie. However, when drought conditions returned in 2023 and 2024, these areas transformed into tinderboxes, ready for a spark to ignite them at any moment.
“Every type of extreme situation has overlapped in this one moment,” Chatterjee says.
It’s deeply frustrating for scientists and advocates when climate change, a critical issue, gets heavily politicized in times of emergency in the U.S. This week, Pincetl and Chatterlee voiced their disapproval over the finger-pointing that has occurred amidst the sorrow and destruction. The magnitude of this problem surpasses the capacity and resources of any single fire department.
Given the extreme ferocity of the fires and the strong winds we encountered, it was impossible to deploy enough firefighters on the ground to control them. Instead, there’s a lot of blame being thrown around: ‘It was because of DEI at the fire department,’ or ‘The fire department didn’t have sufficient funds.’ However, even if the fire department had more resources, they might not have been enough to combat these fires. The truth is, we’ve unleashed forces that are beyond our immediate control. The real blame should be directed towards the oil companies and our continued dependence on fossil fuels, which are contributing to climate change.
The impacts of this week’s destruction are likely to linger across the region for years, or even several decades. This could function as a warning signal.
Pincetl suggests that as we go through this process, we may uncover possibilities for dealing with a shifting climate that weren’t available earlier. Possibly, we won’t have to rebuild some homes that were previously considered extremely vulnerable.
At this juncture, Levin from the EMA views it as a propitious time to mobilize an intelligent strategy for reducing potential risks in the future, provided that local leaders possess the political determination to do so.
Homes situated by the sea in Malibu cannot be reconstructed due to significant erosion caused by recent climate events. The Coastal Commission has decided they won’t permit construction in this area,” Levin notes.
Regrettably, the discourse on climate change and associated governmental policies affecting businesses and homeowners may complicate our efforts in recovery and long-term risk management. Instead, we might find ourselves having more discussions about questions like “What went wrong?” and “Why isn’t my insurance covering me?”, as Levin expresses his concerns.
In my latest film critique, I can’t help but notice the gradual influx of exotic flora and fauna that seems to be taking root in this desert setting, a landscape they don’t naturally belong in. These foreign elements, such as the vibrant plants, verdant grasses, and towering trees, unfortunately tend to ignite more easily and at greater intensity than their native counterparts, which are remarkably resilient in the face of such extreme conditions.
Chatterjee notes that in numerous instances, we’ve distanced ourselves from indigenous fire-resistant species which, due to their resistance, didn’t burn as much and could endure extreme temperatures and fires. However, we’ve often replaced these with invasive species, prized for their beauty. We introduce them into our local ecosystems because they’re aesthetically pleasing. Unfortunately, from a fire safety standpoint, these invasive species are problematic as they ignite quickly and aid in the propagation of fires.
As a concerned resident, I can’t help but worry about the potential threat of harmful pollutants filling our air and seeping into the ground. Our modern homes, unfortunately, harbor plastics, chemicals, and other synthetic materials that release toxins when incinerated. This is why we’ve been advised to boil water before drinking it in the areas most affected by this crisis.
I’ve come to realize how unnatural modern homes can be, filled as they are with an abundance of plastic and various chemicals. When these items catch fire or break down, they release harmful substances that we end up inhaling. This process not only makes the pollutants more toxic but also disperses them into our surroundings.
Levin is convinced that the film industry and storytelling have the potential to enlighten the public about the tangible aspects of climate change. For quite some time, the EMA has urged writers and producers to create uplifting tales that illustrate how small alterations, for instance banning plastic bags as the EMA passionately endorsed, can bring about change. Instead of continually portraying doomsday scenarios, it’s now crucial to present climate scientists as heroes in movies and TV series, providing education and motivation.
I’ve noticed that many climate disaster films and series portray the potential severity of our current situation,” I mention. “However, they often fail to provide practical solutions for immediate action. This is problematic because if the focus remains on catastrophe, it may lead some people to disengage or perceive it as a concern exclusive to those who accept climate change.
Pincetl and Chatterjee point out that there are significant choices ahead for both Southern Californian residents and influential political and business figures. The recent wildfires may persuade certain individuals to abandon California completely.
Pincetl argues that since there’s an overwhelming amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere causing climate change, we must make significant choices. We can either keep exacerbating the problem by attempting to maintain our current lifestyle through various means, or acknowledge that the world has changed and adapt the way we construct buildings, choose where to build, travel, and more. In my view, there’s no other solution.
Regardless of the shifting political climate in the U.S., particularly President-elect Donald Trump’s past stance on climate change matters, evidence is accumulating in numerous cities and towns nationwide that the threats from unpredictable weather patterns are escalating. In the opinion of leading experts, Southern California can find a way forward if crucial decision-makers acknowledge the urgency of this situation.
Climate change is causing conditions to become increasingly dry and hot, which means the danger of wildfires will persist,” Chatterjee notes. “We need to think carefully about our lifestyle, where we choose to live, the choices and decisions we make, how we handle fuel management, and how we communicate these risks. It requires a significant amount of adjustments and adaptations if we want to continue living in this environment.
(Image: Two individuals traverse a scorched region in Pacific Palisades on January 10, 2025) or
(Shown: Two people make their way through a fire-damaged part of Pacific Palisades on January 10, 2025)
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2025-01-12 00:17