Los Angeles: It has been over a week since the massive wildfires broke out in Los Angeles, fuelled by hurricane-strength Santa Ana winds, causing some of the most catastrophic fire scenes California has ever witnessed.
The fires, centred around the Palisades and nearby Eaton areas, remain largely uncontained. With the return of Santa Ana winds, the risk of further spread or new ignitions grows.
To date, these fierce wildfires have claimed at least 25 lives, destroyed over 12,300 structures, and scorched more than 40,600 acres (about 164 square km). So, when will these fires end, and what do fire-fighters need to stop them?
It is difficult to determine when the fires will be contained. The main variables are wind and rain, or the lack thereof.
"The weather plays a driving factor in all this because they've been in critical fire behaviour for so long," said Joe Ten Eyck, the wildfire/urban-interface fire programmes coordinator for the International Association of Fire Fighters.
Currently, the outlook is not encouraging. Dry conditions and strong winds are expected to persist, making the next few days critical. The US National Weather Service (NWS) predicts cooler temperatures towards the end of the week, with a slight chance of rain early next week but no significant precipitation in the near term.
While the Santa Ana winds briefly eased over the weekend, they are expected to intensify again, possibly fuelling rapid fire spread and erratic behaviour, Xinhua news agency reported.
If the winds shift toward the coast, they could help contain the Palisades Fire by pushing it back onto already burnt areas. However, strong winds also risk reigniting the fires before conditions improve later in the week.
"We need Mother Nature to give us a break," Deputy Chief Brice Bennett of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) told CNN. "We have the fire-fighters, we have the water, we need the time."
Even when the flames are put out, recovery will be a lengthy and complex process. In just the first two weeks of 2025, more than 100 wildfires have scorched nearly 40,000 acres in California, far exceeding the five-year average of 46 fires and 13 acres.
Cal Fire noted the massive increases and emphasised the importance of being prepared. "Now more than ever, it's critical to harden your home against wildfires and create defensible space around your property."
Homeowners are urged to clear dry vegetation, create defensible space, and use fire-resistant materials to protect their properties.
Up to 200,000 people have been displaced by the fires. As of Wednesday, some 82,400 residents were under evacuation orders, and another 90,400 faced evacuation warnings, according to Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna.
California Governor Gavin Newsom has described the recovery effort as a "herculean task." Debris removal from affected homes is expected to take six to nine months, with challenges like toxic waste cleanup and coordinating rebuilding efforts. The increasing frequency and intensity of wildfires are part of a larger trend tied to human-caused climate change. Extreme weather events like wildfires are becoming more common, destructive, and deadly. (IANS)
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