On Tuesday morning, live cameras captured the moment a small backyard fire began as a wisp of grey smoke. It quickly grew out of control and transformed into a massive wildfire.In just a few minutes, the smoke thickened into a dark cloud, and flames began to engulf the dry plants and bushes around it.
LA Fire Chief Kristin Crowley stated, “The wildfire is spreading faster than anything we’ve ever witnessed… it’s truly unlike anything we’ve experienced in our lives.”
Reuters
The chances of stopping the wildfires that are raging out of control in the coming days look really slim because of the bad weather.
Right now, about 179,783 people in Los Angeles County have been told to evacuate. Another 200,000 are on alert, which means they might have to leave at any time, according to BBC.
Sadly, at least five people have died, and many others are hurt.
Reuters
The Palisades wildfire, which is the biggest fire in the southern part of Los Angeles, wiped out thousands of homes, businesses, and other buildings.
Right now, there are five fires still burning in the City of Angels.
Last summer, Joe Rogan, a podcaster and comedian, shared a story about a chat he had with a firefighter from LA. While talking with fellow comedian Sam Morril, Rogan remembered the firefighter saying, “One day, the wind will blow just right, and a fire will start in the perfect spot, burning all the way through LA to the ocean, and there won’t be anything we can do to stop it.
“If the wind shifts the wrong way, it will just sweep through LA.”
Altadena in California before the fires/ Maxar/Reuters
Altadena in California after the fires/ Maxar/Reuters
Sadly, these predictions came true.
Experts say that, in addition to the weather, climate change plays a big role in how wildfires spread in January.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration explained that climate change, which brings hotter temperatures, longer dry spells, and drier air, has significantly raised the chances and size of wildfires in the western United States.
Maxar/Reuters
According to the Daily Mail, experts say that the heavy rains from El Niño last year helped plants grow a lot in the Los Angeles area. However, those plants have since dried out and become very easy to catch fire.
When the wildfire began, Southern California experienced strong winds called Santa Ana winds. These winds are hot and dry, blowing in from the northeast, which is different from the cooler winds that usually come from the Pacific Ocean.
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