As I write this column for the Carrier, Los Angeles is burning. The first fire known as Palisades began nearly a week ago, swept by hurricane-force Santa Anna winds over the Santa Monica Mountains into the community of Pacific Palisades, which is now almost completely burnt to the ground. The next fire (Eaton) began in the Altadena area moving south toward Pasadena. The toll is mounting: thus far, 24 lives have been lost and additional missing, more than 15 thousand structures destroyed, and economic loss somewhere between $125-150 billion. Burning embers fly many miles spreading more fire. Parts of LA today are reminiscent of the great World War II fire-bombing raids of Hamburg, Dresden, and Tokyo. Historical and cultural landmarks like the Will Rogers Ranch have been destroyed, never to be recovered.
Fire events in the West and California in particular are not unusual. They are frequent and predictable. What is unique about this case is that the fires represent wildfire-urban interface, where the fires tear into the communities where people live and work. They require quick response and extinguishment before momentum takes over and the fire sweeps over the mountains and into the canyons.