Wildfires have been wreaking havoc across Los Angeles, resulting in catastrophic damage and apocalyptic scenes.
Enormous flames reaching heights of 120 feet have engulfed homes, businesses, schools, and places of worship, with the estimated damage totaling a staggering $49 billion (£40bn).
From the Pacific Coast to Pasadena, communities have been devastated, and the fires show no signs of slowing down.
Celebrities Among Those Affected by the Blaze
Among those affected by the infernos are some of Hollywood’s biggest names.
In Pacific Palisades, a coastal area famous for its celebrity properties, homes belonging to actors Sir Anthony Hopkins, Billy Crystal, John Goodman, and Anna Faris were completely destroyed.
The destruction in this upscale neighborhood is a stark reminder of the ferocity of the firestorm sweeping through the region.
The Perfect Storm of Weather Conditions
Firefighters have struggled to contain the flames, which have been fueled by a combination of ferocious winds and an ongoing drought.
The conditions have created a “perfect storm” for the wildfires.
Tens of thousands of residents have been forced to evacuate their homes, and the situation continues to worsen as the fires spread rapidly.
Historic Fires Devastate Large Areas of Los Angeles
The Palisades Fire, which has ravaged areas between Santa Monica and Malibu, and the Eaton Fire near Pasadena have already been labeled as the most destructive fires in Los Angeles history.
Together, they have consumed more than 34,000 acres (13,750 hectares) — an area about the size of 53 square miles.
The total destruction from these fires continues to mount, with authorities still working to assess the full scale of the damage.
Causes of the Wildfires and the Role of Weather
While the exact cause of the fires remains unclear, many wildfires are typically linked to human error, such as unattended campfires or discarded cigarette butts.
However, the weather and environmental conditions have played a significant role in the severity and spread of these fires.
Experts suggest that heavy rains from last year’s El Niño event triggered significant vegetation growth in the area, but once the rains stopped, the plants dried out, becoming highly flammable and acting as fuel for the fires.
Southern California’s ‘Devil Winds’ Fuel the Firestorm
The fires have been further fueled by the infamous Santa Ana winds, also known as “devil winds.”
These warm, gusty winds blow from the interior of the region toward the coast and are particularly dry.
Unlike the usual onshore flow that brings moist air from the Pacific Ocean, the Santa Ana winds create dry conditions by pushing humidity levels down and drying out vegetation.
The resulting tinderbox has made it easier for fires to ignite and spread rapidly.
These powerful winds are capable of transforming even the smallest spark into a rapidly advancing firestorm that can consume thousands of acres in just hours.