Visual explainer: why are the LA wildfires so bad? | US wildfires | The Guardian

Santa Ana winds, drought and a hotter planet have helped exacerbate the Palisades, Hurst and Eaton fires in California

Firefighters battle the Eaton fire in Pasadena. Photograph: David McNew/Getty Images Santa Ana winds, drought and a hotter planet have helped exacerbate the fires in California By Oliver Milman , with graphics by Lucy Swan , Ana Lucía González Paz and Paul Scruton Thu 9 Jan 2025 08.23 EST First published on Wed 8 Jan 2025 13.43 EST Share Prefer the Guardian on Google E ven in a state that has become accustomed to severe conflagrations, the rapid surge of wildfire that has torched the Los Angeles area has been shocking, triggering mass evacuations that have left behind charred suburban homes. S

related reading

• Can Anyone Fix California? | Vanity Fairvanityfair.com
• Smoke in the air as Australia’s fire crews prepare for the return of El Niño | Environment | The Guardiantheguardian.com
• California economy: How much do wildfires cost? - CalMatterscalmatters.org
• Wildfire - Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org
• Colorado is Burning. For Many Scientists, It’s Personal. - Union of Concerned Scientistsblog.ucsusa.org
• Climate change means California can't save every burned town - Los Angeles Timeslatimes.com
• New Climate Maps Show a Transformed United States | ProPublicaprojects.propublica.org
• History of how the oil industry shaped Los Angeles - Los Angeles Timeslatimes.com
• Brief notes on Los Angelesbriantimar.com
• The Urban Oil Fields of Los Angeles - The Atlantictheatlantic.com
• California’s Vestal Flame - by Palladium Editorsletter.palladiummag.com
• New York’s Apocalyptic Air Isn’t Deadly for Me. It Can Be for Others. | The New Republicnewrepublic.com