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ClimateSeverity: Critical

Wildfire risk in Los Angeles

Dry vegetation, strong winds and homes built into fire-prone landscapes create severe wildfire risk.

Los Angeles · United States

01 · The problem

What is happening

Southern California's Mediterranean climate and native chaparral vegetation are naturally fire-prone. Santa Ana winds in autumn and winter can drive fires rapidly into communities at the wildland–urban interface. In January 2025, the Palisades and Eaton fires destroyed thousands of structures in the Los Angeles area. The IPCC describes how warming increases the dryness of fuels and lengthens fire seasons in the western United States.

Critical severity. Severe, persistent harm to health, ecosystems or livelihoods. Severity is descriptive editorial metadata summarising documented effects. It is not a measured index or a score.

02 · Causes

Why it is happening

  1. 01

    Hot, dry conditions

    Warming and drought dry out vegetation.

  2. 02

    Santa Ana winds

    Strong, dry downslope winds spread fires rapidly.

  3. 03

    Development in fire-prone areas

    Homes built in and near wildlands increase exposure and ignition sources.

  4. 04

    Ignitions

    Power lines, equipment and human activity can start fires.

03 · Impacts

Who and what it affects

  1. 01

    Loss of life and homes

    Fast-moving fires destroy neighbourhoods.

  2. 02

    Smoke exposure

    Wildfire smoke affects air quality across the region.

  3. 03

    Post-fire hazards

    Burned slopes can produce debris flows during rain.

  4. 04

    Insurance and housing pressure

    Rising risk affects insurance availability and costs.

04 · Solutions

Documented approaches

  1. Defensible space and home hardening

    Clearing vegetation near homes and using fire-resistant materials.

    Expected effectImproves the chance that homes survive fires.

  2. Fire hazard mapping and building codes

    CAL FIRE hazard severity zones inform building requirements.

    Expected effectReduces vulnerability of new construction.

  3. Utility safety measures

    Undergrounding lines and power shutoffs during extreme wind.

    Expected effectReduces utility-caused ignitions.

  4. Warning and evacuation systems

    Alerts and evacuation planning.

    Expected effectReduces loss of life.

Explore an illustrative What-If

05 · Key indicators

What can be measured

Notable event
Palisades and Eaton fires2025

January 2025 wildfires that destroyed thousands of structures in Los Angeles County.

06 · Sources

Where this comes from

  1. [1]CAL FIRECalifornia Department of Forestry and Fire Protectionfire.ca.gov(opens in a new tab)
  2. [2]Climate Change 2021: The Physical Science BasisIntergovernmental Panel on Climate Change · Aug 2021ipcc.ch(opens in a new tab)

Links open the publishing organisation's site. Some point to the publisher's main page, where the named report or dataset can be found.

Also in Los Angeles

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