Los Angeles is experiencing an unprecedented catastrophe, with fires that have devastated more than 17.000 hectares in just over a week. The economic cost is estimated at 200.000 billion euros, and this figure is likely to continue to rise. This event not only marks the beginning of a difficult 2025 for California, but could surpass Hurricane Katrina as the costliest natural disaster in the history of the United States.
In this article we are going to tell you the most important data on the fires in Los Angeles, California.
Why do these fires occur?
Although some of the fires appear to have been arson, experts are quick to point to climate change as a key factor amplifying their impact. Rising global temperatures and intensifying drought conditions have created an environment ripe for large-scale fires. These types of events, known as sixth-generation fires, are characterized by their rapidity, erratic behavior and difficulty in controlling them, even with modern technology.
The National Weather Service defines extreme wildfire risk weather as a combination of:
- Sustained winds exceeding 48 km/h.
- Relative humidity less than 10%.
- Temperatures above 21°C.
In Los Angeles, these conditions converged in the middle of winter, underscoring the severity of climate change. Furthermore, intense, dry, superheated Santa Ana winds channeled from the mountains toward the coast have intensified the blazes, making them even more difficult to control. To better understand how climate change exacerbates these events, you can consult the impact of global warming on forest fires.
Historical and present conditions
This is the first extreme sixth-generation fire recorded in January in Southern California. While Santa Ana winds are typical for the season, the combination of dry vegetation and extreme weather conditions is unusual for this time of year.
The summer of 2024, billed as the hottest in 130 years, set the stage for this tragedy. High temperatures dried out soils and vegetation, while previous winters with abundant rainfall (2022 and 2023) encouraged the growth of vegetation that now serves as fuel for the flames.
Additionally, California is facing a historic drought that has significantly reduced soil moisture and water available for firefighting. The traditionally rainy months of October through April have seen minimal precipitation in recent years. In 2025, the state is experiencing one of the driest starts to the season since the late XNUMXth century.
Much of Los Angeles County is in “severe drought” conditions, which not only affects vegetation, but also the water supply and emergency services reserves. To understand the evolution of these disasters, we recommend visiting the increase in forest fires in the coming years.
The impact of sixth generation fires
Sixth generation fires represent an unprecedented challenge for emergency teams. Their speed of spread and erratic behavior make it difficult to implement control strategies. These fires They have been responsible for 75% of the structures burned in the United States between 2001 and 2020, demonstrating their destructive capacity.
The combination of dry vegetation, low humidity and strong winds turns large areas of the state into real tinderboxes. Even the smallest spark, whether from human activities, power line failures or lightning, can trigger a disaster.
Despite technological advances, such as air tankers and satellite monitoring systems, controlling fires of this magnitude remains a huge challenge. Limited resources and extreme conditions leave emergency teams struggling against forces of nature beyond their capabilities. For a deeper understanding of the causes and damage of these fires, see The damage and causes of the fires in Los Angeles, California.
Climate change and the future of fires
Climate change is transforming the landscape of wildfires. Over the past two decades, the frequency and intensity of these events has more than doubled in the western United States. According to data from the National Weather Service, The fire season has now stretched to about 105 days in California.
Furthermore, Nineteen of the 19 most devastating fires in state history have occurred since 20, half of them in the past five years. This includes larger, faster and more destructive fires, consuming six times more area than in 1970.
Rising global temperatures, linked to the burning of fossil fuels and the reduction of carbon sinks, have intensified droughts and reduced soil moisture. This creates an environment where vegetation dries out quickly, increasing the likelihood of wildfires. To learn more about how climate change affects these events, you can visit .
A call to action
The Los Angeles fires are not only a local tragedy, but also a global warning. As temperatures rise and rainfall decreases, the Western United States faces a future where extreme wildfires will become more common.
Addressing the underlying causes of climate change, such as dependence on fossil fuels and deforestation, will be crucial to mitigating these disasters. At the same time, investments in more effective prevention strategies, fire-resistant infrastructure, and advanced firefighting technologies are needed. For a more comprehensive overview, see more about natural disasters.
