The deadly wildfires ripping this week through Southern California are a reminder that climate-driven disasters are intensifying — even in the winter months, experts say.
The cluster of large and unusually destructive January blazes killed five people as of Wednesday night and forced the evacuation of tens of thousands more in and around Los Angeles. They’ve also stretched California’s firefighting resources, which officials said were not prepared for the early-season disaster.
“There are not enough firefighters in LA County to address four separate fires of this magnitude,” said Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone at a press conference Wednesday morning. “The LA County fire department was prepared for one or two major brush fires, not four, especially given these sustained winds and low humidities.”
A convergence of climate factors has helped the wildfires spark and spread.
