A devastating wildfire—the Pacific Fires—has swept through Malibu and the Pacific Palisades neighbourhoods, forcing tens of thousands to evacuate. Many celebrities lost their multi-million dollar homes.
This article was updated at 15:18, 10 Jan after new information was received
The current blaze has consumed at least 3,000 acres of land. Fueled by strong Santa Ana winds, it has destroyed 10.000 structures, including homes, in this affluent area known for its celebrity residents.
Celebrities like Billy Crystal, Anthony Hopkins, Hunter Biden, Paris Hilton, James Woods, Ricki Lake, Adam Brody, Diane Warren, Miles Teller, Mandy Moore, Anna Faris, Heidi Montag, Eugene Levy, John Goodman, and Cameron Mathison have lost their multi-million dollar homes.
Other unconfirmed names mentioned on social media are Ben Affleck [house intact], Steven Spielberg, Miley Cyrus, Mark Hamill, Tom Hanks [house intact], Diane Keaton, Michael Keaton, and Jamie Lee Curtis.
The fire began around 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday and rapidly escalated due to the extreme wind conditions, which the National Weather Service described as ”life-threatening and destructive.”
This has resulted in widespread evacuations, with residents facing traffic jams and smoky conditions. The fire’s proximity to Pacific Coast Highway has caused significant disruptions, and emergency services have been stretched thin across the region.
California Governor Gavin Newsom has declared a state of emergency, and federal assistance has been mobilized, with FEMA approving a Fire Management Assistance Grant to help with firefighting costs.
The Pacific Fires in comparison with the 1930s wildfires
Historically, California has experienced wildfires with varying degrees of severity. In the 1930s, the population density in areas like Los Angeles was much lower, and thus, the impact of fires on human life, property, and infrastructure was less severe than now.
If used properly, fire management was rudimentary in the 1930s compared to today’s sophisticated systems. There were fewer resources, less technology, and a different understanding of fire ecology.
Today, despite advanced technology like aerial firefighting, the sheer speed and intensity of fires like the Palisades Fire challenge even the most prepared fire departments.
The current fire’s threat to thousands of homes and businesses and disruption of daily life in a highly populated urban area reflects the increased vulnerability of modern communities to such natural disasters.
While the 1930s saw significant droughts that contributed to fire conditions, the current era is marked by longer, more intense droughts, leading to drier vegetation that burns more readily.
During the 1920s and 1930s, the United States experienced some of its most extensive wildfire seasons regarding acres burned. Historical data indicates that the peak years for wildfires in terms of acres burned occurred during this period.
Notably, 1931 was one of the worst wildfire years, with over 50 million acres burned. In contrast, the last decade has seen a significantly lower total of acres burned annually. However, certain years have been particularly severe due to increased human ignitions and changes in forest management practices.
The average annual burn acreage in recent years has been dramatically lower than the peaks of the 1930s, with some sources indicating a decrease of up to 82.5% from the 1930s to the 2010s. However, severe fire seasons, like 2020, have set new records for some states, particularly in the Western U.S., with over 10 million acres burned, but overall, these do not match the scale of the 1930s in terms of total acres.
In summary, while the 1920s and 1930s had significantly higher acres burned during peak years compared to the last decade, the current era is witnessing wildfires that are more complex, intense, and potentially more destructive in areas where they occur due to population density and various environmental and human factors.
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