Overview
As people were taking their Christmas trees down and sweeping the New Years Eve confetti off their living room floors, wildfires have ravaged through Los Angeles, California. Dating back to January 7th, a growing number of 31 wildfires have destroyed the Palisades area and several Los Angeles neighborhoods.
What is Causing These Fires? Is it Man? Nature?
California is no stranger to wildfires due to its dry land and continuous droughts, but these fires are different. Many California citizens have claimed they have never seen this many wildfires of such magnitude at once. Due to this, the nature of these fires have come into question. An expert told NBC News, “that natural causes are more plausible than arson, due to heavy wind conditions.” However, it has not been thrown out that some of these fires are man-made.
Honoring the Victims and Rebuilding the Community
It is a devastating announcement that a current total of twenty-nine people have died from these fires, whether from intense smoke inhalation or the flames themselves. Many of these victims were either elderly or handicapped. Many of these grieving families have honored their loved ones names and legacies, explaining how most of these victims refused to leave their beloved homes, and did everything they could to defend them.
For example, a family friend of a brave victim by the name of Victor Shaw (66) explained to KTLA, “when they went back to the home the morning of Jan. 8, they found Victor’s body on the side of a road with a garden hose in his hand.” These courageous victims are not just names or pictures on a television screen, they are heroes who held their garden hoses and water buckets all the way to the end, and this unimaginable bravery is forever commendable.
Due to the wildfires, the city is unrecognizable, and it is questioned how Los Angeles and the Palisades will ever be able to rebuild. However, most of these fires are currently contained by California’s heroic and superhuman firefighters and volunteers, giving the community a much needed breath of relief and the time they need to plan on rebuilding their homes and communities.
