In the United States, the death toll from devastating fires across the Los Angeles area has risen to 25 people. Thousands of residents are preparing for more evacuation orders as officials warn of “particularly dangerous” weather, with a forecast of more powerful winds blowing through the region, which could strengthen to up to 70 miles per hour. Firefighting crews are racing to contain the largest blazes, the Palisades and Eaton fires, which have scorched and flattened entire communities. Dozens of people are still missing. President Biden said Monday the cost of recovery could be in the “tens of billions of dollars.”
President Joe Biden: “Although the federal government is going to cover 100% of the costs for the next 180 days, for things like firefighter overtime pay, debris removal, temporary shelters, it’s going to cost tens of billions of dollars to get Los Angeles back to where it was. So we’re going to need Congress to step up to provide funding to get this done.”
Researchers at UCLA’s Climate and Wildfire Research Initiative say global heating contributed to the wildfires. They estimate L.A.’s hotter climate accounted for roughly 25% of the extreme fuel moisture deficit present when the fires exploded, fanned by intense Santa Ana winds.