Los Angeles has adopted much harsher wildfire policies than many other places over the years. But recent fires have exposed disparities that exist in many other communities as well. Augustin Paulier/AFP/Getty Images/AFP hide title
Los Angeles is no stranger to wildfires. The region has a long history of destructive fires and has some of the toughest wildfire policies in the country.
Still, fueled by strong winds, fires across the region quickly became nearly uncontainable. Flammable brush dries out from lack of rain and higher temperatures and can burn at any time. So did the densely packed houses, and the fire spread into the urban area.
Los Angeles, which has one of the most experienced firefighting forces in the country, has adopted a wildfire policy Many other states do not yet. Some Republican leaders are calling for an end to federal aid to fire victims because of what they call "mismanagement" of wildfire policy.
"They're encouraging people to build millions, billions of dollars of homes and complexes in very vulnerable areas," said Wisconsin Sen. Ron Johnson Tell NPRalso called on residents to use "tile roofs". Los Angeles County has enacted strict wildfire home building codes and passed regulations limiting new development in wildfire-prone areas.
Still, the fire was too intense for firefighters to deal with. The disaster exposed gaps in the region's preparedness to reduce the chance of fires becoming unmanageable and keep communities safe. Nearly every fire-prone community in the American West has some shortcomings, but in some cases the Los Angeles region has been slow to adopt comprehensive planning tools that other communities have used.
Fire experts say the tragic toll provides lessons for other communities across the country that have not yet adopted California's measures, and for Los Angeles as it rebuilds from the fires. Research shows that these types of explosive fires are becoming more common as temperatures rise due to climate change. one recent analysis UCLA scientists found that before these fires, climate change had dried out the region's vegetation by about 25 percent.
“California is doing the most, but they’re also dealing with the highest risk,” said Michael Gollner, an associate professor of engineering at the University of California, Berkeley, who studies fire risk. "Where we can really see the impact is what we do before a fire happens, just to make communities safer so they don't burn down."
Many neighborhoods around Los Angeles are known for their rugged beauty, with homes tucked into rolling hillsides and steep canyons. The roads, often winding and narrow, were built decades ago before modern fire codes required widening.
This means it can be difficult for fire trucks to access these neighborhoods when fires are spreading quickly, especially when cars are parked on the street. Car traffic was also restricted when residents were evacuated. causing traffic jams This resulted in people dying in previous fires.
That's why the Los Angeles Fire Department Set special parking restrictions. On "red flag days," when high winds prompt forecasters to issue formal warnings of fire danger, on-street parking is restricted on roads with sharp turns, narrow lanes or key intersections. There are special signs on the roadside and residents must check that restrictions are in effect or risk being fined. Some communities in Southern California go even further, Street parking has been restricted due to fires.
Los Angeles has special parking restrictions in place during windy days when fire risk is high. David McNew/Getty Images/Getty Images North America hide title
Landowners in the most fire-prone areas of Los Angeles receive annual notifications in the mail. Here’s a reminder about defensible space rules – the requirement to manage vegetation around a home to reduce the chance of it catching fire.
The reason is embers. High winds can carry burning debris more than a mile, causing fires to spread quickly. When they become trapped in a pile of dry leaves in a tree, bush, or drainage ditch, they can ignite a fire away from the fire wall.
Los Angeles area local governments have taken defensible space rules Rules similar to those that apply in fire-prone areas across California. Large shrubs must be spaced apart, gutters must be clear of debris, and trees should not touch the house. In other extreme wildfires, these precautions Proven to help save homes.
"If a fire does occur and it's ten times less likely to start, think about the impact that firefighters have on the fire," Gollner said. "Instead of dealing with 20 burning houses at once in this small area, they're Dealing with both houses now they can actually put out the fire."
To ensure homeowners are complying with regulations, fire inspectors will visit homes. In 2022, Los Angeles County fire officials did more than 58,000 inspections. If a homeowner fails to complete the work after two inspections, the Los Angeles Fire Department will issue fines of more than $2,000 and then hire a contractor to do the cleanup. Homeowner also have responsibility Contractor's fee for work.
Many wildfire-prone Western states lack this level of enforcement, relying instead on voluntary guidelines or public education campaigns. The problem, fire experts warn, is that entire communities need to create defensible spaces for them to be effective. Homeowners who do everything right can still be vulnerable if their neighbors have dense brush and overgrown trees.
Many homes that will be rebuilt in Los Angeles will need to meet the state's building code for fire-resistant materials. But most of the remaining homes were built before they were passed. Etienne Laurent/AFP/Getty Images/AFP hide title
Still, even California’s groundbreaking rules on defensible space have proven deficient. Research has found that the most critical area to protect a home is within 5 feet of a building. So in 2020, state lawmakers passed a bill to create an "ember-proof zone" within five feet of a home, known as "Zone 0." State fire officials are still drafting rules that, for the first time, are expected to severely limit or eliminate all vegetation next to homes.
Fire officials have heard backlash from the public as many homeowners plant greenery outside their windows that they don't want to give up. After several years of delays, the regulations have yet to take effect on existing homes and are expected to begin in 2026.
Just as the vegetation surrounding your home is important, so is the home itself. Wood roofs and siding present fire risks as well as eaves along the roof line and wood decks and fences that touch the home. Experts have Build a house and burn it down Test these building materials.
Even in the 1960s, Los Angeles knew that its housing stock made it vulnerable. After the 1961 Bel Air Fire, the Los Angeles Fire Department released a documentary The bill blames "houses with combustible roofs, closely spaced brush-covered ravines and ridges, and narrow roads" as "designed for disaster."
1989, Los Angeles Ban on new wooden roofsmaking it the first major city to do so. The move was challenged by the Cedar Shake and Shingle Bureau, which filed a lawsuit to block the move. California's most stringent building code for wildfire-prone areas began in 2008 and is called "Chapter 7a." New construction requires the use of fire-resistant roofs and siding, as well as other protection strategies such as placing small mesh screens over attic vents to prevent embers from entering the home and starting There's a fire inside.
Still, the vast majority of housing in Los Angeles was built before wildfire building codes were established, meaning many homes are more vulnerable to fires. California has Start a funding program help family hardeningIt is known that in a few counties. But the need exceeds what local and state grant programs can meet.
"There were a few houses here and there," Gollner said. "We need to do this at scale. This is a very difficult social issue and your actions affect your neighbours."
The 2018 Woolsey Fire was another fast-moving, wind-driven fire that ultimately destroyed more than 1,600 structures. Experts then analyzed what Los Angeles County could do better as it develops land-use policies for the more than one million people who live in communities outside Los Angeles city limits.
They found that areas with the highest wildfire risk have encouraged economic growth for decades. The policy has shifted, but an analysis I found out that I should go to the county seat. Considering how many buildings are already at risk, further discouraging increased density in these areas.
“If you had asked me a week ago: Where were conditions in Los Angeles County relative to other places, I would have said they were really high,” said Molly Mowery, executive director of the Center for Community Wildfire Planning, who worked on the project research work. Report. "They've done a lot but the conditions in existing developments are difficult for any community."
Los Angeles County already has regulations in place that prohibit new subdivisions from being built in high-risk fire areas unless they meet conditions that provide adequate evacuation routes and water supplies and use fire-resistant construction materials. County officials expect Consider a new law Soon, this will place more demands on new homes in these areas.
As the death toll from wildfires continues to rise, some communities across the West have stepped up planning efforts. many people write Community Wildfire Protection Plana comprehensive analysis of wildfire risks and ways to help reduce them. The plan looks at who is vulnerable and outlines potential projects to help prepare homes and make evacuation more efficient.
Community plans are not mandatory and are not funded, but they provide detailed information on all aspects of wildfire preparedness. The federal government also There is a special allocation Applies to projects specifically outlined in the Community Plan.
Still, neither the city nor the county of Los Angeles has plans at this time. both exist The process of writing them for the first time.
“What’s needed, with so many different large, labyrinthine agencies and community groups of varying sizes, is for everyone to get on the same page and agree on what needs to happen, which will create a higher level of security preparedness, resilience and responsiveness and recovery,” said Chris Nevil of MySafe:LA, a nonprofit working with the Los Angeles Fire Department Write a community plan.