California fires: Hundreds of American Red Cross workers deployed to assist affected residents
By the Climate Centre
Hundreds of American Red Cross workers are now helping California residents fleeing from massive and fast-moving wildfires that have destroyed homes of all kinds and sizes, the National Society said today.
“The Red Cross is focused on making sure everyone has a safe place to stay and no one faces this heartbreaking crisis alone,” a press release added.
Reuters reported today that the Palisades fire between Santa Monica and Malibu to the west of Los Angeles and the Eaton fire in the east are already the most destructive in the city’s history, consuming nearly 30,000 acres “and turning entire neighbourhoods to ash”.
The combination of low humidity, a dry landscape and Category 2 hurricane-force winds fed at least five major individual fires and has made fighting them more difficult.
‘It’s imperative that people remain vigilant’
“The threat isn’t over,” the Red Cross added today. “Critical fire weather will continue through Friday and then again next week.
“It’s imperative that people remain vigilant, be prepared to evacuate and follow instructions from local authorities as this situation continues to evolve.”
The Red Cross Los Angeles chapter said on X/Twitter today that Red Crossers “are working around the clock alongside our partners to provide safe shelter, food, emotional support and health services to residents affected by wildfires,” flagging the addresses of six shelters on the social media platform.
The Red Cross is also posting advice on wildfire safety and preparedness, what to do during power cuts and finding loved ones.
“Our hearts go out to everyone affected by the devastating wildfires raging across California,” IFRC Secretary General Jagan Chapagain said today also on X/Twitter.
On Tuesday, the American Red Cross had warned that millions of people in Southern California faced an extremely high wildfire-risk over the coming few days as a strong and arid Santa Ana wind combined with existing dry conditions to create the third “particularly dangerous situation” since November.
The Red Cross had disaster teams and shelter locations on stand-by and urged the public to be ready to evacuate quickly if asked to.
Before the fires started earlier this week, the US National Weather Service had issued its highest alert for extreme fire-conditions for much of Los Angeles county from Tuesday to Thursday.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass described it as a “perfect storm” of dangerous conditions.
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In its most recent assessment of the global climate, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change says human-induced climate change has caused an increase in the hot and dry conditions that drive wildfires in the west of the North American land mass (Box 14.2), the Climate Centre’s science lead Liz Stephens writes.
The IPCC also says there is “high confidence” within the future projections that this trend is set to continue in the coming decades.
The same IPCC report – its sixth – warned of the direct and indirect impacts of such wildfires, which can lead to poor air quality and have adverse health impacts even on people living some distance away, adding to the direct impacts of fire on public and private property.
In addition, if electricity has to be turned off this can create unintended impacts on the most vulnerable people, such as those with respiratory illnesses who need machines to assist their breathing.
Nearly 900 California wildfire evacuees woke up in Red Cross shelters Monday, many after losing everything, the American Red Cross said. More than 350 of its disaster responders and volunteers are on the ground, together with partners providing food, shelter, emotional support, and other essential services to those in need. (Photo: American Red Cross)