The first seven months of 2024 have been explosive relative to wildfires in California. So far, Los Angeles has been spared from a major conflagration, but it’s just a matter of time. Area fire departments are pre-positioning suppression resources, staging rotor and fixed-wing aircraft, and leaning forward with wildfire readiness plans. So far, it’s been working. The (new) La Tuna Canyon Fire was stopped in Los Angeles with minimal damage. There have been dozens of wildfire “starts” in Southern California, and for the most part, they’ve been stopped relatively quickly.
The Park Fire, which ignited on July 24 in Bidwell Park near Chico, California, posed a significant threat as it rapidly expanded. Situated just a short distance from the town of Paradise, which had been severely affected by the 2018 Camp Fire, this new blaze quickly ballooned to over 45,500 acres within hours. In a matter of three days, it had escalated to encompass more than 353,000 acres, catapulting it into the ranks of the top 10 largest wildfires in California’s history. By August 2, a mere nine days after igniting, it had secured a position among the top four largest wildfires. Today, the Park Fire has burned more than 420,000 acres, and it’s less than 40 percent contained, with active fire continuing to create a headache for firefighters.
According to the 2024 CoreLogic Wildfire Risk Report, over 2.6 million homes in 14 states are at moderate to very high risk of wildfire damage during the 2024 wildfire season. The total cost of reconstructing these homes is estimated to be $1.3 trillion. In California, more than 1,258,748 homes are at risk. In Los Angeles County, the number exceeds 242,000 homes.
It isn’t realistic to assume that homeowners can simply retrofit their homes and create defensible space in a matter of weeks. Doing so would be time-consuming and highly expensive. But there are things that can be done—and should be done. Ensure you have your Ready, Set, Go plan in place. Know where you’ll evacuate to if required. To reduce the chances of unintended ignition to your home, clear your gutters, remove anything flammable from being in contact with your home, and make a plan related to wildfire readiness. While it may be a matter of time before the next dangerous wildfire in L.A. County, there’s no time like today to start taking action to protect your home and property.
