A series of rapidly spreading wildfires fueled by powerful Santa Ana winds, low humidity, and dry vegetation due to a lack of rain have engulfed Los Angeles County. At least five fires, including the Palisades Fire and Eaton Fire, have grown to thousands of acres within days, with the causes still under investigation. The National Weather Service warned of extreme fire behavior due to low humidity and high winds reaching up to 100 mph. The Santa Ana winds, common in the fall and winter, are exacerbating the wildfires by pushing dry air from inland deserts towards the coast, further drying out vegetation and carrying embers long distances. The lack of rain and low humidity in the region have created extremely dry conditions, with over 83% of Los Angeles County experiencing drought, and little rainfall since April. This combination of factors has led to the rapid spread of wildfires across mountainous areas in Southern California. AccuWeather reports that San Diego is experiencing its driest start to winter ever. The ongoing fires have forced widespread evacuations and efforts by firefighters to contain the blazes amid challenging weather conditions.
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The rapid spread of the 2025 LA fires: What was the cause?
