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LA fires show the human cost of climate-driven ‘whiplash’ between wet and dry extremes
Addressing new climate challenges will require co-ordinated efforts by governments and local authorities for both drought and flood risks — and it’s people power that will be key to getting policy implemented, writes DOUG SPECHT
Los Angeles Fire Department's Dylan Casey and Mike Alvarez work on extinguishing a hot spot in the aftermath of the Palisades Fire along the Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu, Calif., January 12, 2025

OCTOBER to April is normally considered to be the wet season in California, yet this January, the region is experiencing some of the most devastating fires it’s ever seen.

As of January 10, five major fires in and around Los Angeles have burned over 29,053 acres, leading to the evacuation of more than 180,000 people, the destruction of over 2,000 buildings (mainly homes), and an estimated damage cost of at least $52 billion (£42.5bn). Ten lives have been lost, and these numbers are expected to rise as the fires continue to burn.

The human impact of hydroclimate whiplash

Adaptation and resilience

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