Answered on07/08/26
- Powerful dry winds: In Southern California, seasonal Santa Ana winds can exceed 80–100 mph (130–160 km/h). These winds can spread a small fire into a fast-moving firestorm and make aerial firefighting difficult.
- Dry vegetation ("fuel"): Periods of drought and very low humidity dry out grasses, shrubs, and forests, making them highly flammable. Wet winters can also increase vegetation growth, which later dries and becomes additional fuel.
- Climate change: Rising temperatures and longer dry seasons have increased the number of days with dangerous fire weather, contributing to larger and more intense wildfires.
- People living in fire-prone areas: Many communities are built where urban development meets wildland vegetation (the "wildland-urban interface"), increasing the risk of homes being destroyed when fires spread.
- Ignition sources: Fires can start from power lines, equipment failures, campfires, arson, or lightning. The specific cause varies from fire to fire.
It's also worth noting that California's deadliest wildfire in recorded history remains the 2018 Camp Fire, which killed 85 people and destroyed most of the town of Paradise. The 2025 Los Angeles fires were among the state's most destructive and caused widespread devastation, but they were not the deadliest recorded wildfire in California.
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