Last month, California was affected by devastating wildfires that impacted Los Angeles areas. The fires burned over 50,000 acres, ending 28 lives and the destruction of 16,000 buildings. According to the New York Times, the financial toll is currently estimated at $50 billion dollars. The situation was worsened by the Santa Ana winds, which caused the fires to spread quickly. In response, President Donald Trump has visited Los Angeles describing it as though it looked like a bomb had hit. He then met with Governor Newsom to discuss efforts to help the victims recover. On a lighter note, recent rainfall has aided in some relief to firefighters, helping with containment efforts. Many believe if rainfall continues it could lead to hillsides that could cause debris to flow and toxic ash to runoff causing environmental hazards. As Los Angeles begins planning their rebiling experts urge caution. If they rebuild fast enough without significant changes it could lead to repeated destruction if another fire like this one would occur again. Experts advocate for building more densely to enhance resilience against future wildfires. The recent fires have also had a bit of a financial problem in insurance coverage and the rising construction costs, which leavesmany unable to rebuild due to the cost. Although Governor Newsome has signed a 2.5 billion relief package there are still constraints to recovery efforts. As the fires continue California is still facing ongoing challenges. The state has to balance recovery efforts and plan for future wildfires to avoid such damages like this one.
