Wildfires around Los Angeles have intensified significantly over the past week, driven by climate change, record heat, and an abundance of vegetation growth.

In 2024, California's wildfires have burned nearly four times more land compared to the same period last year, with current acreage slightly above the five-year average.

Since early September, three major wildfires have destroyed over 230 structures and forced tens of thousands of residents to evacuate from nearby suburbs.

The Bridge Fire, located northeast of downtown Los Angeles, has grown dramatically from 4,900 acres to 55,000 acres in just 24 hours and is currently 37% contained.

Another significant blaze, the Airport Fire in the Santa Ana Mountains, began from construction equipment and has burned 24,000 acres, with only 31% containment.

Gusty winds have pushed wildfires eastward, away from populated areas, but the impending Santa Ana winds could increase the risk of spreading fires toward densely populated regions.

The past decade has seen nine of California's ten largest wildfires, highlighting a concerning trend in wildfire intensity and frequency.

Experts, including UCLA professor Alex Hall, stress the importance of reconsidering human activities that could ignite fires, as most wildfires are caused by human actions.

Smoke exposure poses significant health risks for firefighters, with studies linking inhalation of wildfire smoke to increased chances of heart attacks, strokes, and cancers.

The extreme heat associated with these wildfires poses serious health risks for firefighters, including heat exhaustion and heat stroke.

The combination of wet winters followed by extreme heat has led to increased vegetation growth, creating more fuel for potential fires.

Nationally, wildfires have affected 7.3 million acres this year, surpassing the average annual burn area of around 7 million acres over the last decade.