California's traditional wildfire season has transformed into a year-round threat, with the state now experiencing 78 more "fire days" annually compared to five decades ago. This dramatic shift has forced experts to coin new terms like "firenado," "gigafire," and even "fire pandemic" to describe the unprecedented nature of these disasters.
The recent outbreak of multiple fires across Los Angeles County illustrates this new reality. The Palisades Fire, driven by fierce Santa Ana winds reaching nearly 100 mph, has destroyed over 1,000 homes and forced 10,000 households to evacuate. Three additional fires - the Eaton Fire, Sylmar blaze, and Sepulveda Basin fire - erupted within hours, resulting in five fatalities and blanketing the region in hazardous smoke.
Climate change has dismantled historical safeguards against wildfires. Coastal areas once protected by natural moisture now burn without requiring wind conditions. Even the northern "asbestos forests," previously considered fire-resistant due to their dampness, have become vulnerable as climate change diminishes their protective fog layer.
The primary triggers for these fires include arson and faulty power lines, with a 2022 audit revealing utilities' inadequate fire prevention measures. Lightning strikes, once rare in California, have emerged as a growing threat, with intense storms unleashing thousands of strikes in brief periods.
The financial toll is mounting. CalFire's budget for fire protection, resource management, and prevention has surged from $800 million in 2005-06 to $3.7 billion in 2021-22. Homeowners face insurance cancellations despite fire-hardening efforts, while the state's $58 billion wine industry grapples with smoke-tainted harvests.
Fire scientist Stephen J. Pyne has dubbed this era the "Pyrocene" - the age of fire. As California's landscape continues to evolve with fire, its inhabitants must adapt to this new normal, where traditional seasonal patterns no longer apply and fire threats persist year-round.