Living on the West Coast, it’s hard to ignore the growing intensity and frequency of wildfires. This week, Southern California was engulfed in flames as five major wildfires roared across the region, forcing the evacuation of 180,000 residents. As fires tore through neighborhoods, the local infrastructure—already stretched thin—struggled to keep up. Firefighters found themselves battling not just the flames but the harsh realities of a warming planet. The fires spread rapidly, fueled by high temperatures, drought, and the fierce Santa Ana winds that are characteristic of the region. For those of us living here, the events felt all too familiar, a brutal reminder that this is no longer a rare occurrence but a growing pattern.

At the heart of this crisis lies climate change. The science is clear: warming global temperatures are supercharging wildfires. Droughts are becoming more intense and persistent, while heatwaves dry out vegetation, turning it into tinder for flames. The 2024 climate report from the European Space Agency marked a troubling milestone—global temperatures exceeded pre-industrial levels by 1.6°C, surpassing the Paris Agreement’s target of keeping warming well below 2°C. For regions like California, this warming has translated into longer fire seasons, more frequent fires, and blazes that spread with terrifying speed. The combination of intense heat, dry conditions, and the destructive winds of the Santa Ana creates a perfect storm for wildfires to thrive.

As the Earth’s temperature rises, droughts become more severe in many regions, and higher temperatures create conditions for more frequent and intense fires. In the U.S. West, including California, these droughts have persisted for decades, contributing to what scientists call "megadroughts." These prolonged dry periods strip the land of moisture, leaving it vulnerable to fire. Extreme heat and lightning storms—both more common in a warming world—only exacerbate the situation. In California, these conditions have created an environment where fires spread at an alarming rate, threatening lives, property, and the environment.

We've already seen record-breaking temperatures, with global warming driving unprecedented heatwaves and fires around the world. But the impact is felt most acutely in regions like California, where megadroughts and persistent high temperatures have created the perfect conditions for wildfires to thrive. The recent fires in Los Angeles were just one example of this larger pattern. The science shows that fire behavior is directly linked to these changing environmental conditions. As the planet continues to heat up, we can expect wildfires to become a regular and devastating feature of life here on the West Coast—and in many other parts of the world.

Living through this crisis brings the science into sharp focus. The wildfires of 2024 are not isolated incidents, but part of a larger trend fueled by climate change. As the planet’s temperature continues to rise, regions like the West Coast are becoming increasingly vulnerable to these devastating fires. 

But the good news is that we still have a chance to change the trajectory. By addressing the root cause of climate change—greenhouse gas emissions—we can begin to mitigate the effects and reduce the likelihood of more frequent and intense fires. The science tells us it’s not too late, but action must be swift and decisive to prevent further devastation.