By: Jacob Kim
The recent fires that tore through Palisades, Eaton, and Hurst have left behind a trail of destruction, heartbreak, and urgent questions. In Palisades, over 15,000 acres burned, destroying 127 homes and forcing the evacuation of nearly 10,000 residents. The Eaton Fire charred 8,200 acres, with firefighters battling relentless flames for over a week to save critical infrastructure and residential neighborhoods. Meanwhile, the Hurst Fire, though smaller in size at 4,500 acres, claimed six lives and displaced hundreds. These fires, while devastating, were no surprise to scientists or anyone paying attention to the realities of climate change. Lower-than-expected rainfall combined with the unrelenting winds created the perfect storm for these wildfires to rage out of control, conditions undeniably worsened by our warming planet.
But instead of addressing the root causes of these disasters, certain politicians have used this tragedy to lob blame at their opponents. Donald Trump, for instance, has taken the opportunity to criticize Governor Gavin Newsom, focusing on Democratic policies and unrelated cultural battles, like attacking LGBTQ rights or diversity initiatives. This kind of rhetoric is more than just tone-deaf—it’s dangerous. It distracts from the real problem we’re all facing and undermines the unity we need to tackle it.
These fires didn’t happen because of Gavin Newsom or diversity, equity, and inclusion programs. They happened because of climate change. Years of scientific research have shown that rising global temperatures exacerbate droughts, intensify winds, and extend wildfire seasons. The Santa Ana winds that fueled the flames in Palisades, Eaton, and Hurst were stronger and drier than usual, a pattern directly linked to climate shifts. And yet, instead of confronting these facts, some leaders prefer to weaponize disasters for political gain.
Victims of these fires don’t care about political posturing. They care about rebuilding their lives, finding shelter, and figuring out how to move forward. People have lost homes, livelihoods, and, in some cases, loved ones. This is not the time to point fingers at perceived political enemies; it’s the time to come together to address the systemic issues that led to this catastrophe.
Fires like these are going to become more frequent and more destructive unless we act decisively to combat climate change. That means investing in renewable energy, strengthening infrastructure to withstand extreme weather, and reducing emissions at every level. It also means supporting policies that prioritize environmental sustainability over short-term economic gains. Blaming others might score political points, but it does nothing to prevent the next fire, the next hurricane, or the next flood.
Leadership in moments of crisis means focusing on solutions, not scapegoats. The divisive rhetoric we’re seeing from some politicians only deepens the divide when what we need is collaboration. California has long been a battleground for debates on climate change, but this isn’t just a California issue. It’s a global one, and it requires leaders who are willing to put aside partisan differences to work toward a livable future.
The people impacted by these fires deserve better. They deserve leaders who acknowledge the reality of climate change and act with urgency to address it. They deserve policies that prioritize prevention and mitigation, not petty squabbles. And they deserve a collective effort to ensure that tragedies like these become less common, not more so.
If we let political distractions dominate the conversation, we lose sight of what’s truly at stake. Climate change caused these fires. Climate change made the winds fiercer, the air drier, and the conditions more volatile. Climate change is why families are now sifting through the rubble of their homes, wondering how they’ll rebuild. And unless we focus on fighting climate change, this won’t be the last time communities are destroyed by preventable disasters.
We don’t have time for finger-pointing. What we need is action—serious, urgent, and united action. Anything less is a disservice to the people who have already lost so much and to the generations who will inherit the world we leave behind.
Sources
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/01/12/california-wildfires-trump-newsom/
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/1/11/is-climate-change-to-blame-for-the-california-wildfires
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