Global warming is an ongoing issue that seems to only get worse every year. The fires in California are no exception. In fact, global warming was a major factor contributing to the dryness throughout Los Angles and surrounding areas, mixing with the Santa Ana winds blowing over 80 miles per hour that led to tragedy.

You may be asking, ‘How did global warming affect L.A. fires?’  Due to excessive burning of fossil fuels, such as coal, oil and natural gases, the earth over time gets warmer. In recent years, these fuels have been burned at an all-time high. With this comes an increase in the earth’s temperature. Or as you know it, global warming. “Hotter temperatures and a drier atmosphere can be linked to heat trapping gases that largely come from burning fossil fuels,” stated in an article by npr.org.

A quarter of the moisture defect leading to these fires was created by the extreme heat of global warming. According to an BBC article, global warming is causing drought conditions to be more frequent pushing into winter. This increases the chance of a fire breakout. On top of that, the article also says that while the L.A. fire season is getting longer, the amount of rain they are getting is decreasing due to dry conditions.

Global warming impacted the severe dryness in L.A. 32 scientists that worked with the World Weather Attribution found that climate change made the weather 35 percent more likely. If global warming had not been so extreme, the dryness would not have either.

Teresa Cooper, a GHS biology teacher, believes that climate changes impacted the L.A. fires. ‘Climate change is affecting and intensifying weather patterns all over the world,’ Cooper said. “It can make areas experience less rainfall, causing drought. It dries everything out, and that makes fires spread further out.’ In recent years, the world has been experiencing more wildfires, affecting animals, humans, and the environment.

Freshmen student Emily Varichak is greatly concerned about her future potentially being changed due to global warming. “I think about it all the time; I wonder what humans will do if the earth ends up getting overwhelming hot for us too.  As for the L.A. fires, I think that is just the beginning and many more places are next to experience worsen fires.”  2024 was the hottest year on record and that affected Los Angele’s temperatures to be even hotter.

Though humans have caused nearly 100 percent of climate change, there are ways to reduce it. People can save more energy in the home by lowering their furnace and hanging clothes to dry instead of using a dryer. Also, recycling, purchasing items second hand, and overall buying fewer items. All these small changes can help if everyone takes part. Humans contributed to global warming; humans can try to slow it.