Few Places to Go in Densely Populated Los Angeles County as Fires Spread

Fires continue to torch the densely populated Los Angeles area. Although the latest numbers Cal FIRE has reported indicate nearly 15,000 burned acres, the final numbers are likely to be much higher as high winds continue to drive the blazes’ rapid spread. At least two people have died, thousands of homes are expected to be destroyed, and reports of a burned-down school and other community structures have come in.

As evacuation orders were announced throughout Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning, tens of thousands of people left their homes for safety. Many fled on foot with possessions and pets as roads became too crowded for timely travel.

Many of them might not have gone far. Andrew Schroeder, Direct Relief’s vice president of research and analysis, is examining anonymized population movement data provided by Meta through the company’s Data for Good project. Schroeder said the population between Malibu and Santa Monica, currently threatened by the Palisades Fire, has declined by about 20%, with increased population dispersion to the east and north.

Schroeder explained that, on average, population displacement data indicate that most evacuated people stay close by, traveling an average of only 15 or 16 miles from home.

These data cannot identify specific, individual movements but can highlight general population movements.

However, the area’s densely clustered population and expansive sprawl may contribute to particular health impacts. The relatively short distances traveled by most of the population suggest that local health concerns may impact many evacuees as well as those remaining in place.

The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power has asked residents to conserve water and notified people remaining in Pacific Palisades that water must be boiled for the next 48 hours due to ash in the system. The Environmental Protection Agency has designated much of the Los Angeles area’s air quality “Unhealthy” via its AirNow map.

Public safety power shutoffs, which occur when an electricity supplier deliberately turns off the power during dangerous circumstances to reduce the likelihood of wildfires, affected more than 100,000 people on Wednesday morning. More than half a million more people risk losing electricity from further shutoffs. The loss of electricity poses a health risk for people reliant on medical devices such as oxygen machines and other medically vulnerable populations.

Direct Relief’s local partners have indicated that the fires will interrupt routine health care as nonprofit health providers are impacted or forced to evacuate. Direct Relief staff have activated the organization’s emergency response protocols and are deploying emergency medical supplies and respiratory equipment to affected residents and first responders.

The Los Angeles Fire Department has reported that evacuation orders remain in effect between the Santa Monica and Malibu areas. Extreme winds are forecasted for the area, paired with dry air, are contributing to the fire’s rapid spread. The Pacific Coast Highway from McClure Tunnel to Topanga Canyon is closed.

The first blazes broke out mid-morning on January 7 in Topanga State Park and have spread to several other locations in the Los Angeles area. Fierce winds have shifted the flames exponentially as fires ignite across the county.

The Los Angeles County Fire Chief said there are insufficient resources to combat the flames. According to the chief, the 29 departments were “not prepared for this type of widespread disaster.”