The North American wildfire season typically runs from spring to fall, although it varies by region as is evidenced by the January wildfires in California.
However, as the effects of climate change increase, disasters continue to shirk the expected seasonal rules, occurring with ever-increasing frequency and intensity.
CDP’s North American wildfire profile runs by calendar year and typically covers wildfires in Canada, Mexico and the United States. Depending on size and severity, wildfires in other countries in North America will be included.
Our coverage will focus on fires that have significant impacts on communities, especially at-risk populations.
Key facts
- By 2052, half of the people at risk of wildfire will live in the U.S. South.
- For two to five years after a wildfire, there is an increased risk of flooding, with flash flooding in burn scars leading to debris flows that carry charred vegetation and other items picked up by rushing water.
- One study found that Native Americans living in tribal communities in the U.S. received 23% less precipitation compared to historical data, with 36.3% of tribal lands at risk of drought.
- People cause about 85% of U.S. wildfires.
- Wildfires exacerbate existing affordable housing crises throughout North America.
- Overnight fires have emerged in North America, challenging the traditional understanding of the “active day, quiet night” model of current fire management practices, which say cooler temperatures and higher humidity at night help slow the growth of wildfires. A 2024 study in Nature found that drought conditions promote overnight burning, a key mechanism that drives large active fires.
(Photo from County of Los Angeles Fire Department via X)
Latest Updates
What we’re watching: Weekly disaster update, February 3
What we’re watching: Weekly disaster update, January 27
What we’re watching: Weekly disaster update, January 21
What we’re watching: Weekly disaster update, January 13
Beyond the flames: Addressing the ripple effects of California’s wildfires
California
As of Jan. 24, there have been 274 wildfires in California, burning 55,082 acres. Several fires in Los Angeles County have been affected by Santa Ana wind events with winds up to 80 mph.
The winds, drought conditions and warmer-than-typical temperatures, caused the massive Palisades Fire, which started in Pacific Palisades on Jan. 7, the Eaton Fire in Altadena on Jan. 7 and the fast-growing Hughes Fire on Jan. 22 in Los Angeles and Ventura Counties. There have been eight other fires in Los Angeles County since Jan. 7, including Lidia, Sunset, Kenneth and Hurst, which are all now 100% contained.
As of Jan. 24, the Eaton Fire in Los Angeles County had reached 14,021 acres and 95% containment and the Palisades fire in the city of Los Angeles was 23,448 acres and 77% contained. These are two of the top three most destructive fires in California’s history.
On Jan. 22, an extremely fast-growing fire ignited near Castaic Lake, 45 miles from the city of L.A. Within a day, it reached 10,000 acres and forced tens of thousands people to evacuate. As of Jan. 24, the fire is 10,396 acres and 56% contained. While no structures were reported lost, Interstate 5, which runs from Canada to Mexico, was been shut down.
The fires have destroyed more than 15, 700 structures, including homes, schools and businesses, and forced almost 200,000 people to flee. At least 28 people have died, many older adults and people with disabilities who were unable to evacuate or help did not come in time. Dozens more people are still missing.
Containment of these fires has been complicated by long-term drought conditions, the Santa Ana winds and a lack of fire-fighting resources.
The cost of the wildfires, which only continues to grow, is already estimated at as much as $250 billion to $275 billion.
You can support CDP’s response to wildfires in the state by donating to our California Wildfires Recovery Fund.
Several areas of support are needed for fire recovery. These include rebuilding homes or repairing damage, soil remediation, temporary housing, physical and mental health, assistance for survivors in navigating disaster recovery resources, community and economic development, agricultural support and livelihood/income support.
Help marginalized communities
People in marginalized and at-risk situations before a disaster – older adults, undocumented and mixed-status families, people living with physical or mental health challenges, and people living in poverty – may find their circumstances worsened in the face of disaster and continue to face challenges during the recovery phase. Local organizations are well-informed about a community’s needs and culture; they may be familiar with impacted individuals and will be on the ground for years.
Racialized and other marginalized communities recover slower after a disaster than other communities due to systemic inequalities. Relative to the U.S. population at large, Latinos are two times more likely to live in wildfire-prone areas.
Address mental health needs
Mental health is always a significant issue following fires, especially fires that cause loss of life or mass destruction or occur in communities previously affected by wildfires. Funders can support organizations providing both crisis and long-term mental health services. Some ethnic or religious communities need culturally competent and supportive services.
Housing
Los Angeles and surrounding areas were already facing a housing shortage and affordability crisis. While rental rates vary by neighborhood, as of June 2024, there was only a 4% vacancy rate overall.
Apartment rents revealed “a median rent of $1,868 for a 1-bedroom apartment and $2,383 for a 2-bedroom,” according to Apartment List’s May 2024 Rent Report.
Similarly, the median sale price for single-family condos and homes was $1.8 million in the third quarter of 2024. Rental prices are estimated to rise anywhere from 8-12% to even double or triple current rates, despite restrictions by the government.
Soil remediation after a fire can take several months or even years, meaning residents who lost their homes must rent or buy while waiting for permission to rebuild.
CDP has a California Wildfire Recovery Fund that supports the needs of marginalized and at-risk residents of California after fires. Our Disaster Recovery Fund supports wildfire-affected areas in the remainder of the United States and in Canada. Our Global Recovery Fund supports Mexico and other countries in North America.
Contact CDP
Philanthropic contributions
If you would like to make a gift to our California Wildfires Recovery Fund, Hawaii Wildfires Recovery Fund, Disaster Recovery Fund or Global Recovery Fund, need help with your disaster-giving strategy, or want to share how you’re responding to this disaster, please contact our development team.
(Photo: By Jessie Rodriguez via Jessie.Shoots on Instagram)
Recovery updates
If you are a responding NGO, please send updates on how you are working on recovery from this disaster to tanya.gulliver-garcia@disasterphilanthropy.org.
Note: If you are an individual who was affected by the disaster, we encourage you to contact your LA211 to see what resources are available in your community.
CDP grantee partners
You can learn about previous recipients of grants from CDP’s California Wildfire Recovery Fund here.
Resources
Wildfires
Weather can significantly affect the frequency and severity of wildfires. Prolonged drought can extend prime wildfire season, making blazes more likely. Additionally, high temperatures and low humidity can quickly dry out vegetation which then becomes potential fuel.
Drought
Drought is often defined as an unusual period of drier than normal weather that leads to a water shortage. Drought causes more deaths and displaces more people than any other disaster.
Extreme Heat
While the average temperature continues to increase at a moderate pace, climate change has caused more frequent extreme weather events, particularly extreme heat.