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Tuesday, January 14, 2025
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    Devastating Los Angeles Wildfires Seen from Space

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    The city of Los Angeles faced catastrophic wildfires in early January 2025, an event so massive that it was captured from space by NASA astronaut Don Pettit aboard the International Space Station.

    On January 10, Pettit shared two haunting images of the fires’ destruction, showcasing plumes of smoke stretching far into the Pacific Ocean. These images, along with satellite data, highlight the extent of the disaster that left the sprawling city of angels battling an inferno fueled by powerful winds and a parched landscape.

    LA Wildfires captured from the International Space Station. Credit: NASA/Don Pettit.

    The wildfires, driven by gusts of up to 100 miles per hour, ignited across multiple locations in Los Angeles County. The dry conditions, a result of Southern California’s driest start to the winter on record, created a perfect storm for the fires to spread uncontrollably. By January 8, several major fires were raging, including the Palisades fire, which scorched over 11,000 acres near the Pacific Coast Highway, and the Eaton fire, which tore through more than 10,000 acres in Altadena and parts of Pasadena. Another significant blaze, the Hurst fire, erupted in San Fernando on the evening of January 7.

    LA Fire NASA
    Satellite imagery of the smoke from the fire. Credit: NASA Earth Observatory.

    As of January 10, the fires had claimed five lives and destroyed approximately 2,000 homes. Among the properties lost were those of several high-profile celebrities, including Paris Hilton, Billy Crystal, and J.J. Redick. Historic landmarks were also reduced to ashes, adding to the cultural and emotional toll of the disaster.

    The fires prompted mass evacuations, with around 179,000 residents under mandatory orders to leave their homes. An additional 200,000 residents remained under evacuation warnings. Many fled with only essential belongings, leaving behind homes and memories in the face of the advancing flames. The scenes of mass exodus and destruction underscored the severity of the crisis.

    LA Fire NASA
    NASA Earth Observatory.

    The Santa Ana winds, a hallmark of Southern California’s fire season, played a significant role in the disaster. These winds, which occur between October and January, are driven by a pressure gradient between the Great Basin and the Pacific Ocean. The result is dry, gusty winds funneling through mountain ranges and canyons toward the coast. This year, the lack of rain exacerbated the danger. Since October 1, Los Angeles International Airport recorded just 0.03 inches of rain, making it the driest start to a water year since records began in 1944.

    The fires’ destruction is visible from both the ground and space. Images from the European Space Agency’s Sentinel-2 satellite captured the Palisades fire shortly after it ignited on the morning of January 7, with smoke streaming toward the Pacific Ocean. By the afternoon, NASA’s Aqua satellite captured additional images of the fire’s spread, emphasizing the speed and scale of the devastation.

    As emergency services continue to battle the flames, the focus has turned to relief efforts for displaced residents and recovery for the affected communities. The wildfires serve as a grim reminder of the increasing risks posed by climate change and the urgent need for sustainable solutions to mitigate such disasters in the future.

    While Los Angeles has faced wildfires before, the sheer scale and impact of this event stand out, marking a somber start to 2025.

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    Manbilas Singh is a talented writer and journalist who focuses on the finer details in every story and values integrity above everything. A self-proclaimed sleuth, he strives to expose the fine print behind seemingly mundane activities and aims to uncover the truth that is hidden from the general public. In his time away from work, he is a music aficionado and a nerd who revels in video & board games, books and Formula 1.

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