"The lack of rain and anomalous warmth and dryness that we've seen in the past six months, we haven't seen it in the record going back to the 1800s," said Daniel Swain, a climate scientist at UCLA. "Winds are the driver, but the real catalyst is this incredible antecedent dryness."
Roughly two inches of rain is needed to saturate the ground and vegetation enough to significantly lower fire risk. But Los Angeles area has received only a sprinkling of rain since April, leaving the region at 40% below normal precipitation, according to state data.
State fire authorities have reported five deaths and more than 1,100 structures destroyed by the blazes, which have burned more than 25,000 acres in two days. Those numbers are expected to rise.
Len Nielson, Cal Fire chief for prescribed fire, said the rain has improved for prescribed burns. He is tasked with meeting the state's annual target to light out 100,000 acres of "good fire" that can help prevent uncontrollable wildfire events by clearing excess fuel in high-risk areas.
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