Climate Whiplash and Fire Come to L.A.
Briefly

from The New Yorker2 weeks ago
On the morning of November 6, 1961, the Bel Air Fire erupted, fanned by Santa Ana winds, leading to the destruction of nearly five hundred homes, including those of Zsa Zsa Gabor and Aldous Huxley.
The New Yorkerhttps://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2025/01/27/climate-whiplash-and-fire-comes-to-la
In response to criticism, the L.A.F.D. produced a film narrated by William Conrad to explain their fire-fighting efforts, claiming the Santa Ana winds created a tense and oppressive atmosphere.
The New Yorkerhttps://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2025/01/27/climate-whiplash-and-fire-comes-to-la
The L.A.F.D. acknowledged the disaster's severity, depicting that 'everything available into the fire' was ordered, yet insufficient resources led to clogged escape routes and a water shortage.
The New Yorkerhttps://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2025/01/27/climate-whiplash-and-fire-comes-to-la
The film concluded that the desirable qualities of L.A.'s environment created a 'design for disaster,' emphasizing that if fire wins, 'it takes all,' underlining the precariousness of the situation.
The New Yorkerhttps://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2025/01/27/climate-whiplash-and-fire-comes-to-la
Read at The New Yorker
#bel-air-fire #lafd #santa-ana-winds #fire-safety #destructive-wildfires
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