The wildfires in Los Angeles that began on January 7 resulted in significant destruction, leaving at least 25 dead and thousands of structures lost. Iconic palm trees along Sunset Boulevard became symbolic of the devastation. Studies show that many palm species contribute to wildfire spread due to their combustible nature and maintenance issues. Dead foliage under palm canopies makes them susceptible to embers, which can ignite structures. Experts advise against planting palms in fire-prone areas as they can explode like Roman candles when on fire, exacerbating wildfire risks in California.
One Mexican fan palm frond is equivalent to a whole branch getting caught in the wind and moving, and when that gets caught on a roof, it is devastating.
Southern California's palms, which are mostly non-native, go up like Roman candles when embers hit their dead fronds during wildfires.
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