At Cosmos Air Purification & Environmental Systems, Inc.
Endya Dennis, January 15, 2025
With the wildfires that sparked the nation’s attention, claiming the lives of now 25 people and the homes of many more, how does L.A. face what is left? Along smaller fires, there have been 3 blazes that burned combined areas equivalent to the size of San Francisco.
Typical wind levels in L.A. usually range from 5 to 15 mph; however, the dry and compressed winds coming from the deserts and mountains, known as the Santa Ana Winds, picked up rapid speeds of 50 mph just a week after the New Year.
People have posted all over social media, expressing their sympathy for the victims of the fires. Just the same, victims have expressed their testimony as living proof; understanding that they will never look back OR patiently wait for answers on how to move forward. Refusing to return, many residents understood the risk of their residing location, however, there was not enough preparation or manpower that could protect them. Others were forced to evacuate and not return due to road closures, ultimately making their homes more vulnerable to spot fires that could have been put out. However, the dangers became obvious considering the many vehicles that were left on connecting roads.
Since Monday morning, the Eaton fire (ranking the deadliest of L.A. fires) has only gone from 27% contained to 35%. In addition, based on LARiverMasterPlan.org, the “general” need vs “high” need for changes in ecosystems only differentiates by 1000 feet.
Before planning to prepare, understand and take into consideration what you are preparing for when it comes to real preparation from beginning to end.
Prepare to Educate:
Fuel Load: This is the amount of flammable material. This could consist of deadwood, brush and dry vegetation. All of which were major factors in the L.A. fires.
Low Humidity and Drought: The Santa Ana Winds blowing onto the coast of California sped up the process of drying vegetation. The wind speeds usually pick up between the Fall and Winter seasons.
Fossil Fuels: Though it can be ignored year after year, the burning of fossil fuels will always play a significant role in our ecosystems and climate change, causing increasingly intense weather patterns.
Prepare to Rebuild and Refocus
Experts say that rebuilding the affected areas will take a combination of mental and physical. The physical demand will first be manpower, and directly after would be physical material such as fire-resistant materials, high-capacity roads, and pressurized water systems. Ecological engineering and restoration will be required as well.
The mental demand will come from the community that lives within. Abandoning and redirecting some of their older ways of living, residents will seriously have to commit to taking action such as reducing fuel loads, seasonally clearing dead vegetation, and wetting dry brush that falls within their region.
Prepare for any Affects
Just in 2024, Cosmos Air Purification faced the impacts of wildfires with the rest of the community and surrounding areas. Clouding the Maryland skies, the smoke from the Canadian wildfires traveled over 1,500 miles, sending alerts on individuals’ phones, informing them to wear masks, especially if already having previous health conditions. This is because the air quality affected by a wildfire contains PM2.5 (particulate matter 2.5) which is a type of air pollution. While some air particles are small enough to be inhaled and exhaled, these specific particles can settle in the lungs and can cause issues as minor as a runny nose and eye-irritation, to major issues like bronchitis and pneumonia. Researchers also suggest an increased risk in heart attacks and strokes.
Some of the biggest takeaways from this unfortunate event is that you must be involved in caring for the community and knowing what your environment requires to withstand the uncontrollable conditions. If not, YOU could be the one facing some uncontrollable conditions.
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