I have written several articles the environment. A list of links have been provided at bottom of this article for your convenience. This article will, however address different aspects on the environment and the planet in general.

Uncontained

Los Angeles is surrounded by fire. The city’s major wildfires have spread, and a new one started overnight in Hollywood Hills. It threatened a wealthy neighborhood and landmarks synonymous with America’s self-image — the Hollywood sign, the Walk of Fame. Streets near Hollywood filled with traffic as helicopters raced through the sky.

The wildfires have killed at least five people; forced tens of thousands to evacuate; and charred entire neighborhoods of every socioeconomic status, from the scenic West Coast to the inland suburbs. “It wasn’t just that the place was in flames. It was that it seemed to be in flames everywhere at once,” wrote Shawn Hubler.

What makes these fires different

While Southern Californians are used to wildfire, these blazes are a shock in three key ways:

+Location: Wildfires are normally contained to Southern California’s dry hills. These fires have burned out of control and spread into the city, and two are the most destructive in Los Angeles’s history. The flames are visible for miles down the city’s famous coastline, a half-moon crescent of sand that is usually domed by blue sky. “I’ve lived here my whole life and never seen anything like this,” a 71-year-old resident said.

+Extreme winds: Intense winds, known as Santa Anas, have spread these fires into the city. The winds also made it unsafe for aircraft to douse the flames from above, which slowed firefighting. Santa Anas are notorious for aiding California wildfires in the fall, after the landscape dries in the summer. But the impact is often less dramatic by winter, when the hills are more moist from rain. That hasn’t been true this year.

+Dry conditions: It hasn’t rained much in Los Angeles for months. As a result, the fires spread more quickly across a dry landscape. Water supplies were also limited. Firefighters sprayed water faster than tanks could be refilled, and hydrants ran dry. Some residents stood and watched as their homes burned away. On Sunset Boulevard, one man fell to his knees and begged firefighters to save his house. Without water, they were helpless to stop the flames.

The response

Firefighters are continuing their battle, but more destruction is expected.

President Biden canceled a trip to Italy, in which he was supposed to meet the Pope, to coordinate the federal response to the wildfires. The White House said it had arranged for Navy helicopters to join the firefighting effort.

Biden also appeared alongside Gavin Newsom, California’s governor, at a fire station in Santa Monica. “We’re prepared to do anything and everything, as long as it takes, to contain these fires and help reconstruct, make sure we get back to normal,” Biden said.

Forecasters warned that extreme fire danger would continue for at least another day, and millions of people in Southern California remain under fire warnings — which have heightened anxiety across the region.

The fires have “merged into a kind of mega-catastrophe for Southern Californians,” Shawn wrote. “Ash, smoke, wind and flames carried the heart-stinging realization, which spread like a contagion, that a new and less manageable landscape was on the horizon.”

Map of the current fire locations

Safety Steps to Take as Fires Sweep Southern California

State and local governments can alert you to risks and dangers in your surrounding areas. Being prepared is key. A nightmare has been unfolding in Southern California this week as several out-of-control fires burn across the region, sending tens of thousands of people scrambling to escape as heavy winds spread blazes in unpredictable ways.

If you are in affected areas, here are some tips to help you stay safe:

Sign up for emergency alerts

An easy way to monitor the spread of fires, including which areas are under evacuation orders, is to check for updates on California’s statewide fire agency website, where maps of each fire are regularly updated. Check Cal Fire’s website here. The state also sends emergency notifications during fires or other disasters, which you can sign up for here.

If you live or work in Los Angeles County, you can also sign up to receive countywide emergency alerts by text, email or phone call. You can also enroll in alerts that are specific to your city or neighborhood, using the options available at the bottom of this page.

You can register for countywide emergency notifications from Ventura County, the neighboring county where fires have also erupted this week amid extremely heavy winds. Those alerts will help you stay in the loop not just during fires, but also in the event of an earthquake or other disasters.

The app Watch Duty is another option to follow real-time updates on fires. The app uses a network of retired firefighters and dispatchers who monitor radio broadcasts from emergency responders to quickly send updates. It also has a real-time map showing the intensity and spread of the fires.

Avoid dirty air

Wildfires create smoke that can have serious health ramifications for people as far as 100 miles from the flames — even if they can’t see or smell smoke nearby. Health experts say that there is most likely no safe level of exposure to wildfire smoke, which can trigger asthma attacks and exacerbate other conditions such as diabetes and heart disease.

Keep an eye on AirNow.Gov for a measure of your local air quality. Fire.airnow.gov also has a helpful map of fire and smoke patterns and how they are influencing air quality.

If the air quality in your neighborhood is poor, or if it is moderate but you are at high risk, try to limit the amount of time you spend outside as much as possible. If you must go outside, wear an N95 mask — a surgical mask isn’t enough to filter out all smoke particulates, experts say.

Indoors, make sure all the windows in your home are tightly shut, and run air purifiers if you have them, as they can help filter particles from the air.

Here is more on how to make your home as safe from pollution as possible.

Pack a ‘go bag’

When a fire is fast approaching, there usually isn’t time to assemble a bag with everything you might need to be away from home for a few nights. So be sure to pack a bag in advance.

In a backpack or other easy-to-grab kit, you’ll want a change of clothes, a first-aid kit, a flashlight and an extra set of car keys. It’s also recommended that you keep a three-day supply of food and water.

The New York Times has additional guidance on what to put in your emergency bag.

Check for school closures

The Times is tracking which school districts are canceling classes this week, either because of evacuations, winds or smoke-choked air. You should also check with your child’s school or school district to see whether they will be open.

On Wednesday, at least 18 of the 80 school districts in Los Angeles County announced that schools would close for the day. Many urged parents to take precautions as the fires continued to rage and strong winds affected the area.

Where to Find Updates

Interactive maps with evacuation orders, warnings, school closures, animal shelters and road closures are available on the Cal Fire website for the Palisades, Hurst, and Eaton fires. Incident reports for each fire from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection are also on the site.

Watch Duty, an app run by dispatchers, emergency medical workers and active and retired firefighters, is tracking the wildfires. The app also pulls from satellite data and has a real-time map and incident feed showing the intensity and spread of the fires.

Updates from Los Angeles County’s emergency services can also be found on the agencies’ official social media accounts:

Los Angeles County on X: @CountyofLA

Public Shelters Are Open

Heres How to Find an evacuation shelter

The Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA, has set up an easy way to find a shelter near you. Text “SHELTER” and then your ZIP code to 43362.

Officials also recommend two shelters for animals. One is for small animals: the Agoura Animal Care Center, at 29525 Agoura Road, Agoura Hills, Calif. 91301. The other is for large animals: Los Angeles Equestrian Center, at 480 Riverside Drive, Burbank, Calif. 91506.

Piles of clothes on tables. Several people are going through them. — Evacuees picking up donated clothes at Westwood Recreation Center.Credit…Isadora Kosofsky for The New York Times

Four public shelters across Los Angeles County are open, according to the state’s Office of Emergency Services:

Pasadena Civic Auditorium: 300 East Green Street, Pasadena
Westwood Recreation Center: 1350 S. Sepulveda Boulevard, Los Angeles
El Camino Real Charter High School: 5440 Valley Circle Boulevard, Woodland Hills
Ritchie Valens Recreation Center: 10735 Laurel Canyon Boulevard, Pacoima

Protect your pets from the smoke

Whether residents are in areas directly touched by the fires or on the edges of the smoke perimeter, they should refrain from taking their pets outside while smoky conditions remain, local veterinarians warned.

The greatest concern is the potential for lung damage, said Andrew Grussendorf, a veterinarian in Fallbrook, a town in nearby San Diego County. Pets can be just as negatively impacted by smoke inhalation as humans, he said.

And owners who are evacuating or close to flames should make sure to transport their animals off the ground to avoid burning their paws, Dr. Grussendorf said.

If you think that you may need to evacuate with your pet, the National Fire Protection Association recommends you pack a “go bag” in advance that includes ownership and vaccination records, collars and leashes, medications, and food.

The group also suggests bringing photos of you with your pet in case your animal becomes lost and you need to prove you are the owner. It also suggests making sure your pet’s identification tag has your phone number and address — but also a relative’s phone number in case your own cellphone goes out of service.

Resources

NYtimes.com, “The Morning: A Ring of Fire.” By the Staff of the Morning; NYtimes.com, “Safety Steps to Take as Fires Sweep Southern California.” By Soumya Karlamangla; NYtimes.com, “Where California Residents Can Find Updates and Shelter.” By Rachel Nostrant;

Common Sense and Ramblings In America

A Ring of Fire

Uncontained

What makes these fires different

Sign up for emergency alerts

Avoid dirty air

Pack a ‘go bag’

Check for school closures

Where to Find Updates

Public Shelters Are Open

Protect your pets from the smoke

Like this:

Uncontained

What makes these fires different

Sign up for emergency alerts

Avoid dirty air

Pack a ‘go bag’

Check for school closures

Where to Find Updates

Public Shelters Are Open

Protect your pets from the smoke

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