Stars Raise Millions After California Wildfires

Dozens of music and Hollywood stars played two shows in Los Angeles that have raised more than $100 million to help those whose lives have been turned upside down by the recent wildfires.

Although wildfires are a natural occurrence in California, the Palisades and Eaton fires which broke out on 7 January are some of the largest seen in the Los Angeles area, and at a time of year when wildfires are not normally expected. More than 16,000 homes and buildings have been destroyed in the fires, and at least 29 people lost their lives.

On 30 January FireAidLA hosted two concerts to raise money to help people who have lost their homes and finance protection against future fires. More than 30 artists, many California-based, performed at the Intuit Dome and Kia Forum. They included music artists Billie Eilish, Lady Gaga, Dr Dre, Katy Perry, Sting and Olivia Rodrigo, as well as actors such as Billy Crystal, who lost his home to the fire, and Samuel L. Jackson.

As well as ticket sales, donations from groups like U2 and the Eagles, and donations made by the 50 million viewers who tuned in, the owners of the LA Clippers NBA team also matched all pledges made during the concerts.

It is still possible to donate on the FireAid site.

The Grammy ceremony which took place on 2 February was also used as a fundraiser, raising $24 million, and the Oscars, taking place on 2 March, will do the same.

No More Fire Season
According to the Western Fire Chiefs Association, “The peak fire season in Northern California usually begins in June or July and runs through late October or November. However, the Southern California peak fire season starts earlier, beginning in late spring (May-June) and runs until October.” But as this graphic produced by the association shows, the season is becoming longer and more unpredictable.

Traditionally, CalFire, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, has fewer firefighters in January-March: a third of their firefighting staff are on seasonal contracts. The California State Senate is currently proposing legislation to employ those firefighters year-round.

A study by University of California at Irvine researchers in Nature Scientific Reports in January found that California’s wildfire season has lengthened in the last 80 years. They analysed California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection wildfire statistics from 2000 to 2019, in comparison with data from 1920 to 1999.

Despite having major metropolitan areas like Los Angeles and San Francisco, much of California is rural. A third of the surface of the state is covered in forest. And after years of recurring droughts and disease, it is estimated that they contain 163 million dead trees, perfect fuel for wildfires, whether they are provoked by natural phenomena like lightning strikes, by power lines blown down in storms, or human carelessness or arson.

California is at the forefront of efforts to reduce carbon emissions that contribute to climate change, but smoke emitted by wildfires, and the trees burned in the fires, counteract the positive efforts made.