Consider This from NPR: Wildfires Displace Thousands and Ravage Greater Los Angeles

Release Date: January 8, 2025

In this gripping episode of NPR's Consider This, hosted by Ari Shapiro, listeners are taken through the harrowing events surrounding the massive wildfires that have devastated the greater Los Angeles area. The episode meticulously details the sequence of events, the response from authorities, the impact on residents, and personal narratives that bring the disaster to life.

1. Prelude to Disaster: The Warning Signs

The episode opens with a stark reminder of the predictability of such calamities. On a Tuesday morning, NBC4 Los Angeles forecasted a dangerous Santa Ana windstorm, a precursor to the wildfires that would soon ravage the region.

• Kristen Crowley, Fire Chief of the Los Angeles Fire Department, emphasizes the severity of the situation: “This is a dangerous Santa Ana windstorm. The National Weather Service [is] dubbing this as a particularly dangerous situation. It's the third time this season that they've used that strong wording. The past two times we've had big fires break out. So we have to be smart and we have to be safe.” [00:06]

The forewarning proved accurate within hours, setting the stage for the unfolding disaster.

2. Rapid Escalation: Fire Outbreaks and Immediate Response

By late morning, the warnings materialized into reality. At 10:30 AM, the first brush fire was reported, quickly escalating due to the extreme dry conditions and high winds.

• Ari Shapiro narrates the rapid spread: “And within hours, it did happen.” [00:20]

• Margaret Stewart, Public Information Officer with the city's fire department, provides insight into the fire's growth: “Extremely dry conditions coupled with those high winds meant that brush fire exploded. And by the time of Crowley's afternoon press conference, the fire had burned more than 1,200 acres.” [00:27]

The Los Angeles area faced multiple fire outbreaks, with another igniting near Pasadena, stretching the already limited firefighting resources thin.

• Anthony Maroney, LA County Fire Chief, stresses the gravity: “This is not a normal red flag alert.” [01:37]

• He further elaborates on the resource constraints: “There are not enough firefighters in LA county to address four separate fires of this magnitude.” [01:44]

3. Scenes of Chaos: Evacuations and Struggle for Safety

As fires raged, the city grappled with the immediate threat to residents. Tens of thousands were ordered to evacuate from areas between the Santa Monica Mountains and the ocean, north and west of downtown LA.

• Tracy Park, Los Angeles Council Member, comments on the situation: “Obviously, the scope and scale of today's fire here in the Palisades has been terrifying. We are so incredibly grateful for the swift response.” [00:57]

The air thick with smoke and skies painted in ominous hues, the evacuation process was fraught with peril.

• Ari Shapiro describes the harrowing visuals: “The air was choked with smoke. The sky glowed a hazy orange. Apocalyptic scenes played out on TV like a bulldozer scraping cars off one road to make room for emergency vehicles. Panicked drivers had abandoned the cars as they evacuated it.” [01:08]

The intensity of the fires led to critical infrastructure challenges:

• An official reports: “Fire hydrants in the Pacific Palisades went dry overnight.” [01:51]

• Margaret Stewart highlights the dangers faced by firefighters: “They've got debris flying. Your hose lines are ineffective because the wind just blows the water away as well as flying embers. The smoke, the visibility, it's extremely difficult job.” [02:00]

Residents were urged to prepare meticulously for potential evacuations:

• Margaret Stewart advises: “They need to have the go bag in the vehicle. The vehicle's in the driveway facing out. They need to have a plan in place and if they can evacuate early. Go.” [02:24]

4. Overwhelmed Resources: Struggling to Contain Multiple Fires

By Wednesday morning, the situation had deteriorated with four simultaneous fires burning across the region. The strain on fire department resources was palpable, underscoring the unprecedented nature of the disaster.

• Margaret Stewart emphasizes the compounded threats: “The high winds make the situation especially dangerous for firefighters.” [02:06]

• Anthony Maroney reiterates the insufficiency of available resources: “There are not enough firefighters in LA county to address four separate fires of this magnitude.” [01:44]

This multifaceted crisis highlighted the urgent need for enhanced firefighting capabilities and better preparedness for future incidents.

5. A Personal Account: Adria Clokey's Evacuation Experience

The episode transitions to a deeply personal narrative from one of the many evacuees, Adria Clokey, who resides in Pacific Palisades—a coastal neighborhood heavily impacted by the wildfires.

Adria Clokey recounts her harrowing evacuation journey:

• She begins by describing the onset of the fire: “I was working away somewhere around 10:30 in the morning when the fire picked up. I've lost two homes to fire in my lifetime, 1993 and 2008. So I'm deeply familiar with the process and also the anxiety around it.” [03:23]

• The urgency compelled her to act swiftly: “So as soon as there was a sign of a fire in my area, I started to go into action a little bit sooner than the rest of my neighbors went and put some of the most precious items directly into my car.” [03:23]

• She vividly paints the chaos: “The sky was full of ash almost immediately. The smoke plume was enormous overhead, and it just became unbearable. The inside of my apartment, this was maybe around noon, was completely dark. The sky outside was impenetrable, brown wall of smoke.” [03:23]

Adria underscores the importance of preparedness:

• She shares practical advice: “I had wrapped up items like irreplaceable photos, photos that aren't digitized. And I also packed essentially what I would need for three days of my own life. Toiletry kit, clothes I knew to pack shoes that you can walk through rubble with. I knew to pack a respirator, packing things that I would need if I was able to return.” [03:23]

• For insurance purposes, she recommends documenting possessions: “Another thing that I know from my experience is to walk slowly around your home, videoing every room and just narrate all your possessions. Open every cabinet, door, look inside drawers, talk about what you own, talk about where it came from, and just get everything you can on camera. It will make your insurance process a lot easier if you have to go down that road with my family.” [03:23]

Adria's emotional journey continued as she evacuated:

• The physical struggle amidst chaos: “...I was able to crawl 2 to 5 miles an hour for 15 minutes or so to get out of the immediate plume of smoke that we were totally engulfed in at that time.” [05:00]

• The community's resilience and support systems: “And my friend, my dear friend had taken a scooter from his place in Santa Monica to meet me at PCH. And I pulled over in the Jonathan Club driveway so that he could get in the car and take over the driving. And I got into the backseat and just completely fell apart at that point. And he drove us safely to my friend's condo in Marina Del Rey. And that's where I am with my cat now.” [06:30]

Reflecting on the ordeal, Adria emphasizes the value of safety over possessions:

• “It's so true when they say nothing in your home is worth going back for. If you need to get out, just get out.” [08:00]

Her story serves as a poignant reminder of the human impact behind the statistics, highlighting personal loss, resilience, and the critical importance of community support in times of crisis.

6. Concluding Insights: Lessons and Gratitude

As the fires continue to blaze, the episode underscores the urgent need for better preparedness and resource allocation to handle such disasters. The gratitude expressed by officials and residents alike paints a picture of a community striving to support each other amidst adversity.

• Margaret Stewart urges residents to stay prepared: “They need to have the go bag in the vehicle. The vehicle's in the driveway facing out. They need to have a plan in place and if they can evacuate early. Go.” [02:24]

• Adria Clokey's narrative closes with a message of gratitude and hope: “...we have our lives and just so grateful for that and for the support of my friends and my colleagues.” [07:45]

The episode, produced by Connor Donovan, Mark Rivers, and Kaimaknami with audio engineering by Tiffany Castro, and edited by Courtney Dorning, offers a comprehensive look into the devastating wildfires affecting Los Angeles. Through official reports and personal testimonies, it provides listeners with both factual information and emotional depth, encapsulating the multifaceted impact of the disaster.

Produced by Connor Donovan, Mark Rivers, and Kaimaknami with audio engineering by Tiffany Castro. Edited by Courtney Dorning. Executive Producer Sami Yenigun.

This episode of Consider This serves as a crucial resource for understanding the complexities of wildfire disasters, the importance of preparedness, and the resilience of communities in the face of natural calamities.