For the residents of Los Angeles caught in this wildfire crisis, it’s not a Hollywood movie, yet it’s more thrilling than any film.
For the residents of Los Angeles who were impacted, the wildfire was far from the picturesque scene of a Hollywood movie; instead, it was even more thrilling and perilous. On January 7, 2025, a bushfire ignited in the coastal area of Los Angeles County. Despite initial reports, this triggering event indeed took place within Los Angeles County. Owing to extreme weather conditions, including intense dryness and strong winds, the wildfire raged uncontrollably, engulfing vast expanses of the coastal region. In some specific local areas, wind speeds soared to approximately 160 kilometers per hour, while the majority of the region experienced an average of 110 kilometers per hour on average. At times, the fire spread across an area equivalent to five soccer fields within just a few minutes.
As the wildfire continues to elude containment, its ferocity becomes increasingly palpable, posing a grave threat to the lives and property of the people. In fact, daily life in the affected areas has been nearly paralyzed. Faced with such a dire situation, Los Angeles not only contends with challenging climate conditions but also has to address a multitude of other pressing demands, including relocation, the provision of emergency shelters, and the supply of meals.
This disaster, though not a fictional plot from a Hollywood movie, has a level of thrills that surpasses any movie setting. Unlike the common impression of wildfires, the speed and intensity of this fire are far beyond imagination. The direct impact of the fire is not limited to the life and death of individuals and families but also profoundly affects the operation and recovery of the entire society.
Overview of the Disaster
1.1 The Los Angeles Fire Rages Like a Beast, Engulfing the City in a Merciless Sea of Flames
On the afternoon of January 8, 2025, at 6 p.m., an unprecedented fire broke out near Hollywood Hill in Los Angeles. The fire spread rapidly, like an enraged beast on fire, swallowing this big city in an instant. The fire started in the early morning of January 7 and quickly spread to various communities. Especially under the conditions of drought and strong winds, the fire entered a state of rampant spread. Due to the abnormal dry climate, the fire mercilessly eroded every inch of land, and buildings, streets, and commercial areas were all affected. The sky was filled with flames, and the whole city was engulfed in smoke and fire. Even in areas far from the source of the fire, people could feel the scorching heat.
1.2 Tens of Thousands of People Become Homeless Overnight, Facing a Life-and-Death Test That Natural Disasters Cannot Block
As the fire spread, more than 100,000 residents in Los Angeles were forced to evacuate urgently. Residents fled their homes, some walking on foot and carrying heavy loads, others taking their families and pets to hide everywhere. The city of Los Angeles was in chaos, with a large number of people rushing to shelters. However, due to the lag in evacuation work, many people failed to find a shelter in time and could only spend a panicked night in temporary makeshift sheds. The fire destroyed their houses and property, and even many of their relatives died in the fire. People were physically and mentally exhausted, losing everything they had in the past. Faced with the ruthlessness of the disaster, they were almost powerless to resist. The test of life and death made every Los Angeles citizen feel deeply frightened, and everyone was waiting for help and rescue.
1.3 Death Spreads, and Every Second Under the Shadow of Terror is a Race Against Time
So far, the fire has caused at least 5 deaths and hundreds of injuries. Local medical resources are strained, and hospitals are unable to accommodate more injured people. The time limit for emergency rescue is almost not enough to meet the demand. Disaster victims are suffering from panic and hunger. At the same time, the environment after the fire is seriously polluted, and toxic gases and fine particulate matter are pervasive in the air. Many disaster victims face health problems such as breathing difficulties under the harm of air pollution. Especially for the elderly, children, and people with respiratory diseases, the impact of the fire is undoubtedly fatal.
1.4 Economic Losses Swallow the City’s Wealth Like a Black Hole
According to a report released by JPMorgan Chase & Co., this wildfire in the Los Angeles area has become one of the most destructive fires in history, with direct economic losses approaching 50 billion U.S. dollars. Insurance companies also estimate that insurance compensation will exceed 20 billion U.S. dollars, and may continue to rise as the fire further expands. The fire not only destroyed countless buildings but also hit the economy of Los Angeles. Many enterprises suffered incalculable losses, especially the tourism, retail, and service industries, facing large-scale business interruptions.
Emergency Measures
2.1 National Rescue
Faced with such a large-scale disaster, U.S. President Joe Biden signed a major disaster declaration, announcing that emergency rescue resources and financial support would be provided to California. To help California better cope with the fire, Biden canceled his trip to Italy and prioritized participating in the rescue work. At the same time, the U.S. federal government dispatched more than ten aircraft and helicopters to support firefighting efforts and closely cooperated with local governments and fire departments in California to control the fire as soon as possible. California Governor Gavin Newsom also declared a state of emergency in Southern California and launched a broader post-disaster rescue operation.
2.2 Actions of Social Organizations and Volunteers
In addition to the government’s rescue forces, social organizations and volunteers have played an indispensable role in this disaster. Tens of thousands of volunteers spontaneously participated in the rescue operation, not only helping to evacuate trapped residents but also providing temporary shelters, food, and medical assistance. Many volunteers also organized psychological counseling teams to provide psychological support for the affected people, helping them get through this sudden disaster. The active participation of social organizations has shown the strong power of the whole people working together to deal with the disaster.
2.3 Temporary Shelters
Faced with a large number of evacuated masses, the government and social organizations jointly provided various temporary shelters. In the temporary shelters, staff urgently transported tents, container houses, folding beds, quilts, and other materials to ensure that the affected people could get safe and relatively comfortable shelters. At the same time, to cope with possible bad weather, the shelters also provided heating facilities, lighting equipment, and other infrastructure to ensure that people’s basic living needs were met.
2.4 Food Supply
After the disaster, the government and volunteer organizations allocated a large amount of food and water resources to ensure that the basic living needs of the affected people were met. To this end, social organizations coordinated the distribution of grains, vegetables, meat, and convenient food and other materials. Especially in ensuring food safety, environmental protection tableware and packaging materials were used, which not only improved the hygiene level of food but also reduced post-disaster environmental pollution.
2.4.1 Environmental Protection Tableware and Packaging
In the humanitarian relief work in disasters, ensuring the safety, hygiene, and environmental protection of food is very important. The following are some examples of the use of environmental protection tableware and packaging materials:
Bagasse tableware: Made from bagasse, this kind of tableware is completely biodegradable and meets environmental protection requirements. It can naturally decompose after use and will not cause an environmental burden.
Paper packaging: Paper packaging materials are suitable for various food packaging and can be recycled, avoiding the pollution of plastic to the environment.
Cornstarch tableware: This kind of tableware made from cornstarch is not only environmentally friendly but also biodegradable. It will not pollute the environment after use.
Biodegradable tableware: Made from biodegradable materials, these tableware items can be completely decomposed after use and meet the needs of sustainable development.
PLA cups: These cups made from biodegradable materials are not only environmentally friendly but also ensure the health and safety of users.
2.5 Drinking Water Safety
After the disaster, ensuring the drinking water safety of the affected people is very important. The relevant departments ensured the supply of living water through bottled water supply and water source transportation, and established temporary water source supply points to ensure the basic living needs of the disaster victims.
2.6 Medical Treatment
In the points, medical services are also fully guaranteed. Medical and health service points are set up on site, and the affected people can get basic medical treatment and emergency services in time. At the same time, the relevant departments strengthened environmental disinfection work and regularly carried out monitoring of epidemic symptoms and psychological counseling to prevent greater health crises in the tense rescue environment.
Challenges and Warnings of Post-Disaster Reconstruction
3.1 The Disaster Sounded the Alarm
The Los Angeles fire has brought not only huge property losses and casualties but also made us deeply realize the importance of the supply of post-disaster rescue materials and environmental protection. This fire is heartbreaking, but it also gives us an important warning: in the face of the increasingly severe natural disasters, how to deal with the challenges of post-disaster reconstruction has become a problem that every country and society must pay attention to.
After the fire raged in Los Angeles, the devastated urban landscape was shocking. Although the government and social organizations have provided the urgently needed materials and assistance for the disaster victims, we must realize that in the process of post-disaster reconstruction, traditional emergency materials are not always able to effectively meet the needs of environmental recovery. For example, conventional plastic products, although they can meet the demand of food supply in a short time, bring a long-term burden to the environment.
3.2 Enlightenment and Reflection: The Close Integration of Environmental Protection and Material Distribution in the Face of Disasters
The Los Angeles wildfire is not just a natural disaster; it profoundly reveals the often overlooked importance of environmental protection in human responses to catastrophes. Although the government and social organizations have actively taken emergency measures, providing a large amount of food and water, a review of the entire rescue process shows that post-disaster recovery is not just about material living security but also involves the restoration and protection of the environment.
The distribution of post-disaster materials plays a crucial role in the rescue efforts. The choice of environmentally friendly, hygienic, and safe materials has become a key issue that we must pay attention to. Traditional plastic materials, while convenient in the short term, are not conducive to environmental recovery and may even increase the difficulty of large-scale cleanup after the disaster. In contrast, biodegradable materials such as PLA cups (polylactic acid cups) have higher environmental performance and can better support the recovery of the environment after the disaster.
We can see that the application of environmentally friendly materials has become an important part of post-disaster reconstruction. The use of a series of green tableware, from biodegradable cutlery to cornstarch tableware, indicates that our environmental awareness in post-disaster relief is gradually improving. In future disaster responses, the application of environmentally friendly materials will not only be a need for emergency reactions but also a responsibility and commitment to sustainable development.
In the process of post-disaster reconstruction, the application of environmentally friendly rescue materials will inevitably become an indispensable part. The disaster itself is a warning from nature, and our emphasis on environmentally friendly materials is a long-term strategy for future disaster response and environmental recovery. This disaster has given us painful lessons, but it also guides us towards a greener and more sustainable future.
The Power of Unity and Hope
The wildfire outbreak in Los Angeles is a trying moment for all sectors of society, as it is a serious natural calamity that also puts our emergency response to the test. The dispersal of social organizations and the efforts of volunteers, as well as the actions taken at the government level, were all in sync with the resilience of humanity during the calamity. The supply of food and the use of biodegradable takeaway containers catered to the basic needs of the impactees and also reduced environmental damage, showcasing the fusion of humanitarian assistance with sustainable development. The impact of the Los Angeles wildfire disaster has indeed been quite enormous for the region’s residents, but the will and efforts of everyone involved can help them start afresh and rebuild their lives.
