From the Palisades hills to the suburbs of Eaton, Los Angeles is on its knees under the grip of forest fireswith entire communities threatened by flames and poor air quality, prompting the government to declare a health emergency in Los Angeles. The hot desert winds, now less strong, are in fact carrying smoke and toxic particles.
While the fire brigade teams hope for a change of direction thanks to gradually easing winds, another hotbed lights up in Washington: the political one. Chris WrightDonald Trump’s candidate for Secretary of Energy, has in fact rejected the link between climate change and increasingly devastating waves of fires, triggering fierce criticism from Democratic senators and those calling for more rigorous policies to protect the environment.
How California deals with wildfires
The fire season in California has taken on alarming proportions, with Los Angeles playing the role of epicenter of an emergency that is upsetting the social and environmental fabric of the region. In just a few days, several areas of the county recorded fires capable of devouring tens of thousands of acres. According to the most recent estimates, there are at least 25 confirmed victims, more than 20 missing and over 100,000 people forced to abandon their homes.
The most extensive fires have brought one of the most densely populated areas of the state to its knees. The fire of Palisadesin particular, it has already devastated nearly 24,000 acres and is still at a 19% containment level. This means the flames could continue to spread, although Santa Ana winds – powerful gusts of hot, dry air coming from the desert interior – are expected to abate in the coming hours. The Eaton fire, however, burned over 14,000 acres, but i firefighters achieved containment of approximately 45%a fact that gives rise to hope but does not guarantee real safety.
The Los Angeles region is also exposed to new possible triggers: low humidity, together with still high temperaturesmakes the territory extremely vulnerable. The authorities have invited citizens to remain alert and to carefully follow any evacuation orders.
Just as firefighters battle the flames, a chapter has opened in Washington that risks further dividing public opinion. Chris Wrightnominated by Donald Trump to head the Department of Energy, has repeatedly expressed skeptical positions on the links between the climate crisis and the intensification of forest fires. During the confirmation hearing in the Senate, Californian senator Alex Padilla, hailing from Los Angeles, highlighted some of Wright’s past statements in which he described concerns about the fires as “hype” (i.e., an exaggeration).
When Padilla asked Wright if he confirmed those claims in light of the current disaster in his hometown, the candidate reiterated that he considers climate change a real problem, but also argued that the increase in fires cannot be attributed solely to climatic factors. According to Wright, there are several variables – such as land management, urbanization and the choice of specific forestry policies – that would have an equally decisive role.
Trump’s choice for Secretary of Energy, Chris Wright once posted on Twitter that “the hype over wildfires is just hype.”
California @SenAlexPadilla presses him to retract that statement in light of the deadly fires in his state
Yet Wright says, “I stand by my past comments” pic.twitter.com/dkNMmp3ur5
— Senate Democrats (@SenateDems) January 15, 2025
This approach contrasts sharply with the scientific consensus, according to which rising temperatures and the greater frequency of drought periods – linked to global warming – significantly impact the extension of the fire season. Numerous studies from the University of California in fact they demonstrate that the high concentrations of CO₂ in the atmosphere and the progressive warming of the planet they favor the drying of vegetationmaking the area more exposed to violent and difficult to control fires.
Independent Senator Angus King also raised doubts about Wright’s positions. King suggested that the candidate’s claims may be “more subtle than they appear,” but hinted that a clear position on the link between fossil fuels and climate change is essential if you are a candidate to lead such a strategic ministry.
Wright, in response, admitted that he accepted the underlying principle that the massive use of hydrocarbons has caused an increase in carbon dioxide levels by 50%. This, he said, would have made it more difficult for the Earth to lose heat, thus contributing to global warming. However, he insists on the need not to demonize fossil fuelsbut rather to consider a diversified energy mix, which also includes renewables such as wind and solar, nuclear technology and geothermal energy.
Faced with these declarations, Democratic senators expressed concern about a possible slowdown in policies to combat climate change. Padilla himself asked for reassurance that the Department of Energy, under Wright’s leadership, . Wright promised to respect the scientific method and promote investment to accelerate the development of clean technologies.
Meanwhile, on the ground, firefighters and emergency teams are working tirelessly to contain the flames, restore essential services and assist the affected families. The police have intensified controls to combat thefts, price speculation and scams against displaced people, a phenomenon that unfortunately regularly recurs in times of calamity.
In the short term, it is hoped that the partial reduction in winds will offer some relief, allowing it to gain ground on fronts such as the Palisades and Eaton fires.