*Editors Note: This story has been updated from its initial version published on Janruary 8. Meetings Today is following this developing story closely. Check this page frequently for updates.
Multiple wildfires have broken out across Southern California this week, currently putting 92,000 residents of Los Angeles under evacuation orders and 89,000 additional residents in evacuation warning zones. Here’s what meeting and event planners in the area need to know about the fires and how they could impact current and future events in Southern California.
The largest and most destructive of the fires began in Palisades on January 7 and has to date destroyed over 12,300 structures, including entire residential neighborhoods. The Palisades wildfire has also and burned over 23,000 acres and has only been 14% contained as of January 13 as the fire threatens the Brentwood, Encino and Westwood areas.
Other fires have also broken out across Southern California, including the Eaton and Hurst fires, which have burned more than 14,000 and 770 acres, respectively. However, the spread of those two fires have been easier to contain than the Palisades wildfire, with the Eaton fire reportedly 33% contained and gaining no acreage and the Hurst fire reportedly 95% contained as of January 13.
Officials say the fires have been difficult to contain due to high Santa Ana winds that have reached speeds of up to 100 mph in some areas, causing the delayed takeoff of firefighting aircraft early into the onset of the fires.
So far the wildfires have killed at least 24 people and have swept through 40,000 acres in the greater Los Angeles area and have injured countless others, including those suffering from burns, smoke inhalation and eye injuries.
At least 47,000 residents remain without power in California as dangerous fire conditions continue to plague the area, including persistent dry spells and more high wind speeds expected through Wednesday. Officials are urging residents to continue to follow evacuation orders.
You can find a full list of all of the current mandatory and recommended evacuation orders here.
Most Expensive Wildfires in U.S. History
As the fires continue to rage across Southern California, AccuWeather has released a preliminary estimate of the total damage and economic loss of the wildfires to be between $250 billion and $275 billion. The estimate takes into account the damage and destruction of thousands of homes and businesses, damage to utilities and infrastructure, the financial impact of evacuation orders, rebuilding and/or relocation costs, anticipated cleanup and recovery costs, emergency shelter expenses, immediate and long-term healthcare costs, lost wages and the potential large numbers of layoffs and furloughs in the area.
If correct, the estimates would place the current LA wildfires as the most expensive wildfires in U.S. history and one of the most expensive disasters in modern human history. However, it could be several months before a final tally of the total financial losses from the wildfires is known.
[Related: Destinations International Launches LA Wildfire Recovery Fund]
Air and Water Quality Issues
On January 10, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) issued a warning to residents of the Pacific Palisades and other neighborhoods near the Palisades wildfire that the tap water may not be safe for consumption. The danger comes from the stress the wildfires put on local water systems, including higher than normal water use, damaged and destroyed structures causing water leaks and power outages preventing water from being replenished fast enough. All of these factors can cause the water system to become vulnerable to chemical contamination, such as benzene, a chemical linked to cancer that can also cause immediate illness if ingested.
After the northern California wildfires in 2017 and 2018, the drinking water was heavily contaminated with benzene. The 2023 Maui wildfires also caused slight contaminations in the water supply. The LADWP has advised residents to not drink or cook with tap water, limit bathing time and wash clothing in cold water due to the ability of the chemicals to vaporize and become airborne.
Additionally, the ongoing fires have also caused health officials to warn of poor air quality in areas in and outside of the fire zones. And while LA has always had issues with poor air quality, the wildfires create an extra layer of danger due to the exposure of particle pollution from the wildfires. The particles can cause symptoms such as burning eyes, runny nose, breathing problems such as bronchitis and cause inflammation that exacerbate underlying health conditions like chronic heart disease and diabetes.
LA residents can protect themselves from poor air quality by limiting time outdoors, closing doors and windows, using air conditioners to filter harmful particles and avoiding the use of fireplaces, candles, vacuums and leaf blowers.
You can find a full list of air quality alerts issued in the LA area here.
January 8
Air and Ground Travel Delays
As of January 8, there have been over 90 flight cancellations and over 80 delays from LAX as the fires make air travel conditions next to impossible.
United Airlines issued travel waivers to passengers booked on flights departing Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR) and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) between January 7 and 9. The waivers will allow passengers to reschedule their flights with no fees or price differences as some flights coming into Burbank were forced to divert to LAX due to smoke from the fires.
Other flights have been impacted, too, including a Southwest Airlines flight that was diverted to Las Vegas, along with reports of increased turbulence due to high wind speeds.
There have also been major traffic jams and ground travel delays, including a traffic jam on Palisades Drive that prevented emergency vehicles from getting through and the Pacific Coast Highway being completely shut down, according to a post on X by the California Department of Transportation. There are also numerous other road closures across Los Angeles County as people abandon their cars amid evacuation orders and high winds.
Closures and Evacuations
Universal Studios announced that its locations in California, Universal Studios Hollywood and Universal CityWalk, would be closed on Wednesday, January 8 due to the fires. Additionally, many other buildings that are typically used for meetings and events have been transformed into evacuation centers, the most notable being the Pasadena Convention Center being converted into an evacuation shelter.
Resources for Meeting Planners
Wildfires, hurricanes and other natural disasters can majorly impact meetings and events, especially in hubs like Los Angeles. If your event might be impacted by this event, or you want to stay prepared for future events, take note of the following resources:
- Follow CAL FIRE and the Los Angeles Fire Department for evacuation updates and fire incident data.
- Brush up on risk management tips and strategies.
- Review important contract clauses and considerations like force majeure and others in our recent webinar.
- Check Discover Los Angeles’ website for venue closures, emergency numbers and additional resources.
- The MPI Southern California Chapter has also compiled a list of resources for evacuees and those impacted.
How You Can Help
Discover Los Angeles has released an update on how the city is handling these devastating wildfires, which you can find here. The DMO also listed a number of places to donate if you have the means to support recovery efforts.
