Warnings of severe fire risk from high-speed Santa Ana winds have turned into reality in Southern California as the Franklin Fire erupted in Malibu late Monday night. Thousands have been evacuated, and the fire has already consumed over 2,500 acres.
UCLA experts are offering insights into the situation. Alex Hall, a climate scientist at UCLA and director of UCLA’s Center for Climate Science, explains how climate change is intensifying both the Santa Ana winds and the risks they pose. Hall stated, “The hot and extremely dry wind conditions that are driving the Franklin Fire are similar to what we saw just a few weeks ago with the destructive Mountain Fire in Santa Barbara. It’s a sobering reminder that we must learn to live with wildfire, especially as the fires become larger and more intense with a changing climate.”
Hall also noted that Southern California experienced several wet years consecutively, leading to an accumulation of fuels in wildlands. However, this current wet season has been notably dry so far. He said, “The sequence of very wet followed by dry conditions sets the stage for big wildfires.”
The rapid expansion of the Franklin Fire overnight is particularly concerning due to its proximity to major population centers. Hall remarked on this saying, “The speed with which the Franklin Fire ballooned overnight, driven by these very strong Santa Ana winds and extraordinarily dry chaparral vegetation, is especially alarming given its proximity to major population centers. The impact on people’s lives and livelihoods underscores the urgency of our work.”
At UCLA, efforts are focused on producing research aimed at helping policymakers protect communities and environments amidst changing climates and wildfire risks. According to Hall: “The solutions include strategies to reduce ignitions, improve stewardship of our unique chaparral landscapes to reduce impacts, and make more accurate predictions of wildfire behavior and risk.”
Media outlets are encouraged to use Hall's comments or contact him for further interviews. Hall serves as faculty director of UCLA’s Sustainable LA Grand Challenge which launched the Climate Wildfire Research Initiative in 2023.
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