Climate change made LA wildfires 35% more likely under hot, dry conditions: Report

(Photo: Cal Fire)

The devastating fires that swept through parts of Los Angeles, U.S., in January raged for more than three weeks before being fully contained. In that time, they burned through more than 20,200 hectares (50,000 acres) of forests and homes, killing at least 29 people. A recent report from World Weather Attribution (WWA) finds that climate change made the hot, dry conditions that fueled the deadly fires roughly 35% more likely.

Furthermore, these fire-prone conditions will become an additional 35% more likely if warming reaches 2.6° Celsius (4.68° Fahrenheit], which is expected by 2100, the report authors write.