THE VIEW FROM RIZAL
As we write this column, a historic, unprecedented wildfire that started on Jan. 7 is still raging in Southern California, decimating a total of 40,000 acres, destroying more than 12,000 structures, forcing some 155,000 people to flee their homes, and putting another 160,000 plus on alert for possible evacuation.
This shocking event has taught the world several valuable lessons.
First, Mother Nature is a cruel teacher.
Second, we must hasten our ability to adapt to climate change.
Third, in all these calamities, local governments – fairly or unfairly – will get the blame.
Mother Nature is a cruel teacher, but she is also the true “great equalizer.” In the Philippines, we are used to watching big fires hit and decimate large communities of informal settlers. It is not uncommon to see news items regarding fires burning down thousands of shanties. When fires in the country occur in the enclaves of the rich and famous, only one or two structures are most likely affected.
Mother Nature erased that notion with the California wildfires. As many have noted, the communities affected are not shanty towns. These are exclusive residential areas the likes of which we saw only in old TV series like “Falcon Crest” or “Beverly Hills 90210.” In these communities, retired and active celebrities have built their mansions. The names of the affected areas are places we associate with glamor, star power, and celebrity status. These names include Santa Monica, Pasadena, Malibu, Brentwood, Encino, Huntington, the Pacific Palisades, Hollywood, and the famous Sunset Boulevard.
When homes burned down in these areas, Mother Nature rendered the likes of Paris Hilton, Mel Gibson, Billy Crystal, Jessica Simpson, and Mandy Moore homeless.
It looks like Mother Nature was not intimidated by their star status. When angry, she does not distinguish between haves and have-nots.
California has been hit by big wildfires in the past. Most of the biggest wildfires there happened in the 2020s. The 2025 inferno is the biggest ever. This event is now pushing Californians and all of us to take a closer look and lend a more eager ear to what Mother Nature is telling us.
One of those lessons could be this: Climate Change is not fiction. It is not a fantasy. It is real. Ironically, this harsh reality has been showcased in that part of Los Angeles known to the world as the capital of filmmaking, the factory of movie fantasies.
At this point, experts are now looking into the deeper root causes of this historic event. There are concerns that fire hydrants and water reservoirs are dry. Meteorological experts from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) are saying that so-called “weather whiplash” is “ramping up the risk of wildfires” in the state. They pointed out that California’s record rainfall early last year caused the growth of grasses and shrubs. Later during the year, the absence of rains caused the dense vegetation to dry out making them perfect fuel for the spread of forest fires.
They also called attention to unusually strong “Santa Ana winds” – that powerful force that blew the raging fire from mountains down to the coastal areas.
In sum, they are once again looking at Climate Change as the root cause. Unless this phenomenon is embraced, the world may not be able to take the necessary steps to adapt to it.
Questions are now being asked why, despite their huge budgets, California and Los Angeles appeared unable to stave off, contain, or prevent this crisis. For the record, California is the richest state in the United States, while Los Angeles ranks third among the cities in the US with the most number of millionaires. It is both interesting and sad to note that even the richest local governments could find themselves unable to prevent the wrath of Mother Nature. The best-trained firefighters and the most modern firefighting equipment have not been able to put the conflagration under control.
This brings us to the last lesson: when things like this happen, local governments will always be pilloried, blamed, and nailed to the cross.
Already, California’s governor is in the hot seat. The incoming US President has blamed the head of this state.
This is alarming to local governments all over the world. If the richest LGUs are helpless in the face of natural calamities such as the Los Angeles wildfires, imagine what could happen to the less affluent ones. The blame always has to be pinned somewhere. The lowest in the totem pole of political power almost always get it.
The California wildfires is a wake-up call.
We hope the blame game is over and done soon. We are interested in the lessons, particularly those that will help local governments and communities adapt to current climatic realities, and help human and technological resources work together to mitigate the effects of the wrath of Mother Nature.
(The author is the mayor of Antipolo City, former Rizal governor, DENR assistant secretary and LLDA general manager. Email: [email protected])