While the New York skyline sat dusted in its first snowfall, the winds of the West coast lit up Los Angeles in flames — burning down roofs and the lives of many within the first week of 2025. There are currently five major fires flaring across LA: Palisades Fire, Woodley Fire, Hurst Fire, Lidia Fire, Eaton Fire, and Sunset Fire. 

On Jan. 7, 2025 the deadly Santa Ana Winds drifted down the mountains outside LA with the  intensity of a hurricane and spread the wildfire to several nearby neighborhoods. Over 1,000 roofs are reported to have burned down to ashes, more than 100,000 people have been forced to evacuate and at least 5 people have died and several injured from this calamity.

Santa Ana is Orange County’s second largest city and here is what a resident from Inland Orange County has told The Monitor. 

“The fires are about an hour from where I live at the moment, so they’ve not directly impacted my home – but as someone from Inland Orange County, I’m familiar with environmental emergencies of this nature. I know far too many folks who have either been evacuated or have already lost their homes. It never gets easier. It does, however, bring me hope to see so many of my Orange County friends open their homes and businesses to those in need,” said Lanes Miller, a senior student of MMC.

Airbnb, Lyft and Uber are offering free rides and temporary emergency accommodations to the wildfire evacuees of LA. As a snow storm is predicted to hit New York this weekend, another wave of Santa Ana wind gusts are  also forecasted to blow LA this weekend. The gloomy affairs of weather across the nation has wind down the air of new year.

“As someone who has been evacuated before, I’m grateful not to be in that position right now, but it breaks my heart seeing other folks experience that. It’s so hard to know what to pack and to do it so quickly. And you almost always forget something, so I’m constantly praying that not only is everyone safe, but that everyone has what they need,” Miller said.