As of Jan. 30, the Los Angeles fires that began on Jan. 7 have killed at least 27 people and destroyed more than 120,000 structures. With 32% of Stanford’s student body being from California, many students across campus were directly and indirectly affected by the fires.
“I lived there over the summer and I would drive up on Sunset and go through the Palisades. It’s crazy to think that the area is now totally decimated,” said Jessica Korobkin ’27, a student from LA whose mother’s house burnt down as a result of the fires.
However, the repercussions of the fires extend beyond just the destruction of buildings. The ash’s impact on air quality is an ongoing concern for many of the area’s residents.
At the peak of the Pacific Palisades fire, an EPA air monitor in LA Chinatown recorded 483.7 micrograms per cubic meter of fine particulate matter. The federal limit of fine particulate matter in comparison is 35 micrograms. Numerous parts of LA are well above the limit, which may prove to be harmful and dangerous to residents’ respiratory health.
Korobkin said a number of the Palisades residents were advised by doctors not to go back home, even if they were not directly impacted by the fires.
Given the nature of the materials burned — such as houses, vehicles and other structures — a significant amount of toxic chemicals, including benzene, volatile organic compounds, formaldehyde and heavy metals, were released into the atmosphere. The rebuilding of these houses further adds to the degradation of air quality.
In an email to The Daily, professor and physical science research scientist Jessica Yu, wrote that “fine particulate matter can penetrate deep into the lungs and enter the bloodstream, potentially leading to cardiovascular health issues.” Wildfire smoke is also associated with an “increased risk of premature births, low birth weight, dementia, cognitive impairment, memory loss, anxiety and depression.”
Yu also advised LA residents to wear P100 masks, which can filter at least 99.97% of airborne particles and are more resistant to clogging in heavily polluted environments.
Patricia Bromley M.A. ’05 M.A. ’10, an associate professor at the Graduate School of Education, wrote in an email to The Daily that the impact of the fires is indiscriminate.
“These hardships affect everyone, regardless of socioeconomic status, although families with greater resources can often access alternatives more easily (e.g. housing, meals, alternative schooling),” Bromley wrote.
The fires have also had significant impacts on education. UCLA had one week of online education due to the air quality.
Impacts have also been seen on home insurance premiums, exposing an insurance crisis that has festered for years.
“Home insurance affects everybody, even people that rent. The fires are maybe going to affect the affordability of housing. Our home insurance is in a crisis to cover the loss for insurers,” said Michael Wara, director of the Climate and Energy Policy Program. “Having home insurance cost two to five times what it costs today would have a huge impact on the state.”
“I just hope insurance companies uphold their promises, and if they can’t, then the government steps in,” Korobkin said.
California’s current policies on wildfire control mandate a 100-foot defensible space around homes in State Responsibility Zones, clearing flammable materials to slow down wildfires and provide a safe perimeter for firefighting efforts.
“I would not categorize this as a forest fire or a wildfire, the right way to think about this is an urban firestorm,” Wara said. Reports show that many homes do not follow the current regulations. “Changes to the built environment and how homes and gardens are built can prevent these kinds of fires,” said Wara.
For the time being, Gov. Gavin Newsom has taken measures to curb and manage the effects of the fires on the people.
Shreya Ramachandran ’25, a senior class president, and the StanfordCaresforLA team have also set up a GoFundMe to provide relief and donations to those affected by the fire. As of Thursday, it has received $2,970 in donations.
Additionally, the team is hosting a charity concert at Xanadu on Thursday night, featuring student performers and bands. They are also partnering with Coupa Cafe to donate one dollar to the relief fund for every latte sold on Friday.
“One thing that I have been really happy to see is, as we’ve been reaching out to organizations to support me in this effort, how much of an interest there was from the Stanford community,” Ramachandran said.
Ramachandran has continued rallying her fellow students for support, whether it’s monetary or otherwise.
“Every bit helps, whether it’s donating, volunteering or just spreading the word. Let’s show up and make a difference together.” wrote Ramachandran in a campus-wide email.
Korobkin is looking to the future with hope.
“What was so special about the Palisades was that it really felt like a small town,” Korobkin said. “I really just hope that people stay and rebuild.”