Milan Dosanjh
Contributing Writer
Tragedy struck the Los Angeles (L.A.) Palisades community on Jan. 7, as a devastating wildfire tore through the southern Californian paradise on earth. Starting out as a brush fire, high winds and embers unfortunately carried and catalyzed the fire into other areas, ultimately growing into a massive wildfire that tore through the beachside with roaring, unstoppable flames. As of today, the fire has scorched more than 23,000 acres of land, which includes the destruction of 12,000 homes and the displacement of more than 200,000 residents of the Pacific Palisades. The tragedy left over is challenging to face, and many are processing difficult emotions about just what has happened. UC Santa Barbara (UCSB) is home to diverse students from many backgrounds, with a majority of them having family in California. A large number of students were affected by the Palisade fires, reminding us of the importance of standing by and supporting our community during this time of need.
It is important to vocalize our thoughts for the purpose of expressing just how we feel in the wake of this turmoil. There has been a mixture of difficult sentiments in reaction to the news of the fire. “I was really shocked, because I feel like an event of this scale hasn’t really occurred in this area. I always hear of other natural disasters, but I never expected there to be widespread fires in this area of such magnitude,” comments Katharine Hoang, a first-year global studies major. The most shocking of reactions was concerning the scale of this disaster, and just how unstoppable this fire seemed: once it started, L.A. firefighters struggled to contain it. “I have learned more about how problematic the way the county addressed the fires [was], for example, cutting the budgets away from firefighting.” Hoang adds, implementing the speculation of how the lack of allocating resources on behalf of L.A. County played a crucial role in fighting this fire. Others share this frustration, questioning just how this fire continued to burn.
In addition to how we processed the occurrence of the L.A. fires individually, the urgency to check in with friends and family who are predominantly affected by them was a common worry among students. “It was concerning and I had some friends from Pasadena, but fortunately, it wasn’t as bad for them.” Hoang comments. Though the effects of the fire weren’t as devastating for some, many of our peers experienced the disastrous aftermath. “My friend’s dad used to live in the Palisades, in an area where it’s completely leveled by it. It’s hard to see her being emotional because she grew up there.” Ileana Juarez, a second-year biology major told The Bottom Line. Despite how difficult this time may be for us all, the reassurance and comfort we offer one another is invaluable. “Providing support has been important,” Juarez adds, amplifying the sentiment of showing up for your friends and being a source of peace for them.
While we reconnect with our loved ones, the discussion of safety precautions is incredibly prevalent with our families. This natural disaster is distressing, especially with the recent emergency shutdown of UC Los Angeles’s campus in reaction to the fires, leaving many parents concerned about what this could mean for their own children. “I’ve had to talk with my mom and actually have conversations about what to do if something like that happens here.” Juarez shares. Having to create evacuation plans and enacting safety precautions, especially while on a college campus, is indeed a rattling procedure to undergo; however, it is necessary for the safety and security of students and faculty.
Given the sheer damage that this fire has caused, there’s a shock in the air not only for California, but for the world in regards to climate change. “I hope that this is a wake up call, or a warning for people about climate change.” Juarez comments, echoing the need for awareness in conversation around climate change which many turn a blind eye to. Juarez adds, “It shouldn’t have gotten this far. We should have taken warnings from previous years. California is a prone area for wildfires; we should change the way we’re living and how we deal with climate change. I hope we change and create better precautions for the future and how we move forward with wildfires.” Juarez not only speaks for herself, but a large population of climate activists who promote the protection and conservation of our planet. “There’s definitely a lot of people in denial about why climate change exists. This fire has not only impacted people of low income and marginalized communities, but also wealthy individuals, so it’s brought a lot of spotlight to encourage people of high-income brackets to use their platforms.” Hoang notes. In the wake of the fires, more individuals, including celebrities, are using their platforms to donate and raise awareness about the devastation these fires have caused.
With feelings of anxiety, fear, and somberness still lingering around campus, it is important to recognize that the student body here at UCSB is dedicated to lifting one another up, especially in this time of distress. Moving forward, we can acknowledge that recovery will not be a linear path, and we must continue to be that anchor for our peers in need. Let us remain steadfast in our commitment to compassion, ensuring that no one walks this path of healing alone.