While we in the south have been enjoying snow days, the most populated state in the country is on fire. The wildfires reportedly started in California on the morning of January 7th, now over 150 thousand people have had to evacuate LA and surrounding areas. The death toll has reached 24 people as this is being written and the LA county sheriff says he expects it to rise. The cause of the fire is still unknown. Theories range from arson to powerlines collapsing. The fire is only 14% contained, and evacuation orders remain in effect.

An estimated 12 thousand structures, including schools, hospitals, and homes, have burned or collapsed. As it is unsafe to fight the fires on the ground the US military and local fire departments have begun dropping fire suppressants via helicopter. But as winds pick up these efforts may prove fruitless for the time being. We at Pages by Page send our well wishes to anyone whose family and friends are affected by these fires.