Story of the Thomas Fire

The Thomas Fire began on December 4, 2017 when violent Santa Ana winds forced power lines to cross, igniting two conflagrations, which quickly combined and spread. According to CNN the fire, destroying over 281,893 acres of vegetation and over 1,000 structures, became the largest Californian wildfire in recorded history. Governor Jerry Brown declared the Thomas Fire a state emergency, and his request for national assistance was granted by President Donald Trump.

Firefighters, the National Guard, and other first responders from across the Western states were dispatched to help fight this natural disaster. According to the Daily News over 6,000 frontline workers were deployed to help fight the Thomas Fire. The six-month battle cost $117 million to fight, and the fire caused an additional $10 billion worth of damage to the structures in local towns and cities.

Story of the Montecito Mudslides

The crippled ecosystem and terrain further damaged with heavy January rains resulted in catastrophic floods and mudslides, which claimed the lives of twenty-one victims. My school community was devastated as several students lost their parents, and many students lost their homes. During the violent debris flow, roads and schools were closed for three months due to clean-up efforts and repairs.