Every possible cause for the SoCal wildfires is man-made. This is different than the natural conditions explaining the extreme magnitude of the destruction. Wind, uncleared brush, lack of rainfall, etc.

Causes, not conditions.

  • Downed powerlines that should have been buried decades ago.
  • Carelessness/negligence, such as tossed cigarettes and motorized garden tools.
  • Open flame in homeless encampments.
  • Unattended campfires.
  • Fireworks.
  • Motorized vehicles providing heated ignition, such as exhaust particles and parking in tall dry grass.
  • Arson.

There was no dry lightning (thunderstorms producing little to no precipitation), erupting volcano, or meteor impact. These are natural causes. There may be other natural causes but these would be so freak as to go unnoticed and undetected in investigation.

The SoCal wildfires are a man-made disaster because the causes of the wildfires are man-made. Smokey the Bear lectures only we can prevent wildfires. In the case of the SoCal wildfires this is the absolute truth.

Blaming the Santa Ana Winds as the cause of the wildfires is incorrect. The Santa Ana Winds are without question culpable for the extent of the destruction and the abundant dry vegetation set the stage for the destruction. Even so, it’s human beings that caused these wildfires.

Causes vs. Conditions.

Keeping this distinction at the front of the conversation is paramount going forward.