Please check my essay for grammar errors and MLA in text citation. Essay contains two sentences of analysis for every quote. All body paragraphs stay on topic. Completely and thoroughly proves the thesis. Analysis relates to the real world. Analysis uses Toulmin warrants to tie evidence to the thesis. Essay uses a tone that convinces the audience and uses precise language to express complex ideas. Has few to no errors in grammar, spelling, and/or punctuation. Essay uses proper MLA in-text citation with few to no errors. Essay follows MLA citation format for works. Essay has a unified, organized introductory hook at least 5 sentences long in an introductory paragraph totaling 6 sentences and essay has a unified, organized concluding hook at least 5 sentences long. Also, the essay restates the thesis in the concluding paragraph.

Wildfires have become a growing threat to neighborhoods in Los Angeles, leaving residents with damaged homes, unsafe air, and constant fear. Although urban growth and poor forest management play a role, climate change is the primary force, intensifying heat, prolonging droughts, and shifting wind patterns that make wildfires more severe and destructive. To reduce the impact, two possible solutions are stricter building codes and improved emergency response systems. However, stronger emergency response is more likely to be effective because it directly saves lives, speeds up evacuations, and protects communities even when prevention fails. As these fires continue to escalate, it has become clear that proactive measures in emergency response are urgently needed. The safety and well-being of residents depend on more robust systems designed to address the growing risks of faster-spreading wildfires, delayed evacuations, and overwhelmed firefighting resources due to climate change and urban expansion. Consequently, effective emergency management is a crucial part of protecting communities and reducing fire-related devastation in the future. Ultimately, only by focusing on emergency preparedness and response can Los Angeles reduce the far-reaching consequences of these increasingly frequent and dangerous fires.

The escalating threat of wildfires has significantly transformed the sense of security within Los Angeles neighborhoods, replacing it with a pervasive feeling of vulnerability. This anxiety is vividly captured in the firsthand accounts of residents who have experienced the direct impact of these fires. In the aftermath of the LA wildfire, many victims expressed their urgent need to leave their homes for safety. One resident, Alicia Kalvin, described her frantic escape, highlighting the immediate fear and urgency that wildfires instill. Kalvin's experience illustrates the primal instinct for self-preservation that arises when faced with an imminent threat. Her story reveals how wildfires can shatter the sense of safety and control within one's own home. This sentiment is further amplified by the fact that Kalvin did not get an evacuation warning, emphasizing the lack of preparedness and the suddenness with which these disasters can strike. The emotional toll of these experiences is profound, underscored by Kalvin's admission that she has had "nightmares ever since" (Iacurci). Witnessing such devastation as that of Kalvin's experience can have a long-lasting psychological effect, indicating that the trauma of wildfires goes far beyond the immediate danger to one's physical health. Julia Pollak, another resident, echoed this sentiment, describing her neighborhood as a "ghost town hellscape" (Iacurci), encapsulating the sense of desolation and loss that wildfires leave in their wake. The combined impact of immediate fear, lasting trauma, and environmental devastation creates a pervasive atmosphere of vulnerability that permeates daily life in fire-prone areas. In addition to the immediate dangers and emotional scars, the economic repercussions of wildfires further compound residents' anxieties. Rising insurance premiums, driven by increased fire risk, add a layer of financial strain to homeowners, threatening to destabilize communities already grappling with loss and uncertainty. As Patrick Douville, vice president of global insurance and pension ratings at Morningstar, explained, "This means that premiums are likely to increase, and affordability issues will continue, potentially affecting property values and leaving some homeowners without insurance" (Dickler). This financial burden exacerbates the sense of vulnerability, as residents face not only the threat of future fires but also the challenge of affording basic protection against them. Ultimately, the Los Angeles wildfires have fostered a shared sense of fear and insecurity, prompting the community to confront not only the immediate dangers but also the long-term emotional and financial consequences of living in an increasingly fire-prone environment.

Beyond the emotional and psychological toll, wildfires in Los Angeles have also caused devastating environmental consequences, leaving lasting damage to the region's air quality and ecosystems. The massive amounts of smoke and pollutants released into the atmosphere pose serious health risks, especially for vulnerable populations. According to the California Air Resources Board, "Wildfire smoke contains fine particulate matter (PM2.5), which can penetrate deep into the lungs and even enter the bloodstream, causing respiratory and cardiovascular issues" ("Wildfire"). This highlights the dangerous impact of prolonged smoke exposure, particularly for children, the elderly, and individuals with pre-existing conditions like asthma. The harmful effects of wildfires extend beyond human health, disrupting fragile ecosystems and threatening biodiversity. As highlighted by Earth.Org, "Climate change has contributed to a massive rise in extreme events - especially wildfires - most of which destroy huge areas of forests and wildlife habitats, threatening the survival of hundreds of thousands of animals" ("Impact of Wildfires"). This loss of biodiversity further exacerbates environmental instability, making it difficult for local flora and fauna to recover. Additionally, the destruction of forests and vegetation eliminates natural carbon sink areas that absorb and store carbon dioxide, increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide levels and further contributing to climate change. These cascading effects underscore the far-reaching consequences of wildfires, demonstrating that their impact is not just immediate but also long-term. Without effective mitigation efforts, the cycle of destruction will persist, endangering both human populations and the natural environment. Addressing this crisis requires urgent action to protect public health, restore ecosystems, and mitigate the broader environmental damage caused by wildfires.

One of the main reasons wildfires have become more frequent and intense in Los Angeles is climate change, which directly affects the weather conditions that fuel fires. As Zobel and McGlinchey explain, longer fire seasons and increasingly hot, dring conditions driven by climate change have led to "more, larger, and more intense wildfires" (12). Rising temperatures and prolonged droughts are both symptoms of a warming planet, dry out vegetation and soil, and creating highly flammable conditions. According to Cleetus and Mulik, "Climate change is exacerbating wildfire risks by increasing temperatures, drying out forests and soils, and lengthening the wildfire season. These changes are making wildfires more intense, more frequent, and more costly" (4). This quote reinforces the idea that climate change does not just contribute to wildfires , it magnifies every condition that allows them to ignite and spread. When the land is this dry, even small ignition sources like sparks from power lines or campfires can trigger large-scale fires. Research on California's climate trends underscores the growing wildfire risk. William Boyd emphasizes that "California has warmed by approximately 3F over the past century, and research shows that for every additional degree Celsius (1.8F) of warming, the average area burned by wildfires could increase by a factor of 1.5 to 6" (Boyd 984). These statistics illustrate the measurable connection between climate change and wildfire behavior. In addition to rising temperatures, climate change also contributes to stronger wind patterns and more frequent heat waves, both of which further accelerate fire spread. As a result, fires not only burn more acres but also move faster and become harder to control. This combination of extreme heat, dry fuels, and shifting weather patterns, including erratic rainfall and increased wind events, presents a growing threat to both people and ecosystems. Ultimately, climate change is not just a contributing factor, it is the most consistent and far-reaching cause behind the intensifying wildfire crisis in California.

Although urban growth contributes to wildfire risks, it does not match the scope or impact of climate change. As more people move into fire-prone areas, the chances of accidental fire ignitions increase. A Los Angeles Times article notes, "The wildland-urban interface has expanded dramatically, putting more homes in harm's way and increasing the potential for human-caused fires" (Serna, 2020).This growth brings people closer to naturally fire-prone landscapes, increasing both the danger to life and the likelihood of human-caused fires. However, this mainly raises the risk of wildfires rather than their intensity. Researchers further support this in Ecology and Society, stating that "the location of homes in fire-prone areas and the surrounding biophysical conditions are key factors influencing both risk and potential mitigation behavior" (Olsen et al. 2017). These findings show that urban expansion worsens the consequences of wildfires without fundamentally changing the environmental conditions that cause them. In contrast, climate change actively transforms those conditions, making it a far more significant driver of wildfire outbreaks.

Poor forest management has often been blamed for the rise in wildfire incidents, but its impact is sometimes overstated when compared to the effects of climate change. One major criticism involves the buildup of dry vegetation resulting from decades of aggressive fire suppression. Environmental scholar William Boyd argues that flawed forest policies have helped set the stage for today's wildfire crisis: "Repeated policy failures manifest in an enduring, multi-decade commitment to fire suppression combined with massive development in the wildland-urban interface and accelerating climate change have created the conditions for ever larger, more intense, and destructive wildfires" (Boyd 981). This quote illustrates how human intervention in natural fire cycles has led to denser, more flammable forests. However, while these policies have worsened conditions, they do not fully explain the recent surge in year-round fire activity. Boyd further emphasizes that effective climate action requires more than just reducing emissionsit also depends on restoring the health of forest ecosystems. He states, "There is widespread agreement that any long-term solution will require substantial and sustained investments in forest restoration and resilience, especially on federal public lands" (Boyd 981). This perspective highlights that although improved forest management, particularly on federal lands, can help reduce fuel loads and build resilience, it cannot fully counteract the broader environmental pressures driven by a warming climate. Therefore, while poor forest management contributes to wildfire intensity, it is not as decisive or far-reaching as the impact of climate change.

Among the various causes of wildfires, climate change stands out as the most significant and overarching force. While urban growth and poor forest management both contribute to increased wildfire risks, they do not operate at the same scale or with the same intensity as climate change. Urban expansion into the wildland-urban interface has increased the likelihood of accidental ignitions, and decades of forest suppression policies have led to dense, highly flammable landscapes. However, these factors merely set the stage for wildfire events; they do not create the extreme conditions under which wildfires thrive. As William Boyd explains, "Ongoing drought, together with warmer temperatures, has conspired with a history of poor forest management and repeated policy failures to substantially increase the frequency and destructiveness of large fires" (984). While mismanagement and development are serious concerns, climate change amplifies all other factors by increasing heat, reducing precipitation, and lengthening fire seasons. Boyd further notes that "a growing body of evidence points to climate change as a major contributing factor" in the rise of megafires (984). This suggests that climate change is not just a contributor, but the underlying force intensifying wildfire behavior across the board. Therefore, while multiple human activities influence wildfire risk, climate change remains the most powerful and persistent cause.

While some argue that stronger building codes can reduce damage during wildfires, improving emergency response systems is a more effective solution because it helps protect both people and property before disaster strikes. In their article, North et al. emphasize that "Smoke, safety threats, fire intensity, and human health risks can be better managed for public benefit with proactive fire use under favorable weather and wind dispersal conditions" (1281). This quote highlights how proactive strategies like controlled burns and emergency planning can reduce the most dangerous effects of wildfires before they become uncontrollable. Rather than focusing only on structures, this approach addresses the broader risks to public health and safety. However, these strategies often receive less funding than suppression efforts. North et al. explain, "Suppression is steadfastly financed through dedicated congressional appropriations, which are augmented with emergency funding, whereas fuels reduction and prescribed burning costs come out of a limited budget" (1280). This shows a major flaw in current wildfire management: the government spends more on reacting to fires than on preparing for them. In a place like Los Angeles, where climate change is making wildfires more frequent and intense, investing in strong emergency systems is a more reliable way to save lives and reduce long-term damage.

In the face of increasing wildfires, stronger emergency response systems are often more effective than stricter building codes because they directly protect lives and ensure immediate action during a crisis. While building codes may help reduce long-term damage, they cannot stop wildfires from occurring or spreading rapidly through communities. In contrast, emergency response systems save lives by quickly mobilizing resources and coordinating evacuations. The California Department of Education's Emergency Services Team is one example of a system that does just that. As reporter Diana Lambert writes, "When wildfires threaten communities, Wolf uses geographic information system maps to measure how far schools are from a blaze. If a wildfire is getting too close or the air quality is too poor, the team contacts school officials so they can prepare and ensure everyone is evacuated" (Lambert). This kind of real-time action prevents loss of life and allows schools to prepare for dangerous conditions. A similar effort can be seen in DaVita Inc.'s wildfire response plan. According to a GuruFocus report, "DaVita is transferring patients to safe centers, coordinating with other healthcare providers, and welcoming anyone in need of dialysis at open centers" ("DaVita Inc Implements Emergency Response Plan"). These coordinated, life-saving responses go far beyond what building codes can offer. While prevention plays a role in reducing risk, it is the emergency systems that step in when prevention fails. In this way, emergency response systems serve as the last line of defense and are often the difference between safety and tragedy during disasters.

Government-level emergency planning further proves that emergency response systems can be more impactful than building regulations during wildfires. In 2025, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services declared a Public Health Emergency in Los Angeles County to address the health impacts of the wildfires, allowing for more flexibility in meeting health care needs. Secretary Xavier Becerra emphasized the coordinated response, saying, "We are working closely with state and local health authorities, as well as our partners across the federal government, and stand ready to provide public health and medical support" ("United States: HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra"). This demonstrates how quickly mobilizing resources and collaborating across agencies can effectively mitigate the crisis. Moreover, HHS uses the emPOWER program to track residents dependent on electricity-based medical equipment in order to plan evacuations, noting that it helps agencies "anticipate, plan for, and respond to the needs of at-risk residents in areas impacted by the storm" ("United States: HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra"). This proactive strategy shows how emergency systems go beyond just reactingthey protect people who are most vulnerable during wildfires. Building codes cannot locate or evacuate residents; emergency planning can. Thus, systems that prioritize health, safety, and real-time coordination are more effective in reducing wildfire harm.

California's state-level emergency mitigation programs also show how emergency systems can reduce wildfire risks more effectively than building codes. The California Wildfire Mitigation Program (CWMP) focuses on strategic fire prevention projects, including vegetation management, firebreaks, and community preparedness. According to the California Office of Emergency Services, the CWMP "invests in programs that address local risks, support long-term mitigation planning, and reduce future wildfire losses" ("California Wildfire Mitigation Program"). This investment in risk-reduction strategies helps protect communities before a fire even starts, something that cannot be achieved with building codes alone. Additionally, the program works closely with local governments and utility companies to identify at-risk areas and implement fire-safe infrastructure. Cal OES states that these efforts "strengthen partnerships with counties, cities, and tribal governments, allowing faster deployment of response and recovery operations" ("California Wildfire Mitigation Program"). These collaborations not only speed up emergency action but also help communities prepare for and recover from fires more efficiently. Compared to building codes, which focus mainly on individual structures, emergency programs create a larger safety net for entire regions. This makes them a more powerful solution in the fight against California's worsening wildfire crisis.

An effective approach to preventing wildfires must start with public education and local involvement. Organizing community fire safety seminars is the first step toward equipping residents with the tools they need to prepare and reduce their wildfire risk. These workshops would teach essential skills such as creating defensible space, assembling go-bags, and understanding evacuation procedures. To ensure every resident benefits, distributing multilingual educational materials, such as flyers and online resources in various languages are essential for reaching diverse community members. Beyond that, practicing neighborhood evacuation drills regularly will help families become familiar with emergency procedures and improve response times during actual wildfire threats. "Public education leads to greater understanding and acceptance of prescribed fire and to more meaningful public participation in fire policy debates," claim Jacobson et al. (930). The community should create demonstration areas for managed fires so residents can observe and learn about the value of controlled burning in maintaining ecosystem health. These practical experiences immediately challenge misconceptions, such as the belief that all fires are destructive. Moreover, Jacobson et al. explain that recommended fires can "improve wildlife habitat and food availability" (936). Together, education and first-hand knowledge help build a stronger, better-informed society prepared to manage wildfires.

Long-term wildfire resilience calls for much more than education. Targeted communication, legislative lobbying, and community organization are equally important. By creating a community fire prevention task force, residents could monitor high-risk areas, document risks, organize brush-cleaning days, and report fire hazards to authorities. This neighborhood initiative would also promote cooperation among neighbors, emergency services, and government agencies. Kohn emphasizes the importance of "expanding cooperation between public and private entities" (609) to improve wildfire response and reduce risk. However, legal issues still limit prescribed burning, so liability protection for trained professionals must be encouraged. Kohn explains that "a higher risk of liability exists for prescribed burning... which continues to favor fire suppressiona root cause of the increasingly damaging wildfires" (609). Additionally, establishing an emergency communication network using apps like Nextdoor or WhatsApp, along with printed maps and messages, would enable quick and reliable alerts to residents during wildfire threats. A local media and social outreach campaign should also be launched to combat misinformation and reshape public perceptions. Since the media routinely "distorts reports and inflames the controversy" surrounding fire (Jacobson et al. 931), accurate, science-based messaging is essential. Working together, task forces, legislative reform, and effective communication form a comprehensive action plan to reduce wildfire risk and ensure long-term community safety.

In conclusion, while stricter building codes and improved forest management can help reduce structural damage and slow wildfire spread, they are not enough to directly protect lives in the face of increasingly intense and unpredictable wildfires driven by climate change. Rising temperatures, prolonged droughts, and changing weather patterns have made it easier for fires to ignite and harder to contain them. Even the most advanced fire prevention strategies cannot guarantee safety when wildfires spread quickly and unpredictably. This means communities need more than just stronger buildings and managed forests, they need systems that respond immediately when danger strikes. As demonstrated throughout this essay, emergency response systems are the most effective solution because they allow for fast evacuations, real-time updates, and rapid deployment of firefighting resources. These systems protect people even when prevention fails, offering a critical safety net during wildfire emergencies. By investing in better emergency protocols and training, cities like Los Angeles can reduce the loss of life and ensure that residents are not left vulnerable. In a future where wildfires are only expected to get worse, prioritizing emergency response is not just smart, it is necessary for survival.

Works Cited

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California Air Resources Board. "Wildfire Smoke and Air Quality." 7 Feb. 2025, https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/resources/fact-sheets/frequently-asked-questions-about-wildfire-smoke-ash-air-quality.

Cleetus, Rachel, and Kranti Mulik. "Climate Change and Growing Wildfire Risks." Playing with Fire: How Climate Change and Development Patterns Are Contributing to the Soaring Costs of Western Wildfires, Union of Concerned Scientists, 2014, pp. 4-10. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/resrep00039.8. Accessed 6 May 2025.

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Dickler, Jessica. "Here's How Climate Change Is Reshaping Home Insurance Costs in Californiaand the Rest of the U.S." *CNBC*, 22 Jan. 2025, https://www.cnbc.com/2025/01/22/how-climate-change-is-reshaping-home-insurance-costs-in-the-us.html

"GuruFocus.com: DaVita Inc (DVA) Activates Emergency Response Amid Southern California Wildfires."Newstex Finance & Accounting BlogsNewstex, 2025. ProQuest, https://lapc.idm.oclc.org/login?url=https://www.proquest.com/blogs-podcasts-websites/gurufocus-com-davita-inc-dva-activates-emergency/docview/3153126466/se-2.

Iacurci, Greg. "L.A. Wildfire Victims Face Financial Anxiety amid Recovery: 'The Uncertainty Is Very Unsettling.'" CNBC, 2 Feb. 2025, www.cnbc.com/2025/02/02/la-wildfire-victims-face-financial-anxiety-amid-recovery.html.

"Impact of Wildfires." Earth.org, 2025, https://earth.org/impact-of-wildfires/.Serna, Joseph. "As Wildfires Rage, California's Firefighting Efforts Are Being Stretched Thin." *Los Angeles Times*, 30 Sep. 2020, www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-09-30/california-wildfires-firefighters-resources.

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Lambert, Diana. "Emergency response team helps California schools navigate wildfires."San Francisco Examiner, 10 Oct., 2021, pp. 18. ProQuest, https://lapc.idm.oclc.org/login?url=https://www.proquest.com/newspapers/emergency-response-team-helps-california-schools/docview/2586326106/se-2.

Mueller, Mark. "Disasterclass Deal."Orange County Business Journal, vol. 48, no. 2, 2025, pp. 3.ProQuest, https://lapc.idm.oclc.org/login?url=https://www.proquest.com/trade-journals/disasterclass-deal/docview/3157676169/se-2.

North, M. P., et al. "Reform Forest Fire Management: Agency Incentives Undermine Policy Effectiveness." Science, vol. 349, no. 6254, 2015, pp. 1280-81. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/24749317. Accessed 12 May 2025.

Olsen, Christine S., et al. "Examining the Influence of Biophysical Conditions on Wildland-Urban Interface Homeowners' Wildfire Risk Mitigation Activities in Fire-Prone Landscapes." Ecology and Society, vol. 22, no. 1, 2017. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/26270062. Accessed 12 May 2025.

"United States: HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra Declares Public Health Emergency for California to Aid Health Care Response to Wildfires."Asia News Monitor, 14 Jan., 2025. ProQuest, https://lapc.idm.oclc.org/login?url=https://www.proquest.com/newspapers/united-states-hhs-secretary-xavier-becerra/docview/3154882727/se-2.

Zobel, Zach, et al. "Consider Risks from Climate Extremes, Natural Disturbances, and Socioeconomic Events."Principles and Safeguards for Natural Climate Solutions, Woodwell Climate Research Center, 2023, pp. 11-14.JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/resrep55074.6. Accessed 6 May 2025.