Fire Ep. 2: Understanding the Southern California Wildfires: Real and Fake News

Southern California Wildfires:

My name is Randy Keith. As a SoCal native and pilot, I'm pretty familiar with LA geography.

[This Fire Will Not Just Stop]

People think of natural disasters (especially hurricanes or floods) as events that happen and then pass. Right now, it’s literally raining ash in LA. Damage extends far bayond the mutiple actively-burning fires.

[Unprecedented Conditions – This Is NOT Fire Season]

It is January—the middle of what should be the rainy season in Southern California. This is not fire season. Fires like this, in the middle of winter, are extremely rare.

[Debunking Misinformation]

With the chaos comes false claims and fake images that spread like wildfire online.

1.The Hollywood Sign did not burn. The Sunset Fire first broke out near Hollywood, but a section in the Hollywood Hills - the sign itself is 10 miles away, across the Hollywood Freeway. And now, fake photos of the sign burning are making their rounds. It’s disgraceful. Local media constantly have to put these rumors out—so don’t believe random posts online. Stick to trusted local news sources like KNX, KCAL, and KTLA.

2.Terrorism & Arson Claims – What’s Actually Happening

This is not some coordinated attack. The first fire could have started from something as simple as a cigarette butt, 

Now, just like looting sometimes follows chaos on the ground, wildfires can inspire arsonists to take advantage of the situation and start their own fires. But not all.

3.This Is NOT Just a Fire in a “Rich” Area

Yes, the fires started in Pacific Palisades, which is a wealthier area, but they have spread far beyond that. This is not just affecting celebrities and mansions. The fires spread to neighborhoods of all different demographics because aircraft couldn't fly when the fires first broke out in windy conditions.

[Winds, Climate Change & The Future]

These fires are fueled by record-breaking winds—This is where climate change plays a role. Extreme drought, warmer temperatures, and unpredictable wind patterns have turned fire season into a year-round threat.

[Containment vs. Control – What That Really Means]

Containment refers to how much of the fire is surrounded by barriers—whether it’s natural (like a highway) or manmade (firefighters digging control lines). A fire can be 100% contained and still burn for weeks.

Right now (Saturday morning), these fires are under 30% contained. That means firefighters are still in full battle mode. Once contained, it could still be burning.

[Forecast – More Winds Coming]

The worst part? This isn’t over. According to the National Weather Service, winds are expected to pick up again Monday. That means any fire still burning—even if it seems like it’s dying down—could explode back to life and spread even further.

[Closing]

Send us a text

Support the show

🚦 New Episodes Every Wednesday at 8 AM ET!

Thanks for tuning in to Mastering the Commute!
Ready to take your driving to the next level? Be sure to subscribe so you never miss an episode, dropping every Wednesday morning at 8 AM ET.

🎧 Join me each week as we tackle topics like merging mastery, the truth about phantom jams, and real-world strategies for safer, stress-free driving.

🔗 Don’t forget to test your driving skills with the free Drive Smart Quiz and see how you stack up against the average commuter!

🚗 Let’s rethink the way