America watches as rapidly growing wildfires tear California apart. But how is it exactly affecting the people living there? It is easily expressed through social media platforms, the conditions people living in Los Angeles are facing right now. But how much of the situation are we really seeing? How many hundreds of stories haven’t people heard yet?
Fires are roaring through the streets of Los Angeles destroying the homes and mansions of movie stars and celebrities, leaving nothing but ash and debris in their trail. Most of America is tuning in to hear the latest news on their favorite actor or famous singer and their abrupt lifestyle changes. In the world we live in today, it is easy to access news almost immediately as it happens, and social media can only help speed this process up. However, something that seems to slip people’s minds is how it is affecting people in the middle class let alone, the people who are struggling financially.
Los Angeles, California has a population just reaching almost 40 million people. According to NBC News, an estimated 180,000 people have been forced out of their homes due to the fires. Considering that around half of the LA population is considered middle class, this is taking a tremendous toll on these people’s lives. Having lost their home and possessions to something they can’t control or stop. Additionally, the health impacts alone from the toxic living conditions can raise medical struggles. For families facing uncertainty about housing, health, and economic stability, the stress, and extreme trauma can lead to mental health issues, which again are more available to individuals who have the financial ability for support. Most people can not imagine leaving their entire world behind to burn, let alone having the cost of this hanging over their heads. Unfortunately, this is some people’s reality right now.
The LA fires have definitely affected all people in the city’s community, but it’s important to recognize how others have had more destroyed and less to go off when their life was changed forever. The wildfires in Los Angeles create challenges beyond the upper class, affecting lower-income communities that often struggle to handle the aftermath.