Read Time: 5 min 42 sec | Reading Level: 6th Grade

U.S. NEWS

Los Angeles Wildfires

The largest city on the West Coast is fighting one of the costliest fire events in American history.

What’s happening?
Fires started springing up around Los Angeles County on Tuesday of last week. As of yesterday, four fires were still burning. The fires​​ have burned 40,000 acres, an area bigger than 30,000 football fields. The flames have killed 25 people, and at least 13 more are still missing. Over 100,000 people have had to evacuate. 

Where are the fires?
For ten days, the Palisades and Eaton Fires have been raging uncontained in Malibu and Altadena, CA. The Palisades Fire has burned nearly 24,000 acres and is only 21% contained. The Eaton Fire has burned over 14,000 acres and is 45% contained. 

Further north, the Hurst Fire is almost 100% contained after burning almost 800 acres in the San Fernando Valley. The Auto Fire, which started on Monday, has burned 61 acres in Ventura; it’s 85% contained. Finally, the Little Mountain Fire started yesterday and expanded to 34 acres; last night, it remained 0% contained.

How did it get so bad?
The fires have been so severe because of California’s Santa Ana winds. The dry winds suck all the moisture out of plants, so vegetation adds fuel to the fire. Plus, the near-hurricane-strength winds (up to 70 mph) quickly spread the flames over large areas.

Investigations are underway to figure out the cause of the fires and if anyone’s actions made conditions worse.

What’s next?
More than 7,500 first responders from California are fighting the fires on the ground and from the sky. Hundreds of firefighters from Western states have lent a hand, in addition to teams from Mexico, Canada, and Ukraine. 

Firefighters need quieter winds and rain to aid their efforts. Wind speeds are expected to slow down today and tomorrow but may pick up again Sunday. There’s no rain in the forecast for at least a week.

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BE DOERS
As we wait for all of creation to be made new, believers can share our hope through radical generosity and service. 

Join us in supporting disaster victims in California’s Wildfires. The Pour Over community has already given over $23,000 to disaster victims through Operation Blessing*, a faith-based non-profit with boots on the ground and a record of doing great work.

“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. I also saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God… Then the one seated on the throne said, ‘Look, I am making everything new.’”
Revelation 21:1-2, 5 (CSB) (read full passage)

What might my kids misunderstand about this story?
Tragedies don’t discriminate based on money or status. 

Los Angeles County is a large and diverse region of over 10 million residents. Some of the wealthiest Americans lost their homes and businesses in this week’s fires, but they weren’t the only ones. Grief and loss are common to all of us.

Sophisticated home security, good insurance, and lots of money are helpful when disaster strikes… but they can’t ultimately save us from the effects of sin. For that, we need a Savior who’s beaten death. Put your hope in him—he won’t let you down.

What gospel lesson can be taught through this story?
Trials are like a fire.

The apostle Peter compares suffering to gold being refined in a fire, a heating that brings out impurities so that the metal is more beautiful and pure than ever: “You rejoice in this [hope], even though now for a short time, if necessary, you suffer grief in various trials so that the proven character of your faith—more valuable than gold which, though perishable, is refined by fire—may result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 1:6-7 CSB).

The heating doesn’t feel good—no one likes to suffer. We don’t know when or why trials come or how long they’ll last, but one thing we can control is our response. As crazy as it sounds, the Bible tells us to “rejoice” because we know what’s waiting on the other side of suffering: a better version of ourselves (James 1:2-4) and a future with Jesus more beautiful than we could ever imagine.

• Review your family’s emergency plan. Talk through details like how to use a fire extinguisher, where emergency kits are kept, and where the family can meet if separated.

• Memorize Jeremiah 43:1-3, “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you, and the rivers will not overwhelm you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, and the flame will not burn you. For I am the Lord your God” (CSB).

• Pray for the thousands of people experiencing loss and uncertainty. Use this article to guide your prayers.

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