While officials have yet to identify the cause of the wildfires that displaced many Californians, the search for accountability has begun among politicians, locals, and specialists.

Experts have indicated that the fires found themselves with the perfect mix of weather and terrain this week, making conditions ripe for devastation: parched vegetation, strong winds, and low humidity all contributed to the inferno.

Osbee Sangster, who evacuated the Eaton Fire and sought refuge at the Pasadena Convention Center, voiced her frustration regarding local officials’ actions. On Wednesday, she expressed her disappointment over how the fire department managed the situation, recalling encounters with fire crews enforcing evacuations while noting concerns about the lack of water to combat the flames. “Where was the water?” she asked.

In this charged atmosphere, political leaders, including President-elect Donald Trump, have criticized California’s government, accusing them of being ill-equipped for these fires.

As of now, the reasons behind the start of the fires remain unclear. Although there were early suspicions that one of the blazes might be due to arson, authorities have since deemed these claims against a potential suspect to be baseless.

Here’s a summary of what is currently known regarding the fire’s origins:

How extreme weather conditions accelerated fire growth

Forecasters had warned that a combination of intense Santa Ana winds reaching up to 100 mph, dry flora, and low humidity set the stage for aggressive fire behavior before the initial major fires erupted on Tuesday.

The Santa Ana winds normally push dry air from the inland deserts towards the coastline, according to the National Weather Service. As the winds blow over mountains, they become compressed, which increases their temperature.

The hot, dry winds sap moisture from vegetation that had already experienced minimal rainfall. This dried-out foliage then becomes prime fuel for wildfires, with embers easily carried across vast distances by the winds, allowing flames to spread rapidly with limited obstacles.

As firefighters continue their efforts to control the flames, critical fire weather conditions linger into Friday, as indicated by the weather service.

Los Angeles’ geographical factors

The regions affected by fires predominantly border mountainous areas, rendering them more susceptible to wildfires.

The steep slopes, canyons, and valleys surrounding the Santa Monica and San Gabriel Mountains contribute to the fire’s rapid spread. As heat rises, it can effectively pre-heat vegetation on inclines, allowing flames to quickly climb upward, explains Yale University research scientist Jennifer Marlon. Additionally, canyons and valleys can channel the Santa Ana winds, further intensifying the fires.

Political blame game

Trump and his supporters have criticized California Governor Gavin Newsom, alongside other Democratic officials and environmentalists. The former president has long condemned Newsom’s forest management strategies, which his critics argue are misleading.

Simultaneously, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass is facing scrutiny for being abroad during her official trip when the fires started, as well as the adequacy of her response. She refrained from answering questions regarding her absence on Thursday.

“I assure you that once this is over, when safety is restored, and lives and homes are secured, we will surely review what worked and what didn’t,” she expressed at a press briefing.

Trump went on to label both Newsom and Bass as “stone-cold incompetent” during remarks from his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida on Thursday.

“The Governor is committed to protecting people, not engaging in petty politics, and ensuring that firefighters have all necessary resources,” stated Izzy Gardon, Newsom’s communications director, in a response to YSL News.

Water supply issues

Firefighters have faced challenges in battling the flames due to a lack of water in hydrants. On Thursday, President Joe Biden noted that local utilities had understandably cut power to prevent the risk of falling lines igniting more fires.

“However, doing so hindered our capacity to pump water,” he explained. He added that CalFire, the state fire prevention agency, was bringing in generators to restore the water supply.