The wildfires that devastated parts of Los Angeles and area last month have left deep scars on one of the world’s most iconic cities. While Canadian forests are untouched in the winter off-season, the images of multimillion-dollar mansions and landmarks reduced to ashes serve as a sobering reminder: The ravages of climate change are indiscriminate and increasingly relentless no matter who you are or where you live.
The late writer and historian Mike Davis noted in his 1995 essay, The Case for Letting Malibu Burn, that “as in most things, we tolerate two systems of hazard prevention, separate and unequal.” Indeed, while most media coverage has provided a space for celebrities to mourn the loss of their pools and private oases, there has been much less mainstream coverage of Altadena — one of the hardest hit areas and a historically Black community with a diverse middle class population of 42,000.
Tech billionaire Elon Musk, President Donald Trump’s de facto right-hand man, has joined the far right in blaming the promotion of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) for the mass destruction by suggesting the Los Angeles Fire Department compromised its ability to fight the fires because it “prioritized DEI over saving homes” — a thinly veiled criticism levelled against the hiring of women and minorities.
But that ignores the real issue — a $17.4-million budget cut that has severely constricted operations, even as demand for fire and emergency services has surged. Such pejorative remarks also serve to mask that up to 30 per cent of the crews fighting wildfires in California are made up of the state’s prison inmates.
This narrative deflects attention from the chronic underfunding of public infrastructure that leaves marginalized communities disproportionately vulnerable to disasters, while vulnerable prison populations find themselves battling to saving communities from ruin. It also ignores that diversity in emergency services fosters trust and improves outcomes in communities.
Structural issues amplify climate disasters
Low-wage labourers, migrants and Indigenous Peoples also bear the brunt of climate disasters in Canada. For instance, migrant agricultural labourers in British Columbia are facing overheating and inhumane conditions in a warming climate. Lack of financial support for public services, combined with systemic inequities, amplifies the human cost of climate disasters.
The LA wildfires also highlight the urgent need for us to prepare for climate-induced natural disasters that force people from their homes. One of LA’s biggest challenges in the aftermath of the fires is a yawning shortage of temporary shelter for the more than 100,000 people who have been displaced. Price gouging on short-term rentals and widespread homelessness — coupled with insurers having failed to renew 2.8 million homes in California — have created an enormous crisis.
Canada has already had to confront how to house people who have been forced from or lost their homes in devastating fires. The community of Lytton, B.C., was reduced to ash in 2021 and, as of last June, most of the community had yet to be rebuilt. More recently, last summer’s wildfire in the mountain resort town of Jasper, Alta., destroyed one-third of the community. Housing aid has been slow to materialize.
Our governments must prevent further crises like these with policies that include:
- Anti-price-gouging legislation to prevent exploitative rental hikes during emergencies.
- A national temporary housing strategy that provides durable housing to those displaced.
- A national climate insurance program (expanding on the proposed national flood insurance program) that brings public and private sectors together to insure homes in climate-vulnerable areas.
- Federal and provincial investment in affordable housing and infrastructure that withstands climate disasters in cities.
These actions need to be attuned to and quickly responsive to wildfires. The Canadian Council of Forest Ministers, in partnership with Natural Resources Canada, published a wildland fire prevention and mitigation strategy last year. But the plan doesn’t address disaster response for those left vulnerable to homelessness and debt in the face of already unimaginable losses. Wildfires in Canada are growing in size, intensity and frequency. Individuals, families and communities are at risk of uncertainty and prolonged displacement if we don’t address the inevitable fallout of these disasters.
Systemic inequalities in our country magnify the effects of climate disasters. The Public Health Agency of Canada says Indigenous communities account for five per cent of the national population, yet make up more than 40 per cent of evacuations. Racialized individuals, groups and communities are more greatly affected because they are more likely to be low-income and live in poor housing conditions. Our governments must ensure that systemic inequalities are addressed by providing access to emergency resources in underserved areas and support for rebuilding.
Wildfire-fighting budget cuts are a trend
Chronic underfunding of emergency services across Canada mirrors the austerity measures in LA. Ontario cut its emergency firefighting budget by more than 65 per cent in 2019. Alberta reduced its wildfire preparedness budget by $30 million in 2023 and cut staff at wildfire lookout towers. British Columbia, despite setting aside a record $233 million for wildfire management in 2024, acknowledged that would not be enough. The B.C. Wildfire Service had to dip into its contingency fund.
Restoring and expanding funding for emergency services is critical. But funding alone is not enough. Canada needs a long-term plan that moves the country away from carbon dependence and toward robust investments in climate-resilient public infrastructure. Yet the federal government continues to subsidize fossil fuel companies — to the tune of $1.5 billion in 2023.
Put out wildfires before they begin with Indigenous fire stewardship
A sound strategy must include solid urban planning, sustainable housing and renewable energy. It must also provide meaningful support for firefighters and first responders, who remain at high risk for occupational cancers, injuries and mental health problems. Supporting victims of climate-related disasters must also include taking care of workers on the front lines.
Canada must guard against its own displacement crises, be they caused by fires or floods, that leave victims and response teams vulnerable. Bold action is necessary across multiple sectors — including labour, housing and the environment — to face the “new normal” of climate-related disasters. This includes investing in green infrastructure, ensuring appropriate insurance remains in place, emphasizing fire safety and the protection of Indigenous Peoples and lands.
The climate apocalypse is not a distant threat. It is here. A broad and all-inclusive response is not just necessary — it is overdue.
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