Op-ed:

Mother Nature's Fury Released

By: Diane Sori / The Patriot Factor / Right Side Patriots / Right Side Patriots Radio

The Op-ed posted here is this authors opinion alone, and does not necessarily represent the views of blogspot.com or Google. 

We're now almost a week out from the start of the California wildfires that devastated large parts of densely populated Los Angeles and surrounding areas. And while there's enough rightful blame going around regarding who did or didn't do what both before and after the fact, one should never ignore the possibility that actual “ground zero” of these fires was not of deliberate human origin nor was it due to overt acts of gross negligence by any one individual, but was, I believe to be, solely an act of “Mother Nature” herself.

And while human input...one obviously perpetrated by one with a most decidedly evil agenda...might be involved in helping the fires to spread...after all so-called “bad actors” always do like to make a bad situation even worse...that does not negate nor take away from the possibility that these fires were way more likely of natural origin. And when any occurrence of such a catastrophic nature as that which just occurred we, as humans, tend to look for a more complex reason than to accept a simple, direct, and honest answer as to why they happened.

As one based in science fact and tangible realities I tend to see things a bit differently then most especially in regards to conspiracy theories, scare tactics, and the political blame game. And in regards to the all-important blame game, I'll revisit that in a bit.

But here let's start with the key factor involved in this what I believe to be a naturally occurring disaster, as in the Santa Ana winds...winds named after Southern California's Santa Ana Canyon...winds that are known for their infamous role in spreading large wildfires...fires which are common in Southern California especially during the cooler months. 

First officially referenced by its name in the “Anaheim Gazette” on September 23, 1871, Santa Ana winds... which are dust bearing winds...unfortunately reached hurricane strength, at times, because high pressure in the east collided with a large  low-pressure system off California's coast, and it's the difference in air pressure that determines just how fast the winds will blow. And while most people think of these winds as only being “hot winds,” because of what is their desert origin, the fact is that in their early development stage Santa Ana winds are relatively cold, which is the reason why they're way more prevalent during the cooler season, which in Southern California runs from October through March.

Meteorological wise and logistically speaking, the Santa Ana winds...the delivery system by which these types of fires spread...starts developing when high pressure builds over the “Great Basin”...an area of the U.S. which encompasses most of Nevada, half of Utah, and sections of Idaho, Wyoming, Oregon, and of course California...and then are born, if you will, when what is then desert cold air starts to sink and is forced “downslope,” which in turn then starts compressing and warming said air at a rate of about “10C per kilometer (29F per mile)” of descent. 

So, as the newly formed wind's air temperature then starts rising, its corresponding relative humidity drops leaving the winds to dry out which in turn causes the winds to then become a fire hazard as it can turn what are relatively small innocuous sparks...let's say from a cigarette, campfire, or an electric line spark....into an all consuming, destructive, out-of-control wild fire that can spread at great speeds most especially in areas where “undergrowth” has not been cleared out. 

Now add in the fact that since early fall Southern California...an area that sees ten Santa Ana wind events a year on average...for the most past has been gripped by extremely dry conditions with little to no moisture...as in rainfall or humidity...over the past several months, leaving the area ripe for wildfires to start.

And why do I tell you all this...simply because folks need to understand that no...I repeat no...amount of water and no matter the number of firefighters present on the ground could have stopped the fires in the Los Angeles area from spreading. However, that does not nor should it remove the anger and frustration felt by those who lost everything for what these fires have highlighted is just how unprepared California was...thanks to its inept political leaders...to combat the sorts of large-scale, what's now being called “urban wildfires” ...wildfires that have become more frequent over these past few years. In fact, as per known experts in this field...including Greg Pierce, a water-resource expert at UCLA ...no “water system in the world” could have stopped let alone handled the Los Angeles fires even if all systems were working properly...the best it could have done is to minimize the damage somewhat. Many people would still have lost everything, areas would still have been decimated, but maybe not on the grand scale we're now seeing.

An while those who do not want to believe that these fires probably started naturally, and still want to hold someone...anyone...as being “ground zero,” I ask them these question...at this point does it really matter who or what started these fires...do we need to spend time, money, and much needed resources on a search that well might lead nowhere...and if caught what type of punishment doled out could even start to compensate or make up for all the damage and harm said individual caused? To these things I say a resounding “no,” as time, money, and resources are better spent both helping those who lost everything, and in getting California back up and running the way it should be.

And even if the personal “blame game” political style attacks, both before and after the fact, is removed from this discourse, that in no way negates the fact that a number of California's political leaders do have much to answer and take responsibility for. Simply, neither elected officials nor political leaders should be issued a “get out of jail free card.”  

And with most folks believing that government starts at the local level and then works its way up to the state and finally to the federal level, I say it's just the opposite especially when it comes to events such as California just witnessed. And here I put responsibility in the middle...meaning on the state level...as in the lap of Governor Gavin Newsom. Why so...because as governor, Newsom not only oversees “public policy,” but he took an oath to protect both the U.S. and California's Constitution...an oath to “protect the health safety and welfare” of those in his charge...here meaning California's residents...to which he's failed miserably.

“Mother Nature” can at times be a “harsh mistress” indeed what with atmospheric conditions determining both our weather and its effects, but in this case, and rightfully so, so too can be those now hurting. But wasting time on rhetoric, blame, and wild goose chases does not solve the problems at hand...which in this case can be the “harshest mistress” of all. Case closed.

 

Copyright © 2025 / Diane Sori / The Patriot Factor / All rights reserved. 

 

***********************************************************************************************************************

For more political commentary please visit my RIGHT SIDE PATRIOTS partner Craig Andresen's blog The National Patriot to read his latest article, Welcome to the Hell-Hole California.

*************************************************************************************************

RIGHT SIDE PATRIOTS...LIVE!                                           

Tomorrow, Tuesday, January 14th from 7pm to 8:30pm EST, RIGHT SIDE PATRIOTS Craig Andresen and Diane Sori discuss 'Mother Nature's Fury Released'; 'Welcome to the Hell-Hole California'; and important news of the day. Hope you can tune in to RIGHT SIDE PATRIOTS on https://rspradio1.com Click 'LISTEN LIVE' starting at 6:50pm EST, show begins at 7pm EST.