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The anatomy of the disaster was fueled by the physics of extreme weather. Fire officials noted that the blaze benefited from a “perfect storm” of environmental factors. Long periods of drought had turned the surrounding vegetation into highly combustible fuel, and when the ignition occurred, the wind acted as a bellows, pushing the flames across established fire lines with startling ease. In many instances, the fire demonstrated the terrifying phenomenon of “spotting,” where embers are carried by the wind and dropped onto rooftops blocks away, igniting new fires far ahead of the main front. This made traditional containment nearly impossible, as firefighters found themselves surrounded by shifting threats that seemed to leap over streets and barriers with predatory agility.
