The LA County Fire Will Super Charge Wildfire Awareness

Lahaina and Pacific Palisades fires

Wildfires in California, because of their scale, duration, and frequency, are high in the public’s awareness. But now, due to the Pacific Palisades, Eaton and other LA County fires, public attention is riveted on the fires and concern about wildfire will be at an all-time high.

In Orange County, an August 2023 poll on wildfires showed that wildfire was judged the number one county environmental problem by half the public. But after the news reporting of the Lahaina fire on Maui on August 8, the wildfire response jumped 11 percentage points and moved wildfires ahead of drought/water supply, as the top environmental problem.

Statewide, the latest PPIC poll shows wildfire now the top environmental concern of residents, ahead of drought and water supply, which lead the list in 2023.

If extreme weather events such as wildfire continue, public concern and desire to do more to prevent and contain wildfire will increase.

The survey concerning fire prevention and mitigation was conducted for an association of Orange County fire agencies and conservation groups by Ciruli Associates with YouGov America. The survey of 1000 residents was conducted from July 20 to August 27, 2023. A total of 573 interviews were conducted before the fire was reported on August 8, 2023, and 427 after. It had a margin of error of ±4.8 percentage points at the 95 percent confidence level.

REALTED:
Wildfire – California and Orange Counties Top Environmental Concern August 7, 2025