When the air is warm and dry, transpiration and evaporation also suck water out of the plants and soil. That leaves dry vegetation that can provide fuel for flying embers to spread wildfires, as the Los Angeles area saw in early January.

The devastating wildfires ripping through northwest Los Angeles are still burning as firefighters respond to the threat facing southern California. Thousands of people have evacuated homes and businesses,

President Biden and Vice President Harris received a briefing on the ongoing efforts to combat the devastating wildfires in California. President Biden pledged additional federal support but cautioned there's still work to be done before the threat has passed.

Natural disasters such as hurricanes, earthquakes and the ongoing wildfires in California have become common occurrences.