Fun with Maps ISSUE 2025-006

By Steve Kovacs (Introduction by Chuck Gibson)

LOVELAND, OH (January 13, 2025) – In today’s edition of Fun with Maps we pray for all affected by the wildfires in California and note some facts about wildfires around the globe.   

L A WILDFIRES

As we are witnessing the horrific images of the largely uncontrolled wildfires in the Los Angeles area, our prayers go out to those impacted.  We suspect that many of you do know impacted folks, as we do. Thankfully our relatives evacuated for only 4 days and there was no damage to their house.

Natural wildfires are relatively common in California to British Columbia, large portions of Australia among places.  Wildfires are even beneficial for some plant species as fires spur seeding and regrowth.

Being part of nature, wildfires are very difficult to prevent but there are many measures available to control or mitigate wildfires.   Education against careless campfires, readying the right personnel and equipment in place ahead of the fires, and cutting down dry brush are obvious options. 

The strong seasonal Santa Ana winds coming down from mountains, water supply issues, dry brush in the hills (preventable), and many other factors contribute to what we see in LA.  And it’s not over.  Surely, there will be much fallout to follow.

This map of Pasadena shown in red and Altadena, to the north, is by Lynde from 1941.  Much of Altadena was burnt in the past several days in the Eaton fires.

Steve Kovacs and his wife Theresa reside in Loveland, Ohio where they raised their two children. He is a passionate collector of antique maps.

Visit his antique map boutique world-on-paper online. Watch for his daily feature Steve Kovacs: Fun with Maps here on Loveland Beacon.