A recent study published by World Weather Attribution, a group of international climate scientists, has found that climate change has increased the likelihood of wildfires in Southern California by 35%. The study's findings come as Los Angeles residents begin to rebuild their lives in the aftermath of catastrophic fires that erupted earlier this month.

The research suggests that the extreme weather conditions that led to the fires, including a delayed annual rainy season and intense Santa Ana winds, will become more common due to climate change. In fact, the study predicts that such conditions will occur once every 17 years, up from a previous frequency of once every 30 years.

Southern California is no stranger to wildfires, with its ecosystems having evolved to handle regular, low-intensity fires. However, over a century of fire suppression has disrupted the natural regime, and people have built deeper into fire-adapted ecosystems, creating a complex situation known as the wildland-urban interface (WUI). In this context, the density of housing complicates the picture, with individual homeowners often responsible for removing excess vegetation to mitigate the risk of wildfires.

One solution to this problem is prescribed burning, which involves land managers starting low-intensity fires during weather conditions that make the blaze easy to contain and direct. However, introducing prescribed burning is challenging, requiring public buy-in and well-trained crews. This is where climate adaptation startups come in, developing innovative solutions to help mitigate the risk of wildfires.

Companies like Vibrant Planet are creating platforms that analyze data to determine where wildfire risk is highest, and then work with stakeholders to develop plans to mitigate that risk. Other startups, such as Kodama and BurnBot, are developing technologies to thin forests and conduct prescribed burns in a safer and more efficient manner.

However, even with vegetation management and prescribed burning, the climate and ecosystems of Southern California won't be completely wildfire-free. To further minimize the risk of catastrophic fires, another slate of startups is working on early detection systems to spot wildfires soon after they ignite, allowing crews to respond quickly. Companies like Pano and Google's FireSat are using AI and satellite imagery to automatically detect new fires.

Should wildfires escape early detection and containment, other startups like FireDome are developing tools to protect homes and businesses. The Israel-based startup has created an AI-assisted fire defense system that launches projectiles filled with fire retardants to lay down a perimeter of protection around properties.

The study's findings highlight the need for land owners and managers to get smarter about limiting their risk of wildfires. While there is unlikely to be a single solution, a combination of advanced technology and old-fashioned land management will be crucial in mitigating the impact of climate change on wildfires in Southern California.

As the region continues to grapple with the aftermath of the recent wildfires, the study's findings serve as a stark reminder of the urgent need for climate adaptation and innovation in the face of increasing wildfire risk.