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Monday February 3, 2025

LAist

The Palisades Fire destroyed thousands of structures and killed 12 people. Now, as fire victims gather their lives after the destruction, environmental concerns have emerged in the region.

Urban fires pose particular threats to marine ecosystems. Debris and toxins released from the fires can damage kelp forests and lead to destructive algal blooms that snuff out ocean life.

Now that Los Angeles is finally seeing some much needed rain, the worst effects in the ocean are expected to begin.

“The Malibu coastline is extremely unique,” said Dan Pondella, a professor of biology at Occidental College and research director at the Southern California Marine Institute. “It’s probably the highest density of fishes throughout Southern California.”

And the fish owe their flourishing numbers to the pristine kelp beds that pepper the coast, Pondella added.

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