On March 1, 2025, President Trump signed Executive Order 14224, “Designating English as the Official Language of the United States.” The Federal Communication Commission’s (FCC) plans to provide multilingual emergency alerts have also been halted. This leaves limited English proficiency (LEP) communities vulnerable to future and inevitable natural disasters like wildfires. 

When California’s rampaging wildfires strike, we are all vulnerable. But marginalized communities, including the elderly and people with disabilities, are especially affected. Climate change—namely, global warming—is only exacerbating these wildfires, making them more intense and frequent in recent years. As a result, advocates and caregivers for people with disabilities emphasize that prompt action is key.

Up in flames and choked with smoke—in a blaze is how Southern California began 2025. Throughout January, weeks of raging wildfires, mainly the Palisades and Eaton Fires, engulfed Los Angeles County and forced many residents to evacuate their homes and seek shelter. Many Californians are used to wildfires, but the 2025 wildfires “rank among the deadliest and most destructive fires in California history”.