Author Date

2026-03-16

Degree Name

Department

None

College

Marriott School of Management

Defense Date

2026-03-05

Publication Date

2026-03-16

First Faculty Advisor

Barry Brewer

First Faculty Reader

Corey Billington

Honors Coordinator

Mark Hansen

Keywords

disaster response, wildfire, global supply chain management, operations, emergency, California

Abstract

Wildfires in California have devastated homes and communities, with the 2024–2025 Los Angeles fires ranking among the deadliest in state history, killing 31 people and burning more than 37,000 acres across densely populated neighborhoods. In response to these fires, fire services, municipal governments, and nongovernmental organizations coordinated immediate relief efforts across multiple jurisdictions. This research uses a multiple-case study approach to examine the Eaton, Palisades, Line, and Bridge fires to identify practices that supported life safety and response effectiveness, as well as challenges that constrained response operations. Findings indicate that when environmental conditions exceeded suppression capacity, response outcomes within responder control were shaped primarily by pre-existing relationships, trust networks, and preparedness systems established before disaster onset, rather than by the volume of deployed resources alone. Logistical bottlenecks, jurisdictional complexity, and extreme fire behavior further constrained operations, underscoring the importance of social infrastructure as a foundational element of wildfire response.