Singer Taj Jackson, a member of the famous Jackson family, believes Los Angeles could have been better prepared for the recent devastating wildfires and called for an investigation into the response.

Singer Taj Jackson performs in Chengdu, Sichuan province, China, Sept. 15, 2024. [Photo/China.org.cn]

The singer and photographer recalled warnings about dangerous winds the night before the fires struck. He described how the strong winds shook his windows and blew empty trash cans down the block. "Once the wildfire started and I heard about it on social media, I felt very worried and concerned. Fire plus strong wind equals disaster," he said.

It has been more than a week since massive wildfires, fueled by hurricane-strength Santa Ana winds, erupted in Los Angeles, resulting in some of California's most catastrophic fires. Centered in the Palisades and Eaton areas, the fires remain largely uncontained. With the return of Santa Ana winds, the risk of further spread has increased. To date, these wildfires have claimed 27 lives, destroyed more than 12,300 structures, and scorched over 164 square kilometers.

Jackson, who is also a member of the R&B group 3T and the nephew of late pop superstar Michael Jackson, said his family home is situated between three fires. He noted that if any of the fires had worsened, they would have been forced to evacuate. "The hardest part is being at the mercy of Mother Nature and not knowing what will happen next," he said.

The historic Jackson property located in Hayvenhurst, Encino, is currently safe, he said, but it remains in the path of the fires if conditions deteriorate. Jackson revealed that some family members have already lost their homes to the fires, though they are safe. "We've been making it a priority to check on each other constantly," the singer added.

As of the interview on Jan. 15, Jackson said they were awaiting developments, with stronger winds expected. He expressed hope that the fires could still be contained despite the stronger winds and felt deeply saddened for anyone who had lost property, a pet, or a loved one due to the wildfires. Many Hollywood celebrities, including Mel Gibson and Paris Hilton, have had their local properties destroyed.

Although California's wildfires have shown "little to no growth," forecasters and officials are advising Los Angeles County residents to brace for another wind event expected early next week.

"I'm not sure what specific improvements or prevention measures to suggest, but I do know there was a water shortage that made it harder for firefighters to combat the blaze," Jackson said, "Nothing feels adequate when you're in the middle of a disaster like this."

Firefighters check wildfire-damaged structures in Altadena, California, United States, Jan. 15, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

Recovery from the fires will be a long and complex process. In the first two weeks of 2025, over 100 wildfires have significantly surpassed the five-year average. Around 200,000 people have been displaced, with 82,400 under evacuation orders and 90,400 warned to evacuate, according to reports from Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna.

Since the fires began, there have been numerous tense exchanges between President-elect Donald Trump and California Governor Gavin Newsom in the news and on social media. Harsh criticisms and conspiracy theories have also been directed at Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and other local officials for their inability to contain the fires.

"Pointing fingers and playing the blame game while the crisis is ongoing is not productive," Jackson said. "Of course, Los Angeles could have been better prepared, and we will learn more in the weeks ahead. Once the fires are out, an investigation should be conducted to determine how we can all work to prevent this from happening again in the future."

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