The Los Angeles wildfires have already caused more than $50 billion in damages, claimed more than a dozen lives, and are likely to be one of, if not THE, most expensive climate fueled disasters in history. As I write this the winds are picking up again, and local officials fear it could spark new fires and expand existing ones. An unprecedented fourth "particularly dangerous situation" warning has been issued by the National Weather Service, and gusts of up to 72 miles an hour have already been recorded.

But the LA wildfires aren't just a tragedy* – they're a crime. Fossil fuel companies knew, for decades, that their products caused climate change and that climate change could and would lead to bigger, more deadly fires just like this in California. But instead of acting on that information, or even sharing it with people and governments who could have done something about it, they denied the truth and fought climate action at the state, local, national, and international level.

And it worked, for them. Fossil fuels remain the most profitable industry in the history of money. ExxonMobil and Chevron alone made $57 billion in profits last year. And fossil fuel companies continue to collect $20 billion a year in subsidies and tax breaks — paid by regular taxpaying people like you and me — in the US alone.

They knew this future was coming. They chose it for us. Now the costs are coming due. And the only question left to answer is who will pay.

Click here to sign our petition with partners demanding California adopt a climate superfund law to make polluters, not taxpayers, pay to clean up the wildfires and other climate disasters.

A photo of the fires on sunset boulevard with the words Big oil Caused This

While fossil fuel companies rake in record profits, California families are already at their breaking point – one in eight households can't pay their water bills due to drought and rising costs. And insurance giants have already abandoned California – State Farm alone canceled 69% of policies in fire-prone areas.

Now these same communities face skyrocketing insurance premiums or no coverage at all and California faces a staggering $46 billion budget deficit.

New York and Vermont have proven there is a better way. After a ton of public pressure New York governor Hochul finally signed New York's climate superfund legislation requiring major polluters to contribute $75 billion toward climate damages. Vermont passed their law months earlier but hasn’t set a number on damages yet. Though that hasn’t stopped big oil from counter-suing the brave little state.

California has introduced, but not yet adopted similar legislation, and we need them to do so, now. The choice is simple: make polluters pay their fair share to build resilient communities, or watch as climate chaos bankrupts our state while fossil fuel executives collect bonuses.

The fires burning through Los Angeles neighborhoods in January send a clear message – we’re out of time for half measures. Those who created and profited from this crisis must help pay for its consequences. Our communities can’t afford to wait. It’s time to Make Polluters Pay.

Drew and the 198 methods to make big oil pay crew

* The wildfires are also a tragedy, of course. And tragedies with human costs require a humane response. If you want to make a donation to one of the many Mutual Aid Groups working on the ground in Southern CA already, here are some links:

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