Living in Santa Monica, the most annoying thing I hear these days is that the dreaded Santa Ana winds start blowing in October.

In Korea, when the autumn winds blow, people go to see the fall foliage, but here in Southern California, when the winds pick up, we first check our phones.

We need to see if there's a wildfire alert, if an evacuation order has been issued, or if the power company has sent an email saying they will cut off electricity.

The nightmare of the Palisades fire last January is still vivid.

How can I forget the flames that started in Pacific Palisades engulfing neighborhoods, with people abandoning their cars and fleeing on foot?

It's just a few minutes by car from Santa Monica. It's not a disaster happening in another country; it's our neighboring area that burned down.

But now, there are reports of a fire in western Malibu. It's even been named the Bryson Fire. It's very noisy these days with smoke, fire trucks, news helicopters, firefighting helicopters, and planes everywhere.

According to reports, the strong Santa Ana winds, low humidity, and extremely dry vegetation make firefighting efforts difficult.

Firefighters are battling the flames all night, while residents are on high alert for evacuation orders and alerts.

What comes to mind when you think of Malibu? Large mansions overlooking the Pacific, multimillion-dollar real estate, and a beach town where Hollywood celebrities live.

When wildfires are mentioned, there's often an explanation that it's due to El Niño.

However, attributing all Southern California wildfires to El Niño is an oversimplification. 

Even if there's more rain than usual at the beginning of the year, as we've seen this year, if the grass grows lush and then dries out in the summer, it becomes excellent fuel for wildfires.

It's also a problem when there's little rain. The mountains and valleys become extremely dry. Now, whether it rains or not, there's worry.

What's even more ridiculous is the power company.

Southern California Edison says they will cut off electricity as a precaution when the winds are strong and humidity is low.

This is known as Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS). In fact, some areas of Malibu have already had their power cut off this time.

I can understand the power company's position. If power lines fall due to strong winds and spark a fire, it could lead to astronomical liability issues.

From the company's perspective, it's probably easier to just cut off the power.

But what crime have the residents committed?

They pay high electricity bills in California, yet when the winds blow a bit too hard, they can't use electricity.

They pay for electricity to be supplied, but now not supplying electricity is considered a safety service.

But we can't just demand that they keep supplying electricity without question.

If a fire starts because of the power lines, people will ask why they didn't cut off the power beforehand.

This is quite a perplexing dilemma.

Even after the wildfires pass, the struggles don't end. When winter rains pour down, mudslides can occur on the burned hillsides.

Once the worry of wildfires ends, the worry of mudslides begins.

In autumn, it's the Santa Ana winds; in winter, it's wildfires and heavy rains; in spring, it's the risk of mudslides. The type of disaster just changes with the seasons.

I used to love the sunshine and ocean in California. Even now, when I walk along Santa Monica Beach, I think this is why people pay so much to live here.

But now, with high home prices, rising insurance rates, and hefty electricity bills, I have to prepare evacuation bags as well.

I wonder if it's really right for us to live here. Today, I sit in Santa Monica, looking out at the Pacific Ocean.

In Southern California, where we used to brag about the weather, now we have to be ready to abandon our homes because of it.

It's quite something to be living here, paying a lot of money, and becoming the subject of such news stories.