The recent wildfires in California just reminded me of the Great Fire of London of 1666, which shows how natural disasters can cause social and political changes. Both events occurred during periods of social transition, and under the tensions between the established and emerging power structures.

In 1666, England was at a crucial crossroads. It had endured the plague, got defeated in the Anglo-Dutch War, and was facing religious and political tensions, which had been building since the death of Elizabeth I in 1603. On the other hand, the prosperous East India Company was established in 1600, and had already created a new merchant class whose wealth and influence challenged the traditional aristocracy.

There was increasing friction between the Crown’s attempts to assert divine right (particularly under James I and Charles I) and the rising Puritan-led middle class enriched by colonial trade.

Under this situation, the Great Fire of London provided an unexpected resolution. It literally burnt down the old structures, and created a blank page for rebuilding the city not just physically, but socially and politically. Under Charles II, the reconstruction of London became a unifying project that helped bridge the social divides and also modernize the city, earning him the moniker “The Merry Monarch” despite the earlier turmoil.

Today’s California faces similar underlying tensions. The state contends with federal-state divisions, environmental challenges, and competing economic interests. Therefore, the 2025 wildfires may serve a similar catalytic function. They could force resolution of long-standing disputes between the state and federal authorities over many issues, including land management and climate policy, while potentially simplifying contentious land-use issues ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

What have we learned from history? Such devastating events could eventually create opportunities for comprehensive renewal. Just as the Great Fire of London helped forge modern Britain, California’s wildfires might also drive necessary reforms. However, this potential for positive transformation depends on whether the stakeholders can or want to unite around reconstruction efforts rather than keep pre-existing conflicts.

The key lesson learned from 1666 is that, sometimes the most effective way to resolve the deeply entrenched conflicts, is through complete renewal. Whether California can leverage this crisis for transformative change is still to be seen, but the historical precedent suggests that it is possible.