What changes have increased the risk associated with the santa ana winds in southern california?

They are dryer, and hotter, thwy are winds blowing from the east tward the ocean, keep the cool moist air from getting in.. This creates a dry hot spot and it is then easy for fires to start.

I hope that helps.

This passage uses metaphor.

Specifically, Orwell is using a metaphor to describe the effect of the British Empire. Wood is passing -- the speaker sees it but does not realize at first that the wood is being carried by old women. When he finally does see them, he realizes how old and crushed they are beneath the weight of the wood.

The Empire is much the same. It passes -- it moves along -- but as it does so, it crushes beneath it the oppressed, whose lives make it possible for the Empire to run smoothly.