In Brief
Embers, then radiant heat, then direct flames are responsible for most houses burning down in wildfires.
Larry Mantle and LAist film critics Manuel Betancourt and Amy Nicholson review this weekend’s latest movie releases in theaters and on streaming.
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• 30:29
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What happens to security deposits? Who pays for repairs? LAist answers these and other questions from tenants affected by the L.A. fires. -
What to know about the coveted Japanese pitcher who is signing with the Dodgers this season.
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If you have a question about the firestorm, let the LAist newsroom know.
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What to do if you’re waiting to return to your home or are in your home in an evacuated area.
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We haven't had rain since May. It’s a sign of how human-caused climate change is making Southern California weather more extreme.
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As Donald Trump prepares to return to the White House on Jan. 20, public radio partners in the California Newsroom want to hear from you about what this means for your community.
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Free days at LACMA to give your brain a break, putting the fun in fundraisers, new vendors at Smorgasburg, Pussy Riot at Honor Fraser and more.
Food Friday
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From Malibu to Altadena, landmarks in the fabric of communities have been destroyed
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With the recent passing of Socorro Herrera, the founder of Yuca’s in Los Feliz, we shine a light on one of our favorite menu items.
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The restaurant community has stepped up after the fires. A (growing) list of places across the city are providing support.
Critical news you need. No paywalls.
Your donation to power local reporting is essential. Donate for the first time or increase your monthly donation to support our wildfire and breaking news coverage today and keep LAist's local journalism strong.
Is the air safe?
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The Air Quality Index measures particles in the air, but not how toxic they are, experts say. -
Air quality experts and advocates warn of the potential dangers of smoke, ash and soot.
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Wildfire smoke causes particularly dangerous air quality, especially for sensitive groups including children and pregnant people.
More fire news and resources
From installment deferral to home value transfer, we have some answers to property’s owners pressing tax questions.
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Here are some common mistakes or misconceptions you may run into.
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L.A. County has released a searchable, preliminary map for each area.
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Musicians, artists, and creatives are donating their time and talents across Southern California.
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A list of services to offer reprieve from the devastation and heartbreak.
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With more wind on the way, ash cleanup likely won’t be a one-time thing.
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Childcare providers say they know that their work is critical to allowing families to find new housing or return to work. But they're also trying to figure out how they themselves will recover, or stay afloat at all.
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Homes that needed cleaning, yards that needed tending, families who needed caregiving. In Pacific Palisades, so much is gone. What has also disappeared are domestic workers’ livelihoods.
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As the wildfires in L.A. continue to burn, is it safe to shower? Wash dishes? What if you used tap water by accident? Here’s what to know about the three types of water advisories in effect right now.
![A white sign with red text reads "We [love] u beautiful Altadena" is affixed to a tree on a sidewalk. A two story home can be seen in the background with yellow caution tape hanging down from the roof towards the left.](https://scpr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/0efd16e/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4764x3335+118+0/resize/180x126!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fscpr-brightspot.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com%2F24%2F47%2F1345aa6b4b3b9c943ea58dbdad8a%2Fgettyimages-2193703889.jpg)
Fact checks
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LAist dives into the science behind the claim that the brush clearance would have 'significantly mitigated' the destruction and losses.
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Why did water hydrants run dry in the midst of a conflagration?
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“We have a lot of abnormal incidents that are layered over our normal everyday operations, which makes it seem even worse,” an LAFD spokesperson said.
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Hint: follow the money.
Featured Podcast
The first five days: Inside LA’s most destructive wildfires
Larry Mantle has been a radio host in Los Angeles for nearly 40 years. Over the course of hosting his live, daily, public affairs call-in show on LAist 89.3, he’s covered the region’s biggest triumphs and tragedies, hearing from officials and Angelenos alike. Covering the Palisades, Eaton, and other current LA wildfires has been especially trying. “I have never seen in such a short period of time this kind of devastation,” said Mantle. Imperfect Paradise host Antonia Cereijdio and AirTalk’s Larry Mantle take us inside the first five days of the wildfires and how Mantle is helping Angelenos process the devastation throughout Southern California on his show.
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• 44:22
Civics & Democracy
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President-elect Donald Trump faulted California water policies for the devastating wildfires that are burning in Los Angeles County. The fires started because of fierce winds and extremely dry conditions.
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What issues facing Southern California are you most worried about? What are you feeling optimistic about?
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Reparations advocates are campaigning for two proposals that failed in the final hours of last year’s legislative session.
Orange County News
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Beaches are closed from Laguna Beach to Aliso Viejo.
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There is an acute need for shelter space during winter months, especially for families with children.
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The vote comes after the county decided not to open additional winter shelters this year.
Orange County corruption scandal
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Who is Andrew Do? Why is his 23-year-old daughter involved? What does a county supervisor even do? We explain the theft of public funds that prosecutors say took place in Orange County.
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Federal prosecutors say the longtime O.C. supervisor has agreed to plead guilty and resign in a conspiracy to steal millions of dollars meant to feed needy seniors, following a months-long LAist investigation and federal probe.
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Former Orange County Supervisor Andrew Do was one of the state’s highest elected Vietnamese American politicians. He resigned on Tuesday.
Featured events
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Event
Now is your chance to see the iconic comedian live onstage in this special taping, presented by LAist and Martin Media. Join us for an evening of her signature observational humor and sharp, spontaneous wit.
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Event
Join host Larry Mantle and LAist’s FilmWeek critics at the Alex Theatre on February 22 for our annual Oscar Preview event.
More stories
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The L.A. fires have left many domestic workers and day laborers jobless. They may soon be hired for wildfire cleanup work, which has its own risks.
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Catastrophic wildfires are common in California, and mental health specialists have become a key part of local governments’ response to extreme weather events, which scientists say are becoming more intense and frequent due to climate change.
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The decision resolves a long-running legal dispute between the Department of Justice and TikTok. But experts say President-elect Donald Trump will now have considerable sway over the platform's future in the U.S.
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Los trabajadores domésticos -niñeras, jardineros, asistentes para personas mayores- son una parte enorme de la economía de la región.
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Michael Gennaco, a former federal prosecutor and one-time Sheriff’s Department watchdog, was appointed by D.A. Nathan Hochman
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Pro-Kremlin social media accounts and outlets have been spreading a baseless narrative that mansions belonging to Ukrainian officials burned down in Los Angeles.
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Most residents of middle-class Altadena could get fire insurance, but that is likely to change as residents rebuild and face price hikes.
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Los Angeles has wildfire policies that are far tougher than many of those in Western states. The destruction from the recent fires shows there are still major gaps to address.
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Kate Dargan Marquis of the Moore Foundation discusses spurring research and development to keep up with the growing impact of wildfires.
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Larry Mantle has covered many disasters in his 40th year as host of LAist 89.3's AirTalk program. He says the scope of the Palisades and Eaton fires is still hard to process.
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Attorney General Rob Bonta confirmed his office is building cases against those suspected of raising rents by more than 10% after the L.A. fires.
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Project:Camp can set up a pop day camp anywhere in the country in 48 hours. They’re in Southern California to provide a trauma-informed space where kids can process and have fun.
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