The Brief

Los Angeles is no stranger to wildfires. With a long history of destructive blazes, the region has some of the toughest wildfire policies in the country.
Still, driven by powerful winds, the fires burning across the region quickly became almost impossible to contain. Flammable brush, dried out by lack of rain and hotter temperatures, was ready to burn. So were densely packed houses, which spread the flames into urban areas.

Los Angeles has one of the most experienced firefighting forces in the country, and the region has adopted wildfire policies that many other states haven't. Some Republican leaders have called for withholding federal aid to fire victims for what they call "mismanagement" of wildfire policy.
"They've encouraged people to build multimillion-, billion-dollar homes and complexes in very vulnerable areas," Wisconsin Sen. Ron Johnson told NPR, also calling for residents to use "tile roofs." Los Angeles County already has strict wildfire building codes for homes and has passed rules that limit new development in wildfire-prone areas.
Still, the ferocity of the fires exceeded what firefighters could manage. And the disaster has exposed holes in the region's preparations to reduce the chances of fires getting so unmanageable and to keep communities safer. Some shortfalls are common to almost all fire-prone communities in the Western U.S. But in some cases, the L.A. region has been slow to adopt the comprehensive planning tools that other communities already use.

Fire experts say the heavy toll offers lessons for other communities around the country that haven't taken the steps that California has — and for Los Angeles itself when it rebuilds from these fires. Studies show that these kinds of explosive fires are getting more common as temperatures rise with climate change. A recent analysis by scientists at UCLA found that climate change made the region's vegetation roughly 25% drier prior to these fires.

"California is doing the most, but they have the highest risks to deal with," says Michael Gollner, associate professor of engineering at UC Berkeley who studies fire risk. "Where we're really going to see an impact is what we do before the fire, just to make communities safer and so that they're not going to burn down."

What LA is doing right: limiting parking on high wind days

Special parking restrictions go into effect on high wind days in Los Angeles when fire risk is high.

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Many neighborhoods around Los Angeles are known for their rugged beauty, with houses tucked into rolling hillsides and steep canyons. The roads are often winding and narrow, constructed decades ago before modern fire codes required widening them.
That means during fast-moving fires, fire engines can have trouble accessing those neighborhoods, especially when cars are parked on the street. It also limits the flow of cars when residents are evacuating, leading to traffic jams that have resulted in people dying in previous fires.
It's why the Los Angeles Fire Department has set up special parking restrictions. On "red flag days," when high winds trigger a formal alert from forecasters warning of fire danger, street parking is restricted on roads with tight curves, narrow lanes, or in key intersections. Special signs mark the curb, and residents must check whether the restrictions are in effect, or risk a ticket. Some Southern California neighborhoods have taken this even farther, limiting street parking for fire reasons all the time.

What LA is doing right: requiring homeowners to clear flammable brush

Landowners in the most-fire prone regions of Los Angeles are accustomed to getting a notice in the mail every year. It's a reminder about defensible space rules — the requirements to manage the vegetation around a home to reduce the chance that it ignites.

The reason is embers. High winds can carry small bits of burning debris for more than a mile, which are responsible for the rapid spread of a fire. When they get caught in a tree, bush or a pile of dry leaves in a gutter, they ignite fires far from the wall of advancing flames.
Local governments in the LA region have adopted defensible space rules similar to those that apply statewide in California's fire-prone areas. Large bushes must be spaced apart, gutters must be clear of debris, and trees shouldn't be touching the house. In other extreme wildfires, these precautions have been shown to help save homes.
"If a fire does happen, and it's 10 times less likely for something to ignite, think of the impact firefighters will have on that fire," Gollner says. "They're not juggling 20 houses burning in this small area, they're juggling two. Now they can actually put that out."

To ensure homeowners comply, fire inspectors visit homes to check. In 2022, Los Angeles County fire officials did more than 58,000 inspections. If a homeowner fails to complete the work after two inspections, the Los Angeles Fire Department levies a fine of more than $2,000 and then hires a contractor to do the brush clearance. The homeowner is also responsible for the cost of the contractor's work.

Many Western states prone to wildfire lack this level of enforcement, relying instead on voluntary guidelines or public education campaigns. The problem, fire experts warn, is that entire communities need to create defensible space to make it effective. Even a homeowner who does everything right is still vulnerable if their neighbor has dense brush and overgrown trees.

Still, even California's pioneering rules on defensible space have been shown to fall short. Research has found the most crucial area to protect a home is within 5 feet of the structure. So in 2020, state lawmakers passed a bill to create an "ember-resistant zone" within five feet of a house, which is known as "Zone 0." State fire officials are still drafting the rules, which are expected to severely limit or eliminate all vegetation next to a house for the first time.

Fire officials have already heard strong pushback from the public, since many homeowners have established greenery outside their windows they don't want to part with. After several years of delay, the rules are not yet in effect for existing homes and are expected to begin in 2026.

What could be improved: There are tough building codes for homes, but only new ones

Many homes that will be rebuilt in Los Angeles will need to meet the state's building codes for wildfire-resistant materials. But most remaining homes were built before they were passed.

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As much as the vegetation around a home matters, so does the house itself. Wood roofs and siding pose a fire risk, as well as the eaves on the roofline and wooden decks and fences that touch the house. Experts have built homes and burned them down to test these building materials.
Even in the 1960s, Los Angeles knew its housing stock made it vulnerable. After the Bel-Air fire in 1961, the Los Angeles Fire Department released a documentary that blamed "combustible-roofed houses, closely spaced, and brush-covered canyons and ridges, serviced by narrow roads," calling it a "design for disaster."
In 1989, Los Angeles banned new wood roofs, making it the first major city to do so. The move was challenged by the Cedar Shake and Shingle Bureau, which sued to stop it. California's toughest building codes for wildfire-prone areas began in 2008, known as "chapter 7a." New construction is required to use fire-resistant roofs and siding, as well as other protective strategies, like putting small mesh screens over attic vents to prevent embers from getting into a house and starting a fire inside.

Still, the vast majority of Los Angeles's housing was built before the wildfire building codes were established, meaning many houses are more susceptible to fires. California has begun a grant program to help with home hardening, as it's known, in a handful of counties. But the demand is greater than local and state grant programs can meet.

"It's a couple homes here and there," Gollner says. "We need to do this on a mass scale. This is a really hard social problem and what you do impacts your neighbor."

What could be improved: slowing urban sprawl in fire-prone areas

The Woolsey Fire in 2018 was another fast-moving fire, spurred by winds, eventually destroying more than 1,600 hundred buildings. In the aftermath, experts analyzed what Los Angeles County could do better, as it sets land use policy for more than a million people who live in communities outside Los Angeles city limits.

They found that for decades, growth had been encouraged in areas with the highest risk of wildfire. That policy had already shifted, but an analysis found the county should go even further to discourage any increases in density in those areas, given how many structures are already at risk.

"If you were to ask me a week ago: how does L.A. County fare in relation to other places? I would have said they're really high. They're doing a lot," says Molly Mowery, executive director of the Community Wildfire Planning Center, who worked on the report. "But there were conditions in place with the existing development that are hard for any community."

Los Angeles County already has rules that prohibit new subdivisions from being built in high fire risk zones, unless they meet conditions for providing adequate evacuation routes and water supply, as well as using fire-resistant building materials. County officials are expected to consider a new ordinance soon that would add even more requirements for new homes in those areas.

What could be improved: doing a community-wide wildfire plan

As wildfires have taken an increasing toll, some communities have stepped up their planning efforts throughout the West. Many write Community Wildfire Protection Plans, a comprehensive analysis of the wildfire risk and the ways to help reduce that risk. Plans look at who is vulnerable and list potential projects to help prepare homes and make evacuations more effective.
The community plans are not mandatory, nor do they come with funding, but they provide a detailed look at all aspects of wildfire preparation. The federal government also has dedicated grants for projects specifically outlined in the community plans.
Still, neither the city nor county governments in Los Angeles have a plan as of now. Both are in the process of writing them for the first time.
"The need is that with so many different large, labyrinthian agencies and community groups of different sizes, getting everybody on the same page and to agree on what needs to happen will create a much higher level of safety preparedness, resilience, and ability to respond and recover," says Chris Nevil of MySafe:LA, a nonprofit partnering with the Los Angeles Fire Department to write the community plan.

Copyright 2025 NPR

This story first appeared on The LA Local.

Since 1977, Richard Santillan has been to every Opening Day game at Dodger Stadium. 

“The tradition goes from my father, to me, to my children and grandchildren. Some of my best memories are with my father and children here at Dodger Stadium,” Santillan told The LA Local, smiling under the shade of palm trees near the entrance to the ballpark Wednesday morning. He was there to protest the team less than 24 hours before Opening Day.

Santillan, like countless other loyal Dodgers fans, is grappling with his fan identity over the team’s decision to accept an invitation to the White House and owner Mark Walter’s ties to ICE detention facilities.

More than 30 people joined Santillan on Wednesday morning for a press conference held near 1000 Vin Scully Drive to convey a message directly to the team. 

“We are demanding the Dodgers stop participating in funding of inhumane treatment of families and do not go to the White House to celebrate with the criminal in chief,” Evelyn Escatiola told the crowd. “Together, we have the power to make a change.”

Escatiola, a former dean of East Los Angeles College and longtime community organizer, urged fans to flex their economic power by “letting the Dodgers know that we do not support repression.”

Jorge “Coqui” Rodriguez, a lifelong Dodgers fan, spoke to the crowd and called on Dodgers ownership to divest from immigration detention centers owned and operated by GEO Group and CoreCivic.

Jorge Coqui H Rodriguez speaks at a press conference outside Dodger Stadium on March 25, 2026, to demand the Dodgers not to visit the White House following their 2025 World Series win.

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In a phone interview a day before the protest, Rodriguez told The LA Local he did not want the Dodgers using his “cheve” or beer money to fund detention centers. 

“They can’t take our parking money, our cacahuate money, our cheve money, our Dodger Dog money and invest those funds into corporations that are imprisoning people. It’s wrong,” Rodriguez said. 

Rodriguez considers the Dodgers one of the most racially diverse teams and said the players need to support fans at a time when heightened immigration enforcement has become more common across L.A.

The team’s 2025’s visit to the White House drew ire from the largely Latino fan base, citing the Trump administration’s ongoing attacks on immigrants. 

In June, the team came under further scrutiny when rumors swirled online that federal immigration agents were using the stadium’s parking, which immigration authorities later denied in statements posted on social media accounts.

The team again came under fire after not releasing a statement on the impacts of ICE raids on its mostly Latino fan base at the height of immigration enforcement last summer. The team later agreed to invest $1 million to support families affected by immigration enforcement.

When he learned the Dodgers were pledging only $1 million to families in need, Rodriguez called the amount a  “slap in the face.” 

“These guys just bought the Lakers for billions of dollars and they give a million dollars to fight for legal services? That’s a joke,” Rodriguez said. “They need to have a moral backbone and not be investing in those companies.”

According to reporting from the Los Angeles Times, former Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershawsaid last week that he is looking forward to the trip.

“I went when President [Joe] Biden was in office. I’m going to go when President [Donald] Trump is in office,” Kershaw said. “To me, it’s just about getting to go to the White House. You don’t get that opportunity every day, so I’m excited to go.”

The Dodgers have yet to announce when their planned visit will take place. 

Santillan sometimes laments his decision to give up his season tickets in protest of the team. His connection to the stadium and the memories he has made there with family and friends will last a lifetime, he said. On Thursday, he will uphold his tradition and be there for the first pitch of the season, but with a heavy heart.

“It’s a family tradition, but the Dodgers have a lot of work to do,” he said.

A local favorite mom-and-pop bookshop in Eagle Rock is facing displacement due to a steep rent hike. The owners say theirs is just one of several small businesses along Eagle Rock Boulevard struggling to keep up with lease increases.

Over the past 19 years, many in the neighborhood have come to love READ Books for its eclectic collection of used titles and shop dog Florence.

Co-owner Jeremy Kaplan said it’s been a delight to grow with the community over the years.

“Like seeing kids come back in, who were in grade school and now they’re in college,” Kaplan said.

But the building where Kaplan and wife Debbie rent was recently sold, and the rent increased by more than 130% to $2,805 a month, Kaplan said. He told LAist it was an increase his small business simply could not absorb.

Kaplan said he originally was given 30 days notice of the rent increase. After some research, assistance from Councilmember Ysabel Jurado’s office and some pro-bono legal help, Kaplan said he pushed back and got the 90-day notice he’s afforded by state law.

California Senate Bill 1103 requires landlords to give businesses with five or less employees 90 days’ notice for rent increases exceeding 10%, among other protections.

Systems Real Estate, the property management company, did not immediately respond to LAist’s request for comment.

What can small businesses do? 

Nadia Segura, directing attorney of the Small Business Program at pro bono legal aid non-profit Bet Tzedek said California law does not currently allow for rent control for commercial tenancies.

Outside of the protections under SB 1103, Segura said small businesses like READ Books don’t have much other recourse. And even then, commercial landlords are not required to inform their tenants of their protections under the law.

“There’s still a lot of people that don’t know about SB 1103. And then it’s very sad that they tell them they have these rent increases and within a month they have to leave,” Segura said.

She said her group is seeing steep rent hikes like this for commercial tenants across the city.

“We are seeing this even more with the World Cup coming up, the Olympics coming up. And I will say it was very sad to see that also after the wildfires,” Segura said.

Part of Bet Tzedek’s ongoing work is to advocate for small businesses, working with landlords who are increasing rents to see if they are willing to give business owners longer leases that lock in rents.

What’s next 

After READ Books posted about their situation on social media, commenters chimed in to express their outrage and love for the little shop.

While he looks for a new spot, Kaplan says he’s forming a coalition of local businesses and activist groups to see what can be done to help other small businesses facing similar displacement. He wants to address the displacement issue for businesses like his, which have made Eagle Rock the distinctive neighborhood that it is today.

Owl Talk, a longtime Eagle Rock staple selling clothing and accessories in a unit in the same building as READ Books, is facing a “more than double” rent increase, according to a post on their Instagram account.

Kaplan said he’s been in touch with the office of state Assemblywoman Jessica Caloza and wants to explore the possibility of introducing legislation to set up protections for small businesses like his, including rent-control measures or a vacancy tax for landlords. Kaplan said he also reached out to the office of state Sen. Maria Durazo.

By his count, Kaplan said there are about a dozen businesses within surrounding blocks that are at risk of closing their doors or have shuttered due to rent increases or other struggles.

When READ Books was founded during the Great Recession, Kaplan said he knew it was a longshot to open a bookstore at the same time so many were struggling to stay in business.

“It was kind of interesting to be doing something that neighborhoods needed. That was important to me growing up, that was important to my children, that was important to my wife growing up,” Kaplan said.

“And then somebody comes in and says, ‘We’re gonna over double your rent.”

Topline:

Frozen budget: Most of the city’s Bureau of Street Lighting budget comes from an assessment that people who own property illuminated by lights pay on their county property tax bill. The amount people pay depends on the kind of property they own and how much they benefit from lighting. A typical single-family home currently pays $53 annually, and in total, the assessments bring in about $45 million annually for the city to repair and maintain streetlights. Changing the amount the Bureau of Street Lighting gets from the assessment requires a vote among property owners who benefit from the lights.

Ballots: L.A. City Council’s vote gives city staff the green light to prepare and send out those ballots. Miguel Sangalang, who oversees the bureau, said at a committee meeting earlier this month that he expects to send out ballots by April 17. Notices about the ballots will be sent out prior to the ballots themselves.

Near unanimous vote: L.A. City Councilmember Monica Rodriguez was the only “No” vote Tuesday, saying she wanted to see a more current strategic plan for the bureau. Sangalang said the bureau developed a plan in 2022 that lays out how money will be spent. Councilmember Imelda Padilla was absent for the vote.

Vote count: Votes will be weighted according to the assessment amount. Basically, the more you’re asked to pay yearly to maintain streetlights, the more your vote will count. Ballots received before June 2 will be tabulated by the L.A. City Clerk.

How much more money: According to a report, the amount needed in assessments from property owners to meet the repair and maintenance needs of the city’s streetlighting in the next fiscal year is nearly $112 million.

Use of the money: Sangalang said at a March 11 committee meeting that the extra funds would be used to double the number of staff to handle repairs and procure solar streetlights, which don’t face the threat of copper wire theft. That would all potentially reduce the time it takes to repair simple fixes down to a week. Currently, city residents wait for months to see broken streetlights repaired. The assessment would come with a three-year auditing mechanism.