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Beloved places we’ve lost: Tracking LA fire destruction
Will Rogers’ former ranch house has been destroyed
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Courtesy California State Parks
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Wildfires have ravaged Los Angeles County, and we’re learning more about the memorable places we’ve lost.
More than 15,000 places have been destroyed, according to L.A. County officials. Along with the thousands of homes, places of worship and stores have also burned down.
Through statements from public officials, owners, coverage from our media partners, and verifiable posts on social media, we've been able to put together an initial list of what's been lost.
For iconic restaurants, view our list here. For historic and cultural sites of importance, the L.A. Conservancy is also tracking losses between the Palisades and Eaton Fires, such as destroyed schools and iconic estates. As of Jan 22, they'd listed more than 50 sites.
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The report concludes that the water supply was too slow, not too low, and even a functioning reservoir likely wouldn’t have stopped the Palisades Fire. -
After all the rain we've had lately, large fires likely won't be a concern until deep into 2026. -
Landfills are the second-largest source of methane emissions in California. That’s why the California Air Resources Board took action to monitor and capture landfill gases.
The McNally House
The Andrew McNally House, a historical landmark, burns during the Eaton Fire
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Robyn Beck
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AFP via Getty Images
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Altadena's historic McNally House burned. It was the home of Andrew McNally, a co-founder of the Rand McNally map publishing company, who built it in 1887. The home was designed with a late Victorian, Queen Anne-style and was part of the National Register of Historic Places.
Altadena Hardware
A firefighter extinguishes the remains of an Altadena hardware store destroyed in the Eaton fire
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Robyn Beck
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AFP via Getty Images
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The much-loved hardware store and plant nursery has been part of the Altadena community for more than 80 years. On Jan. 8, images showed the business and adjacent stores, which included a bike shop and restaurant, burned down to its facade. It’s part of a string of fiery destruction around Lake Avenue that includes pizza joint Side Pie, according to LAist host Antonia Cereijido, who drove around the area.
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Altadena Community Church
Altadena Community Church in May 2024.
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Courtesy 2025 Google Maps data
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The Altadena Community Church lies in ruin from the Eaton Fire.
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Frederic J. Brown
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AFP via Getty Images
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The progressive church is another staple that’s been around for more than eight decades. LAist producer Libby Rainey went to see it and said the building is destroyed. The damage comes as other faith leaders in Altadena, at Saint Mark's Episcopal Church, shared on Facebook that their church building was lost.
Altadena Senior Center
Fires engulfed the senior center, “burning it to the ground” according to our partners at CBS Los Angeles. The center opened in 1982 to care for older people in Altadena, La Crescenta, and East Pasadena unincorporated areas.
The Altadena Senior Center is burning to the ground. Firefighters say the fire hydrants up here are dry and they have to keep driving elsewhere to refill their tanks and come back up to continue the fire fight. The famous Christmas Tree Lane also on fire. #EatonFire #Altadena pic.twitter.com/nrxIvqoKFg
— John Schreiber (@johnschreiber) January 8, 2025
The Bunny Museum
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The iconic and quirky museum in Altadena burned to the ground, owners said on Instagram. The Bunny Museum housed around 46,000 bunny objects — like rabbit antiques, cookie jars and even bunnies from Rose Parade floats. It opened in 1998 and held the Guinness World Record for largest collection of rabbit-related items.
Masjid Al Taqwa
Masjid Al-Taqwa in May 2024.
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Courtesy 2025 Google Maps data
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What remains of Masjid Al Taqwa, the first mosque in the Altadena-Pasadena area.
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Samanta Helou Hernandez
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LAist
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Early on during the Eaton Fire, videos circulated online showing the first mosque in the Altadena-Pasadena area, Masjid Al-Taqwa, and surrounding businesses destroyed. The building served the local Muslim community for 30 years and was recently renovated, according to the mosque’s website. You can learn more about how its leaders are planning to rebuild here.
Pasadena Jewish Temple and Center
The Pasadena Jewish Temple and Center in May 2024.
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Courtesy 2025 Google Maps data
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The Pasadena Jewish Temple & Center burns during the Eaton fire
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Josh Edelson
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AFP via Getty Images
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The entire campus of the Jewish synagogue has been lost, Rabbi Jill Gold Wright confirmed to LAist. All Torah scrolls from the sanctuary, chapel, and classrooms were removed. The Temple is another community staple that was around for more than 80 years.
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Public Displays of Altadena
The beloved 35-seat micro-theater is gone. Its owners posted a video to Instagram showing the building engulfed in flames, saying they’re “at a total loss for words.” The strip-mall location boasted comedy shows, clown events, live theater and more.
Topanga Ranch Motel
Top and bottom right: The fire aftermath of the historic Topanga Ranch Motel on Jan. 8, 2025. Bottom left: The Topanga Ranch Motel before the Palisades Fire.
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Courtesy California State Parks
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The California parks department confirmed that parts of Topanga State Park have been destroyed, including the historic motel once owned by William Randolph Hearst. The bungalow-style building had 30 rooms that were used by PCH construction workers. The parks department had plans to restore it.
Will Rogers’ ranch house
Top left: Living room inside Will Rogers’ ranch house. Top right: Living room after the fire on Jan. 8, 2025. Left middle: Exterior of ranch home. Bottom row: Exterior of the stables before and after the fire.
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Courtesy California State Parks
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The state department also said Will Rogers’ historic ranch house and other buildings in the park were destroyed. Personnel were able to evacuate the horses and remove some cultural and historical artifacts from the park. Rogers owned about 359 acres in what is now known as Pacific Palisades, including land he developed into a cowboy-style ranch in the 1920s.
Do you have a question about the wildfires or fire recovery?
Check out LAist.com/FireFAQs to see if your question has already been answered. If not, submit your questions here, and we’ll do our best to get you an answer.
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Updated January 23, 2025 at 9:42 AM PST
This story was updated to include the L.A. Conservancy's list of places lost.
Updated January 9, 2025 at 5:07 PM PST
This story was updated to include the destruction of the historic McNally House and Saint Mark's Episcopal Church — both in Altadena.
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But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
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