Climate and Environment

FAQs: The LAist newsroom is answering your questions about the fires

By Rene Lynch

Updated Feb 19, 2025 9:34 AM

Published Jan 10, 2025 3:51 PM

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Do you have a question about the wildfires? The LAist newsroom does its best to get your questions answered: We've compiled an evolving list of FAQs to do just that, and we will continue to add to it.

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.

Evacuations

How can I give my home a fighting chance of survival before I evacuate?

This is one of the most frequently-asked questions. And the answer is, yes, there are many steps you can take to help protect your property ahead of an evacuation.

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However, there are several big warnings to start with. First: Safety, not property, needs to be your top priority in the face of danger. If fire authorities tell you to evacuate, grab people and pets and don't look back. If you do have a window of opportunity, experts say you should next prioritize having your vehicle/s packed and ready to go. Only then, and only if a comfortable time cushion remains, should you worry about protecting property:

Here are some of the tips, click through to the story for the rest:

Turn off propane tanks. Move propane tanks, BBQ and grills away from any buildings.
Move flammable items — toys, doormats, patio furniture — away from buildings.
Leaves gates unlocked or easy to open, to help firefighters.
Leave lights on so firefighters can see through the smoke.
Take down shades and curtains, and move all flammables to the middle of the room as possible. The farther away from the doors and windows, the better.

Why can't I stay and defend my home?

Fire science studies tell us that at every big wildfire, about 10% of residents stay behind. An additional 25% are in the "wait and see" category: They linger after the call, and when they finally evacuate ahead of the oncoming flames, it's far riskier than if they had left early. Don't risk it. As fires ravage Southern California, L.A. County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone reported a "high number of significant injuries" to residents who didn't evacuate in advance of the fast-moving Palisades Fire.

Even if you are willing to risk yourself, think about others. Staying behind also puts first reponders at risk: Protecting people's lives will always be a top priority for firefighters, so the presence of stay-behind residents requires fire crews to shift their tactics to protect those people, rather than keeping fire from taking homes and other property.

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Insurance and financial recovery

How do I make an insurance claim? Where do I start?

This is a bewildering and frightening period for the thousands who have lost their homes and have been

evacuated. The California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara has issued "a mandatory one-year moratorium on insurance non-renewals and cancellations" for ZIP codes in areas directly affected by the fires, a process that has also helped victims in earlier fires. (Search your ZIP code and fire name here ▶). Renters and business insurance policies may include coverage for disaster relief and evacuation-related expenses, so the above recommendations still apply.

So what to do first? If your property was damaged or if you needed to evacuate, the state wants to hear from you to answer questions and walk you through the process, even if you do not believe you are insured.

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Listen • 26:09

California's insurance commissioner walks fire victims through next steps

The number to call is 1-800-927-4357, and phones are open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

A few other things to know: Evacuation-related expenses could fall under your policy. Document everything, and keep receipts. Another takeaway for all of us: Document and take pictures of your property beforehand to help with such documentation. Simple walk-throughs with the video camera on your phone are a great place to start.

Where can renters go for help?

LAist reporters spoke with housing rights experts to produce a guide for tenants and landlords about the legal protections, responsibilities and next steps involved in recovering from the fires. And we help you answer questions such as:

If I paid January rent, and my apartment was damaged or destroyed, will I get a refund?
Who is responsible for the repairs to my rental? How about damage to my possessions, like furniture and artwork?
Will I get my security deposit back?
Can I get help with relocation costs?

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SoCal's wildfire history: How did we get here?

What started the fires?

There have been many rumors and false reports floating around out there about what may be behind the fires. But that's a question that can't be answered easily at this time. But answers will be coming as authorities begin to sift through it all. Here's an explainer of why this will be a painstaking and time-consuming process.

Listen • 24:17

LAist newsroom answers your questions about the fires

In case of the Eaton Fire, there are already questions about whether power lines played a role. Lawyers have already asked Southern California Edison to preserve evidence related to the fire, according to a filing with the California Public Utilities Commission. SoCal Edison has already done its own preliminary investigation and says it did not cause the fire. The company says it de-energized its power lines in the area "well before the reported start time of the fire," according to a press release. Stay tuned.

Is it risky to rebuild in the same places? Aren't wildfires getting worse?

An executive order issued by Gov. Gavin Newsom makes it easier for people whose homes burned down to rebuild as quickly as possible in exactly the same places. Many applauded the move. Others question whether it encourages development in high fire-risk areas. At LAist, we'v been asking this question for years: Why do we keep building houses in places that burn down? (It's a question we ask in particular because our reporting shows that yes, wildfires are getting worse.)

In the wake of the recent fires, Char Miller, a professor of environmental history at Pomona College, told LAist’s AirTalk: “... if we're really going to build back into neighborhoods that have burned, and burned multiple times, then I think we should ask a different policy question, which is why are we doing this?”

Fire safety tips you need to know

What does a 'red flag warning' mean, exactly?

"Red flag warning." They're some of the most dreaded words in fire-prone California. By now, many locals understand the term to basically mean, "Watch out for fires. It's about to get real." But who decides to issue a red flag warning? What goes into that decision? And what should you do in response? Here's everything you need to know:

What does 'containment' of a fire mean, exactly?

It's a term we hear again and again in fire coverage. And while you might think it means a fire is "contained," or "under control," it does not. Basically, containment is the work fire crews do to remove potential fuel around a fire's perimeter. Here's how Los Angeles County Fire Department Capt. A.J. Lester explained it to LAist: "We're essentially heeling in on that fire and chasing it down... going around it, and trying to make sure that it won't jump back the other way," he said. "[Crews are] going to slowly go all the way around and in a big circle — depending on the perimeter of the fire — and they're going to do containment all the way around until there's 100%."

What is a 'PDS' fire warning, exactly?

A PDS warning was issued amid the historical wind storms that drove the Palisades and Eaton fires. But even avid weather watchers were among those wondering: What is a 'PDS' fire warning, exactly? It stands for a "particularly dangerous situation" alert issued by the National Weather Service. And if it's used, pay attention.

Think of it as the Olympic gold of fire weather warnings, says National Weather Service meteorologist Ryan Kittell.

Helping fire victims and evacuees

What happens to schoolchildren? And schools and colleges?

Nearly two dozen school districts have experienced full or partial closures since the Palisades and Eaton fires broke out, interrupting classes for roughly 700,000 students around Los Angeles. Some schools burned down. Many colleges were also impacted. Gov. Gavin Newsom has directed state agencies to work with impacted schools to develop a plan to serve students as they rebuild.

For now, though, this is a district-by-district challenge: Newsom has directed state agencies to work with impacted schools to develop a plan to serve their students as they rebuild. To that end, here is a look at how LAUSD hustled to get many schools ready to welcome kids back.

Where are fire victims going for housing?

For many fire victims, it has been a one-two punch. After losing their homes in the past week’s historic Los Angeles fires, many are suddenly confronting another crisis: the region’s long-standing shortage of affordable rental housing.

“We're seeing astronomical rent increases,” said Chelsea Kirk, a policy and advocacy director with L.A.-based tenant rights nonprofit Strategic Actions for a Just Economy. Housing policy experts say L.A.’s rental market — which already had a severe shortage of affordable housing, particularly among units large enough for families with children — will likely be supercharged by the sudden influx of thousands immediately needing new housing.

But all those projections have yet to play out. Real estate experts tell LAist that surrounding counties are likely to absorb some of the displaced people, but with a few exceptions, they aren't seeing a big effect just yet in places like Orange County.

There is one big exception, however: high-end rentals. The number of homes leased in January for at least $20,000 a month shot up 238% in O.C. and 233% in L.A., according to Steven Thomas, chief economist with Reports on Housing, which analyzes real estate trends in Southern California.

Avoiding scams and price gouging

What to do if I see 'price gouging'?

People are desperate in the wake of the fires. And some people take advantage of that. LAist reported on one listing for a four-bedroom home in Bel Air that went up Saturday morning for $29,500 per month — a nearly 86% increase from the property’s advertised rent in September 2024.

If you see examples of price gouging, take screen shots immediately to document it and report it.

How the fires will impact all of us in SoCal

Will rents and housing costs rise for the rest of us?

Probably. Even after the immediate scramble for new housing subsides, costs in Southern California could remain elevated for an extended period, housing economists say. A recent survey of Hawaiians impacted by the 2023 Maui fires found that one year after the disaster there, families were paying 43% more on average to rent housing of a similar size or smaller.

Trey Gordner, a data scientist with the University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization, said Angelenos affected by the fires should anticipate a long road to recovery. “It's going to be a bigger challenge for a longer time than I think many people are prepared for,” said Gordner, a co-author of the Hawaii study.

Air quality and safety

Is it safe to be outside? How do I clean up all this ash?

The ongoing wildfires that erupted across Los Angeles County last week have many residents worried about what they're breathing and how to keep their families safe. It's one of the most commonly-asked questions we're getting here at LAist. So we asked the experts. They cautioned that health risks from ash, smoke and toxic materials that linger in the air can persist for months or years — especially in or near burn areas.

So what can you do? Here are 7 expert tips from the experts for minimizing your health risks during and after L.A.’s wildfires, including: Don't rush the turn to normal, and stay away from ash.

Plus: A guide to cleaning up the ash in and around your home

Mythbusting and fact checking the fires

Would brush clearance have prevented the fires?

You can expect to hear lots in the weeks ahead about what could have been done, or should have been done ... but our reporting to date and the experts we have spoken to suggest that, based on everything we know so far, that the fires were unstoppable, fanned by severe winds and exacerbated by near-zero rainfall throughout Southern California. Stay tuned for more details as we learn more about the causes and origins. And there will be several investigations and reports into what went wrong and what could have been done differently.

Is looting really a problem?

Law enforcement officials have vowed to crack down on any signs of looting. Hundreds of officers, many in plain clothes, have been dispatched to fire zones to watch for any signs of trouble. So far, a few dozen people have been arrested. And L.A. County District Attorney Nathan Hochman is pursuing charges against at least nine people: “Let me be clear: If you exploit this tragedy to prey on victims of these deadly fires, we will find you and we will prosecute you to the fullest extent of the law,” he said. Curfews are in place in place from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. in fire areas until further notice in what authorities say is an effort to guard against potential looting.

Did fire hydrants really run out of water?

This is one of the most surprising headlines to come out of the tragedy so far. Firefighters in the Pacific Palisades fire reporting running out of water. And you haven't heard the last of it. This much we know: The final tank used to maintain critical water pressure in the hilly area ran dry by 3 a.m. on Wednesday. LA authorities say that low water pressure caused the shortage, not an actual lack of water. But that distinction doesn't matter to critics, and more details will be coming. The news triggered Governor Gavin Newsom to announce an investigation into the issue, saying that the lack of functioning hydrants "likely impaired the effort to protect some homes and evacuation corridors."

Did the Hollywood sign catch on fire?

Please don't be suckered in by the misinformation and the conspiracy theories. And please, please, please don't share something unline unless you know it comes from a reliable source. (Like LAist, or any of the many official channels such as CalFire.) There's so much bad info flying around. Like, that the state's stringent environmental policies are to blame. (Not true.) Or that the L.A. County Fire Department is accepting online donations. Not true, at least not at this time. So don't fall for a scam. (L.A. County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone said staff are working on a process to accept donations in the future. Stay tuned.)

And then there is the one about the Hollywood sign burning down. Nope. The image of the Hollywood sign on fire was AI generated. One easy way to debunk this one was, just use Google Reverse Image Search.

Topline: What happened during the Palisade, Eaton fires

'How can I find out what is still standing? And what has burned?'

We have gotten so many emails from people wondering if a home at a particular address burned down, of if we know anything about what is still standing in a particular neighborhood. The answer is, unfortunately, we're still figuring that out. The priority right now is getting the fires under control, and many areas remain off limits.

We do have this, however: People impacted by the Palisades and Eaton fires can now search damage assessment maps for their home or other address. Authorities stress that these maps are preliminary and will be updated daily as more areas are inspected, according to L.A. County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone.

What we know about the 27 fatalities so far

Only this much is certain: The numbers are evolving. Here's why the true number has been so hard to pin down: We are dealing with multiple governmental and law enforcement agencies as they are all trying to respond to an unfolding disaster. At least 27 deaths have been confirmed by the L.A. County Medical Examiner so far. Officials have warned that we don't yet have absolute clarity on the total toll, as dozens are still reported missing.

What resources are available for fire victims?

Here is an evolving list of resources for fire victims and evacuees that includes the latest information we have about shelters, available and discouted hotels, childcare and more. We are adding to it as we find out about additional supplies. If you know of a resource that can be added to this list, email us and once we vet it we may include it.

What can I do to help fire victims?

This is a question we get again and again, but the answer is not so simple. The instinct is to head down to an evacuation center or a house of worship with cans of food or blankets or toiletry kits — or show up and offer to volunteer. But that food and clothing has to be managed and stored. And volunteers often need some level of training and clearance. Thing is, there might not be time for that. The experts we talked to suggest that you reach out to a place that aligns with your interests and beliefs and ask them what they need — don't make assumptions. And have patience with places and staffers who are also stressed and might be feeling overwhelmed. Nearly all the experts we talked to said financial donations are often what is needed most, so if you can, consider making a donation to vetted organizations like the Red Cross.

When should you seek mental health care?

Answer: Now and always. You don't need an excuse to attend to your mental health. You don't need to "tough it out" because others have it so much worse than you. The fires have shocked and unsettled all of Los Angeles and Southern California. It can't hurt to talk it out with a professional. Another tip from Merritt Schreiber, a clinical child psychologist at UCLA and the chair of Disaster Response for the California Psychological Association: Even if you weren’t evacuated, even if your house is still standing, we are all dealing with the grief and fear of having fires blazing all over our region, so it’s a good idea to stop doom scrolling and limit your media intake.

How to talk to your kids about this tragedy

Thousands of homes have been damaged or destroyed and many school districts impacted by the fires, like L.A. Unified, have temporarily closed. For parents or guardians of children, it all makes for an especially daunting time — managing your anxiety while also making sure your kids' needs are taken care of. Here are some tips for navigating difficult conversations with kids.

What about all the animals?

Animal shelters throughout the area have been overwhelmed with an influx of pets — dogs, cats and more. They are doing what they can to keep pets safe while their families deal with fire destruction. Many local shelters are opening up their doors, and their barns to keep animals safe. You can help by fostering an animal or helping fire victims by taking in their pet.

As for animals in the wild: As heartbreaking as it may be, it's best to leave these cases to the professionals. Keep your distance, and report the incident to your local animal control authorities. (They are likely to be overwhelmed by demands as well, so be patient.)

Does a GoFund me account affect what you get from FEMA?

A public affairs officer with FEMA posted a video to X, telling viewers to “carefully consider” how you describe your needs when creating a GoFundMe page. Why? Federal law prohibits FEMA from “duplicating” benefits you receive from another source — such as a crowdfunding site.
The pubic affairs officer, Brandi Richard Thompson, spoke to LAist and shared some tips for doing just that.

What was lost in these fires?

Let's start with the obvious: It's impossible to sum up the death and destruction caused by these wildfires. Right here, right now, we won't even try. But we have received so many questions about landmarks, and restaurants, and favorite L.A. spots. To that end, here are a few stories that have been written so far, with more sure to come:

Beloved places we’ve lost: Tracking LA fire destruction — including Will Rogers' ranch house, the Reel Inn, Masjid Al Taqwa, Altadena Community Church, the Pasadena Jewish Temple and Center and the Altadena Senior Center.
Many iconic LA restaurants, coffee shops and bars have been lost to the fires. Here's how to help them

The losses were so gutting that we had to celebrate where we could. For example: The Palisades Fire threatened the Getty Villa. The good news: It's still standing

Smoke and ash filled your home — but it's still standing. What do you do next?

The L.A. County fires have destroyed thousands of homes. Adriana Martinez was one of the "lucky" ones. Her home was still standing while the Eaton Fire inferno burned down so many others. But Martinez might not feel so lucky: She has been living in a West Covina hotel, and she must figure out how to clean up the extensive smoke and ash damage inside her home. We have a guide to help you do that, including how to figure out what you should keep — invaluable family heirlooms that might need professional cleaning — and what you should toss, such as pillows that have dense fabric that makes it all but impossible to get the soot out of.

Note, however, that the previous scientific research shows that the detritus left behind after a fire can be laden with toxic compounds and gases, from heavy metals to burned plastics to asbestos. Exposure to the ash and even air can cause short-term health impacts, from the runny eyes to respiratory issues and more.

At the very least, wear an N95 mask, gloves and long-sleeved clothes and pants while cleaning. And limit anything that kicks up soot and dust: A 2023 study shows that cleaning a home's hard surfaces by dusting, wiping down with damp cloths, and mopping can effectively lower the concentrations of smoke-associated gases. Other experts advise a HEPA-filter vacuum, too.

Help me understand these water advisories

Water departments across L.A. County, including the L.A. Department of Water and Power and Pasadena Water and Power, issued water advisories for residents near the Palisades and Eaton fires. The first thing to do in an emergency is to check whether your home is under a water advisory. You'll need to know what water department or district you’re in. (Check your water bill, or ask your property owner or manager.)

This cheat sheet provides more details, but here are highlights:

A Do Not Drink Notice means you should not drink your tap water at all — and don't try to treat the water yourself by boiling, filtering or adding anything to it.
A Do Not Use Notice means you shouldn’t use the tap water for any home activities, including showering, hand washing, drinking, food preparation or washing dishes. Local water departments say to use bottled water only for all of your water needs.
A Boil Water Notice means it’s not safe to drink or use your water without boiling it first. (At last check, there were not any Boil Water Notices in effect during the recent spate of fires.)

Are more fires popping up in LA than normal?

Are we actually seeing more blazes happen or are we just more aware of them thanks to apps like Watch Duty, which can send users practically real-time updates on wildfire conditions, including new fires that pop up. Here’s a guide to what we know and don’t know yet about the spinning roulette of fires.

And here are some high-level takeaways from our findings:

Firefighters in the region respond to thousands of blazes here each year.
The L.A. County Fire Department, which covers 60 cities and unincorporated parts of the county, such as Altadena, handled nearly 11,000 incidents alone in 2023, including 613 brush fires.
CalFire responded to 82 fires on state land in L.A. County — with a majority of those under 10 acres.
For the city of L.A., the latest yearly data from the city controller’s office shows the total number of non-structure fires was almost 33,000 in the 2023 fiscal year.

How can I find out about my loved one at a nursing home or assisted living facility?

More than 1,500 residents of nursing homes and long-term care facilities were relocated out of harm's way during the wildfires. State and federal laws require all elder-care residential facilities to have written evacuation plans, but a lack of available beds across L.A. County hampered many of those plans. Initially, hundreds of these vulnerable residents were sent to public evacuation shelters.

In other words, keeping track of where a loved one was being moved was a stress shared by many. Here are some helpful resources: The California Department of Public Health published a full list of nursing homes that were evacuated because of the fires and is updating that list regularly. It includes information about where residents were temporarily relocated — helpful to know in a crisis when staff might not be position to answer phones. Assisted-living facilities regulated by the California Department of Social Services have a list as well.

Takeway for the future: Many nursing home and assisted-living residents are in the process of returning. But ordeal has been a lesson for all of us with loved ones in a care facility. Talk to management for details about their emergency evacuation plans, how you'll keep abreast of details during an unfolding disaster and make a plan for what options might be available for your unique circumstance. (For example, maybe you have the ability and resources to relocate a loved one ahead of an evacuation.)

I had to evacuate. But where do I go? What do I do next?

If you're told to evacuate immediately, just go. If you're told you might need to leave, there's lots you can do to get ready. Either way, here's a guide to some next initial tips you can take right after evacuating. Click through to read our guide in full, as it will answer questions such as:

Where am I supposed to go, exactly? How do I find out where the shelters are? (Short answer: To locate shelters near you, text "SHELTER" and your zip code to 43362. You can also call the Red Cross at (800) 733-2767. You can also call 211 for services that might match fire victims with temporary housing.)
What resources will I find at the shelter? (Short answer: The necessities to get through the next few hours and days, including, water, snacks and meals, as well as charging stations for cell phones and medical devices. And resources for the longer haul, such as health services and access to disaster recovery caseworkers.)
What should I bring with me to the shelter? To repeat, if you need to evacuate immediately, grab people and pets and just go. But if you have the luxury of time, you want to bring true necessities such as prescription medication, important documents, and, if you have children, diaper, formula and toys.

Additional fire resources and tips

If you have to leave now:

If you have more time:

Every day is now fire season. Let's get you ready for the next wildfire burning near you

Things to consider:

Navigating fire conditions

How to help yourself and others

Understanding how it got this bad

Yes, wildfires are getting worse. The history that got us to this moment

This story will be updated as we answer more of your questions.

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