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LA's wildfires: Your recovery guide
Your game plan for what happens next. LAist will be there every step of the way.
The Palisades and Eaton fires leveled whole neighborhoods and killed 31 people.
LAist reported 24/7 on the initial days of devastation. Our immediate job was clear: Make listeners aware of the urgency of the disaster, get them the resources they needed to stay safe, dispel rumors and misinformation that spread via social media and connect people to each other at a time of great distress.
Once the fire danger was over, LAist committed to helping fire victims navigate the complicated systems needed to recover — answering questions about insurance, renting, politics and gaps in the emergency response.
| Palisades Fire | Eaton Fire | |
| Acreage | 23,448 acres | 14,021 |
| Containment | 100% | 100% |
| Structures damaged or destroyed | 6,837 destroyed, 973 damaged | 9,414 destroyed, 1,074 damaged |
| Dead | 12 | 19 |
What's next for housing
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Residents now have until April 15 to sign up for the government's free debris removal program. The program now includes condos, not just single-family homes. -
The Zone Zero regulations on defensible space would apply to trees, potted plants, fences and other items that can catch embers and ignite. -
The new guidance contradicts earlier statements from a city official who said tenants were on the hook for post-fire decontamination inside their own units. -
With building contractors in hot demand, the state licensing board is offering tips on how to find a reputable contractor. -
California is one of the few states with building codes for wildfire protection because using fire-resistant materials helps homes survive. -
The first properties in the Palisades Fire burn area, where multi-million dollar homes once stood, are being put on the market.
What to know about insurance
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As FEMA extends deadline to sign up for free debris removal, we explain different steps of the process. -
We've got tips for navigating insurance claims in the wake of the Eaton and Palisades fires … without losing your mind.Listen 0:51 -
Most residents of middle-class Altadena could get fire insurance, but that is likely to change as residents rebuild and face price hikes. -
Here are some common mistakes or misconceptions you may run into. -
We have tips from California's insurance commissioner on how to contact the state and start the claims process, and how to keep you and your loved ones from falling for scams. -
The current fires are on track to become one of the most costly disasters in California history. That could threaten the stability of California's insurance market and make housing costs go up even more.
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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Key resources
If you have a question about the firestorm, let the LAist newsroom know.
Stay informed: Fact checks
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Let us help you separate fact from fiction. -
After thousands of homes were destroyed, many are looking for ways to make Los Angeles safer from wildfires.Listen 3:40 -
Air quality experts and advocates warn of the potential dangers of smoke, ash and soot.
Don't miss our award-winning podcast
As the world enters a new age of wildfires, science reporter Jacob Margolis dives deep into personal stories that illuminate the history of how we got here, why we keep screwing things up, and what we can do to survive and maybe even thrive while the world around us burns.
Latest news
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The Bluff Fire that began around 9:30 a.m. this morning north of Banning has spread rapidly, prompting an aggressive assault from the ground and air from CalFire and Riverside County fire officials. Two County firefighters suffered heat-related injuries, according to the Daily Bulletin. The blaze, which is suspected of starting in a shed, has been 10 percent contained. No home have been damaged or are threatened at the present time. "It's pretty much (burning...
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A fire that began around 10 a.m. has grown to 70 acres near the Riverside County town of Banning, north of the 10 Freeway, east of the 60. No communities are currently threatned, according to authorities at the San Bernardino National Forest. Apparently, the fire began near Mias Canyon Road in a shed on a farm, reported KESQ, an ABC affiliate in the Palm Springs area. riv fire capt fernando herrera, 951 940 6985-->...
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After burning through 7,425 acres, the Big Meadow Fire in Yosemite National Park has been 100 percent contained. The blaze intentionally began as a 90-fire controlled burn on Wednesday, August 26th, but officials lost control. All roads into Yosemite National Park, including the Big Oak Flat Road and portions of the Tioga Road, are now open with no restrictions. These roads allows visitors to enter Yosemite Valley via Highway 120. However, some pull-outs may...
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The Station Fire had its way with La Cañada-Flintridge just last week, but fires still happen when people are careless. Actually, in the case of a house fire yesterday in the area, it wasn't a human who made the flub, it was the dog. A "hyperactive dog" knocked over a candle, which set the furniture ablaze, followed by the entire house, reports the Pasadena Star-News. The house is considered a "total loss," and "damage...
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Past air quality alerts regarding Station Fire pollution stated that the air quality was unhealthy for "sensitive individuals," such as the elderly, children and those with respiratory problems. However, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health toda said air quality is "unhealthy for all individuals" in the San Gabriel Mountains and Valley. Air quality in the San Fernando, Santa Clarita and Antelope valleys remain "unhealthy for sensitive individuals." Officials urge residents to call...
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Didn't this burn last year, like twice? A small vegetation fire reported to the fire department at 12:48 p.m. burned a half-acre inside O'Melvany Park, just south of Sunshine Canyon in Granada Hills today. The park is located at the eastern end of the Santa Susana Mountains, site of the 14,703-acre Sesnon Fire from last year October. The Los Angeles Fire Department deployed not only ground crews, but an air attack, snuffing out today's...
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Photo: digitalshay/Flickr Although Los Angeles firefighters knocked down flames in 17 minutes at an early morning fire in Harbor Gateway, one man pronounced dead inside the home. The blaze began around 4:45 a.m. at 15925 Orchard Ave. Officials say pack rat conditions, often referred on the east coast as a Collyers' Mansion, were found inside. Back in 1999, about six people died in "pack rat" fires per year, the LA Times found. "Almost all...
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Photo: A Gude via Flickr For those planning a trip to Yosemite National Park this weekend, about a five-hour drive from L.A., they don't have to worry about the Meadow Fire ruining too many of their plans, officials say. The park will remain open, save for some off-limit areas and roads due to the 7,240-acre blaze. The fire began Wednesday as a 90-acre controlled burn that got out of control. Although it grew over...
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Blue line denotes closure area Due to the Station Fire (and the Morris Fire, which is now 100 percent contained), officials today closed all portions of the Angeles National Forest within the San Gabriel Mountain Range, citing a federal law meant "to protect natural resources and provide for public safety." Basically, that means the whole mountain range is closed, save for the edges and a portion within the San Bernardino National Forest on the...
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A modified Martin Mars seaplane tanker aircraft drops water trying to contain a fire threat to the observatory on Mount Wilson (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes) HIgh temperatures and low humidity today began to subside, aiding firefighters in controlling the Station Fire, now 127,513 acres, nearly 200 square miles, in size. The blaze is now 22 percent contained, according to Forest Service officials. However, a change in weather could again downgrade containment and begin to threaten...
