Climate & Environment

What happens after a wildfire destroys your home? A survivor has tips

"What the hell just happened to my future?" — that's the immediate thought for many people when they learn a fire has destroyed their home, says consumer advocate Annie Barbour.

He built a massive train set in his Altadena backyard — and returned to protect it from the Eaton Fire

One day after evacuation, Rob Caves and his partner went back to Christmas Tree Lane to protect their home — and ended up being custodians to the neighborhood.

An empty street lane with a flag of the United States planted in the foreground. A sign on it says, "Altadena Thank you"

Smoke and ash filled your home. What do you clean? What do you throw out?

Experts describe smoke damage, but are divided over cleaning or throwing out mattresses, couches, clothes.

The wildfires damaged my home. What happens to my property taxes?

From installment deferral to home value transfer, we have some answers to property’s owners pressing tax questions.

A man walks by the rubble of a house burned down and people wearing yellow safety uniforms clean up the site.

As workers tackle dangerous job of cleaning up after LA fires, can authorities keep them safe?

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.

A man in a red hoodie sweater and hat sweeps debris off a driveway. Behind him is a home, and next door on the other side of the brick wall is the remains of a burned down car and home.

Much of SoCal experiencing driest start to winter on record

We haven't had rain since May. It’s a sign of how human-caused climate change is making Southern California weather more extreme.

An aerial view of a hilly community partly engulfed in smoke.

Why do some houses burn down and not others?

Embers, then radiant heat, then direct flames are responsible for most houses burning down in wildfires.

A teal house stands relatively unscathed behind a home destroyed by the Eaton Fire. An early analysis of the Los Angeles fires found that brush and wood fencing helped spread the fire from house to house.

What LA wildfire victims need to know about applying for FEMA assistance

Here are some common mistakes or misconceptions you may run into.

Amid wildfire trauma, LA County dispatches mental health workers to evacuees

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.

Several ambulances and emergency response vehicles are parked on a one way street in front of a large lit building. People can be seen going down stairs towards the street.

Las trabajadoras domésticas también perdieron una comunidad en Pacific Palisades

Los trabajadores domésticos -niñeras, jardineros, asistentes para personas mayores- son una parte enorme de la economía de la región.

Una mujer con un tono de piel medio claro lleva el pelo oscuro recogido en un moño y una camiseta con iconografía de artículos de limpieza y texto azul que dice "Servicios de limpieza/ 323-877-4830". Detrás de ella está el porche de una casa con un cartel de "Feliz Navidad" colgado en la puerta.

Hey, LA listener!

Climate & Environment

Support your source for local news!