Mayor Karen Bass speaks with Larry Mantle on the anniversary of the LA fires

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Today on LAist: The one year anniversary of the fires; Palisades and Altadena Community Recovery; An interview with Mayor Karen Bass; and more.

Mayor Karen Bass speaks with Larry Mantle on the anniversary of the LA fires

Today on LAist: The one year anniversary of the fires; Palisades and Altadena Community Recovery; An interview with Mayor Karen Bass; and more.

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Mayor Karen Bass speaks with Larry Mantle on the anniversary of the LA fires

One year ago today, two fires sprang up on opposite sides of Los Angeles County, forever changing the social, economic, personal, and literal landscape of Southern California. The Eaton fire in Altadena and the Palisades fire in Pacific Palisades collectively led to the loss of about 14,000 structures across the two communities, and left an incalculable toll on the thousands of people impacted. In the year since, we’ve seen and heard stories of resilience in the face of loss, struggles to rebuild, and tough decisions with no great answers. From the cleaning of debris from burned-down properties to navigating the complexities of insurance, LAist and AirTalk have tried to help listeners navigate the challenges of post-fire life. Today on AirTalk, Larry speaks with a number of community members, LAist reporters, and elected officials on a range of issues still affecting fire victims, how rebuilding efforts are faring, and how the fabric of Southern California has changed.

We start today’s program with a conversation between Larry and Karen Bass, Mayor of Los Angeles City.

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Palisades Community Recovery

The Palisades Fire did much more than burn the homes of Malibu and Pacific Palisades residents, leaving a notable business sector in Los Angeles struggling to match its typical business. The Palisades-Malibu area’s economy post-fire has seen bumps in the road, particularly with tourists not arriving at the rate they once did. Today on AirTalk, we’ll hear about research that’s been done to survey the Palisades community, as well as hear how business interests are handling the recovery process. Joining us are Quentin Fleming, vice president of the Pacific Palisades Community Council, and Maryam Zar, CEO of the Pacific Palisades-Malibu Chamber of Commerce.

How are survivors of the Palisades and Eaton fires recovering?

The fires affected everyone in the community in different ways. A year later, survivors are each at different stages of recovery, whether it's rebuilding, moving somewhere else, or still grieving their loss. We hear from survivors about where they are in their recovery.

California Insurance Commissioner looks back at the last year of post-fire claims

A year following the fires has seen an overwhelming number of insurance claims, with Palisades and Eaton fire victims looking to get enough assistance to rebuild their lives in their respective neighborhoods. According to the California Department of Insurance, more than 40,000 claims have been filed following the LA County wildfires. Since November 2025, with more than $22 billion in insurance claims paid, and additional funds appropriated through government and private entities. Although the state has shared details about how they’ve been able to assist, residents have offered criticisms, with many criticizing California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara over his handling of fire-related claims, with some finding that their payments are being delayed or rejected, as well as facing rising insurance premiums. As we attempt to check in on the insurance claims made following the fires, Larry talks to Ricardo Lara, California Insurance Commissioner.

Building back the Altadena community

The fires affected everyone in the community in different ways. A year later, survivors are each at different stages of recovery, whether it's rebuilding, moving somewhere else, or still grieving their loss. We hear from survivors about where they are in their recovery. Give us a call at 866-893-5722. You can also email us at atcomments@laist.com.

Hearing from LA County supervisor Lindsey Horvath

Larry speaks with LA County supervisor Lindsey Horvath, representing the county's third district, which stretches from the Ventura County line to West Hollywood and includes parts of the San Fernando Valley

Hearing from LA County supervisor Kathryn Barger

Larry speaks with LA County supervisor Kathryn Barger, representing the fifth district, which includes communities across the Antelope, San Gabriel, San Fernando, Crescenta, and Santa Clarita Valleys, including Altadena.

Houses of worship that burned down reflect on the first anniversary of the aftermath

It’s been a year since the Eaton Fire swept through Altadena, wiping out a number of beloved places of worship and prayer. Along with it were Masjid Al-Taqwa, the first mosque in the Altadena-Pasadena area, the Pasadena Jewish Temple and Center, and the Saint Mark’s Episcopal Church — all reduced to ashes. But that did not stop the resilience, support, and collective effort of all members to continue practicing their faith. Here to talk about how the respective congregations have been faring since the first anniversary of the LA fires are Josh Ratner, Rabbi at the Pasadena Jewish Temple and Center, Parishioner at Saint Mark’s Episcopal Church, Maria Horner, and Kameelah Wilkerson, who is on the board of directors for Masjid Al-Taqwa.

With files from LAist.

Nature is making a comeback in burn areas

It’s not just the people of Southern California that were impacted by last year’s fires, but also the environment. LAist science reporter Jacob Margolis has been tracking how our landscapes have adapted and recovered in some burn areas, and joins Larry to share his findings.

LAist staffers impacted by fires share their recovery stories

LAist isn’t just a faceless organization — we are residents of the communities we report on and serve. Nearly everyone in Los Angeles knows someone who was affected personally by the fires, and unfortunately for us at our Pasadena-based studio, that notion rings very true. We round out today’s special program by sitting down with a handful of LAist staffers who were impacted by the fires to various degrees, to learn about how their recoveries are faring, and how their experience shapes their work. Larry speaks with Rebecca Stumme, LAist live programming and events senior producer, Lucie Russo, LAist development events manager; Steve Coulter, LAist account executive focused on sponsorships and underwriting; and David Rodriguez, LAist partnerships producer.