Eaton Fire: A rebuilding journey

Inside the Dakota Lounge (via Dakota's website) An early morning fire that broke out yesterday at the Dakota Lounge in Santa Monica essentially gutted the popular restaurant and music club, leaving all but the sound board and stage destroyed, reports the Santa Monica Daily Press. The fire damage was intensive; by the time firefighters arrived on scene the roof had already collapsed. Dakota Co-owner Sabrina Roark took in the devastation: "There's no roof, my...

A brush fire, estimated to be about a half-acre, is burning in the Sepulveda Pass, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department. The blaze, which was called in at 2:49 p.m., is located east of the freeway near Skirball Center Drive. Update: The blaze has burned about 2 acres of grass and brush. About 60 personel are one scene with the aid of two water dropping helicopters, according to FD Spokesperson Brian Humphrey. Update...

Smoke as seen from LA Academy | Photo by avalonsensei via Twitter A large fire that caused an explosion at a South L.A. recycling facility this afternoon has officials warning about air quality in the region. The L.A. County Department of Public Health said people are "urged to avoid unnecessary outdoor activity where there is visible smoke or the odor of smoke." At about 11 a.m., the Los Angeles Fire Department responded to the...

The hills have been lush with green this Spring, thanks to more rain than ever (okay, more rain than the past three years). But that means when things dry up this Summer, it's more fuel for a wildfire to burn through, according to the Daily News. 34,000 homes within Los Angeles are in brush areas and inspections to make sure homeowners have cleared land have already begun. In areas where the county works, some...

At a grass fire last Saturday north of Beverly Hills | Photo by Nadia Kovacs/LAist We've been noticing more fire alerts as of late. Today a brush fire in Riverside County is moving towards a Glen Avon mobile home park, prompting evacuations, according to CBS2. On Saturday, a one-acre grass fire ignited just north of Beverly Hills in the Santa Monica Mountains, and a few more small grass fires have been reported around the...

A grass fire first reported just after 3:30 this afternoon near 1611 N. San Ysidro Drive [map], to the north of Beverly Hills, was put out in just about one hour. "Fire contained to 1 acre, no structures damaged and no injuries," explained the knockdown report issued by the Los Angeles Fire Department. Helping battle the blaze that was at one point possibly a threat to a structure near Ferrari Drive were "low winds...

Depending on your vantage point, it might appear that Griffith Park is on fire. Heavy smoke is rising into the air, but it's from a fire that's consuming multiple vehicles and a debris pile at "Pick Your Part Auto Recycling" in the Northeast San Fernando Valley. The debris pile is quite large, too, measuring about 50-feet by 75-feet and 20 feet deep. Los Angeles Fire Department spokesman Erik Scott emphasizes that there is no...

People all over the Westside and near LAX have been curious about a plume of dark smoke and flames originating from the El Segundo area, and worried that a large fire was burning dangerously close to homes and businesses. However, the fire is actually originating from the Chevron facilities, according to a live KTLA broadcast, and the LAFD confirms via email alert that the refinery there is "performing a 'controlled burn-off.'" The authorities "are...

About 500 people were evacuated from the Westside Pavilion this afternoon after smoke was reported coming from within the building, which is located on Pico between Overland and Westwood. A small electric fire occurred in an empty tenant space on level three outside Nordstroms and next to Wetzel's Pretzel, according to Ashley Walkley, the Pavilion's marketing manager. No injuries were reported and the public was let back inside the mall about 35 minutes later....

An early morning fire in South L.A. led to the discovery of a dead body. At 4:47 a.m., the Los Angeles Fire Department was alerted to smoke coming out of a single story home in the Cantebury Knolls neighborhood. The fire, located on the 1110 block of 76th Street, was extinguished in 12 minutes. LAFD Spokesman Brian Humphrey said that although the cause remains under investigation, all signs "point to" an "improper heating device."...