What LA did right before the fires — and why it wasn't enough
1 day, 8 hours ago

What LA did right before the fires — and why it wasn't enough

NPR  

What LA did right before the fires — and why it wasn't enough toggle caption Agustin Paullier/AFP via Getty Images Los Angeles is no stranger to wildfires. Los Angeles County already has strict wildfire building codes for homes and has passed rules that limit new development in wildfire-prone areas. Fire experts say the heavy toll offers lessons for other communities around the country that haven't taken the steps that California has – and for Los Angeles itself when it rebuilds from these fires. Sponsor Message What LA is doing right: limiting parking on high wind days Many neighborhoods around Los Angeles are known for their rugged beauty, with houses tucked into rolling hillsides and steep canyons. Los Angeles County already has rules that prohibit new subdivisions from being built in high fire risk zones, unless they meet conditions for providing adequate evacuation routes and water supply, as well as using fire-resistant building materials.

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History of this topic

Hear the latest updates on the LA-area wildfires
1 day, 8 hours ago

Hear the latest updates on the LA-area wildfires

NPR  

Hear the latest updates on the LA-area wildfires Get the latest updates on the LA-area wildfires that have killed at least 25 and forced thousands from their homes. LEILA FADEL, HOST: We begin, though, in Los Angeles, where the winds that stoked two massive wildfires last week have been calmer since yesterday. FADEL: NPR's Martin Kaste is in LA, and …

California wildfires: How the Palisades and affected neighborhoods can rebuild to lessen fire, climate effects.
1 day, 22 hours ago

California wildfires: How the Palisades and affected neighborhoods can rebuild to lessen fire, climate effects.

Slate  

Sign up for the Slatest to get the most insightful analysis, criticism, and advice out there, delivered to your inbox daily. Look at what isn’t consumed: Particularly in Altadena, you’re going to see lots of total destruction of buildings adjacent to and surrounded by unconsumed vegetation.” These disasters, Cohen wrote this week, “need to be defined as a structure ignition …

Data shows LA Fire Department among the most understaffed in America
2 days, 8 hours ago

Data shows LA Fire Department among the most understaffed in America

CNN  

CNN — Less than a month before fires swept across Los Angeles, a group of longtime firefighters gathered at City Hall to plead for more resources. LA’s firefighters were joined by crews from across the state, including from the Los Angeles County Fire Department, which covers areas outside the city, including hard-hit Altadena. Etienne Laurent/AFP/Getty Images Firefighters battle the Palisades …

Los Angeles wildfire: Evacuees desperate to return home face long lines and uncertainty amid ongoing fire emergency
Trending News
3 days, 2 hours ago

Los Angeles wildfire: Evacuees desperate to return home face long lines and uncertainty amid ongoing fire emergency

The Hindu  

“Tens of thousands of people forced from their homes by enormous fires raking Los Angeles will not be able to return for at least four days,” officials said Sunday. But Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone said Sunday that gusting winds forecast this week mean the fire emergency is far from over. “That conversation is not going to occur …

Los Angeles braces for new round of ‘strong winds’ as wildfires rage on
3 days, 13 hours ago

Los Angeles braces for new round of ‘strong winds’ as wildfires rage on

Firstpost  

Firefighters scrambled Sunday to make further progress against wildfires that have killed 16 people in the Los Angeles area as forecasters again warned of dangerous weather with the return of strong winds this week. Image- AFP Wildfire-ravaged Los Angeles on Sunday confronted the return of dangerous winds, as officials said that firefighters were ready to combat any new blazes whipped …

LA fires latest: High winds set to return tonight as landlords slammed for hiking prices during home shortage
Trending News
3 days, 13 hours ago

LA fires latest: High winds set to return tonight as landlords slammed for hiking prices during home shortage

The Independent  

✕ Close Before and after: Piles of ash line streets in videos showing extent of devastation caused by LA fires The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US SIGN UP I would …

Firefighters contain Los Angeles wildfires; San Fernando Valley still under threat
3 days, 16 hours ago

Firefighters contain Los Angeles wildfires; San Fernando Valley still under threat

Firstpost  

The death toll from the wildfires ravaging the Los Angeles area rose to 16 as crews battled to cut off the spreading blazes before potentially strong winds return that could push the flames toward some of the city’s most famous landmarks. The light of a fire fighting helicopter illuminates a smouldering hillside as the Palisades fire grows near the Mandeville …

Los Angeles Wildfires: Dry weather, Santa Ana winds and other possible causes – what we know so far
Trending News
5 days, 21 hours ago

Los Angeles Wildfires: Dry weather, Santa Ana winds and other possible causes – what we know so far

Live Mint  

The Los Angeles wildfires have killed at least 10 people and destroyed nearly 10,000 structures, including the homes of celebrities like Paris Hilton, Adam Brody, and Jamie Lee Curtis. Los Angeles Wildfires LIVE Updates The Palisades Fire, located between Santa Monica and Malibu, and the Eaton Fire near Pasadena are among the most destructive in Los Angeles history. The CNN …

New fire in Los Angeles area prompts more evacuations; over 10K structures lost in major blazes
6 days, 8 hours ago

New fire in Los Angeles area prompts more evacuations; over 10K structures lost in major blazes

New Indian Express  

LOS ANGELES: The two biggest wildfires ravaging the Los Angeles area have burned at least 10,000 homes, buildings and other structures, officials said Thursday as they urged more people to heed evacuation orders after a new blaze ignited and quickly grew. "We are expecting this fire to rapidly spread due to high winds," Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said, echoing …

L.A. fires: California is burning. There was one sign we had to leave.
6 days, 11 hours ago

L.A. fires: California is burning. There was one sign we had to leave.

Slate  

Sign up for the Slatest to get the most insightful analysis, criticism, and advice out there, delivered to your inbox daily. The suggestion from my terrified mom in Pittsburgh that we pack up my fiancée’s wedding dress in case fire takes our apartment didn’t do it, but a badass firefighting video somehow did. The wind and dry conditions made for …

The Los Angeles Fires Will Put California’s New Insurance Rules to the Test
55 years ago

The Los Angeles Fires Will Put California’s New Insurance Rules to the Test

Wired  

This story originally appeared on Grist and is part of the Climate Desk collaboration. Over the past five years, California has become a poster child for what climate-fueled weather disasters can do to a state’s home insurance market. “With input from thousands of residents throughout California, this reform balances protecting consumers with the need to strengthen our market against climate …

LA fires: Why it’s too difficult to tame ‘apocalyptic’ Los Angeles wildfire
6 days, 23 hours ago

LA fires: Why it’s too difficult to tame ‘apocalyptic’ Los Angeles wildfire

Live Mint  

Powerful winds are literally fanning the wildfires that rampaged across parts of California. However, a new blaze erupted in the Hollywood Hills on Wednesday evening — forcing more evacuations and raising the number of wildfires burning in Los Angeles County to at least six, said Fire Chief Kristin Crowley. It's windy in California Powerful Santa Ana winds reportedly fueled fierce …

Wet winters to wildfires: How nature turned Los Angeles into a tinderbox
1 week ago

Wet winters to wildfires: How nature turned Los Angeles into a tinderbox

India Today  

Wildfires raging around Los Angeles advanced into the Hollywood Hills, following a series of devastating blazes in the region that claimed at least five lives, destroyed hundreds of homes, and severely strained firefighting resources and water supplies. The wildfires devastating Los Angeles have been fueled by a perfect storm of environmental conditions, leading to unprecedented destruction and loss of life. …

California wildfires show we are not prepared for climate change
1 week ago

California wildfires show we are not prepared for climate change

Salon  

I spent most of the evening on January 7, a Christmas Day celebrated by Orthodox Christians around the world, monitoring local news and emergency apps for evacuation alerts for the Los Angeles area. As one writer pointed out on X on Tuesday night, “this is how people turn into climate refugees.” As Salon has previously reported, nowhere will be safe …

Ravaged homes to slumped cars: Wildfires in Los Angeles kill 5, force thousands to flee
Trending News
1 week ago

Ravaged homes to slumped cars: Wildfires in Los Angeles kill 5, force thousands to flee

India TV News  

Wildfires have wreaked havoc in Los Angeles as it continues to ravage major parts of the area, killing five people and forcing thousands to flee homes. In an update, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said that firefighters from across California and elsewhere had arrived to help along with air operations that were dousing flames. In Pasadena, Fire Chief Chad Augustin …

‘Explosion on right, houses on fire on left’: How Los Angeles wildfires started; will it worsen overnight?
1 week ago

‘Explosion on right, houses on fire on left’: How Los Angeles wildfires started; will it worsen overnight?

Live Mint  

Los Angeles wildfires: Thousands have fled and more have been evacuated as three ferocious wildfires continued to spread in Los Angeles, devouring multi-dollar homes, sheds, cars and everything that came in the way as hurricane-force winds fueled rapid blaze growth. According to the reports, the Los Angeles wildfires are not expected to be contained tonight and are in fact, likely …

If you live in a fire-prone part of California, this road map can help you save on insurance
2 years, 11 months ago

If you live in a fire-prone part of California, this road map can help you save on insurance

LA Times  

With the fire season growing longer and wildfires increasing in intensity, Californians living in fire-prone areas are having a harder time finding affordable insurance for their homes — if they can find coverage at all. For more detailed suggestions, consult Cal Fire’s “Hardening Your Home” site, its low-cost retrofit list and the University of California’s preparing your home webpage. The …

Dozens of L.A. County communities face growing peril from fire, heat, flooding
3 years, 2 months ago

Dozens of L.A. County communities face growing peril from fire, heat, flooding

LA Times  

The Crenshaw sidewalks sizzled on Wednesday as Ang Flore worked to sell face masks, plastic toys and electronic gadgets to people passing by. “Us outside — we notice it a lot.” Crenshaw is one of at least 47 communities where the worsening impacts of climate change will be felt most acutely, according to a groundbreaking new L.A. County report, which …

LA wildfire: Latest as firefighters start to tame enormous fire in northeast mountains
4 years, 3 months ago

LA wildfire: Latest as firefighters start to tame enormous fire in northeast mountains

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Firefighters are finally starting to …

Wildfires are both environmental catastrophes and public health problems
5 years, 2 months ago

Wildfires are both environmental catastrophes and public health problems

Salon  

This story originally appeared on Massive Science, an editorial partner site that publishes science stories by scientists. Many people still think of wildfires as events that happen “out there” in the wildlands — distant forests, shrublands or grasslands — and see better land and fire management as the primary solution. As researchers who have worked extensively on fire in California, …

Terrifying footage shows drivers rushing to escape huge wildfires burning in California
5 years, 3 months ago

Terrifying footage shows drivers rushing to escape huge wildfires burning in California

Daily Mail  

Raging wildfires have broken out across neighborhoods in Los Angeles, killing two people, burning homes and forcing thousands to evacuate. Pictured: A helicopter drops water to help fight flames as the Saddleridge Fire in the Porter Ranch section of Los Angeles on Friday The California Governor's Office of Emergency Services shared a map outlining the most recent updates to the …

To prevent wildfires, L.A. wants to make it easier to clear homeless encampments
5 years, 4 months ago

To prevent wildfires, L.A. wants to make it easier to clear homeless encampments

LA Times  

A scorched pot is among the few remnants of a homeless encampment where investigators concluded the Skirball fire started in December 2017. With wildfire season underway, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti on Wednesday announced a plan to make it easier for authorities to clear homeless encampments in severe fire zones. The proposed ordinance, which will go before the City Council’s …

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