Apple News Today The true toll of the Los Angeles fires
12 snips
Jan 17, 2026 
Jacob Soboroff, a senior reporter for MS NOW and author of "Firestorm: The Great Los Angeles Fires and America's New Age of Disaster," shares gripping insights from his firsthand experience with the devastating Los Angeles wildfires. He discusses the chaotic evacuation process, the emotional dilemmas faced by residents, and the political fallout from the disaster. Soboroff also delves into critical issues like firefighting limitations, misinformation, and the community's resilience in the face of loss, urging for better disaster preparedness for the future.
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Reporter’s Personal Loss In The Palisades
- Jacob Soboroff watched embers fall like rain and reported his childhood neighborhood burning while live on air.
- He returned to find only parts of his childhood home standing, illustrating personal loss amid the disaster.
Multiple Ignitions And Predictable Danger
- Two separate ignitions — an alleged arson rekindling and faulty electrical equipment — produced simultaneous catastrophic fires.
- Meteorologists had issued a 'particularly dangerous situation' warning that predicted this exact outcome.
Fragmented Emergency Communication
- Official alerts and systems struggled to reach residents during rapid fire spread, leaving people reliant on TV, apps, and group texts.
- That fragmentation created chaotic evacuations and many people fleeing on foot or abandoning cars.
