Today in Focus ‘The entire community is just gone’: inside the Los Angeles wildfires
Jan 15, 2025
Gabrielle Canon, the Guardian US extreme weather correspondent based in California, shares her insights on the devastating wildfires ravaging Los Angeles. She discusses the emotional chaos of families facing evacuation and the heartbreaking choices they must make. Canon highlights the growing trend of winter fires linked to climate change and the challenges of rebuilding, especially with inadequate insurance coverage. The conversation emphasizes the urgent need for accountability from local leaders and the importance of community resilience amidst these disasters.
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Escape from Altadena Fire
- George Elmerari's family fled their Altadena home due to a rapidly spreading wildfire.
- They salvaged belongings, witnessing their neighborhood devastated.
Compound Climate Disaster
- California's wildfires are worsened by a lack of winter rain, creating dry conditions.
- This, coupled with boom-and-bust rain cycles, intensifies the fire risk.
Devastation in the Palisades
- Gabrielle Canon describes the devastation in the Pacific Palisades, with homes reduced to ashes and hazardous debris everywhere.
- Toxic air and the constant threat of new fires add to the apocalyptic scene.