LAist Wildfire Recovery Guide

Community safety

County of Los Angeles (select only if your project has a countywide benefit)

Expand existing project, program, or initiative (expanding and continuing ongoing, successful work)

The Los Angeles firestorm in January 2025 was one of the deadliest in California’s history, causing extensive devastation with 30 deaths and over 150,000 people affected. The Palisades Fire burned over 23,000 acres and damaged or destroyed over 5,000 structures, while the Eaton Fire burned over 14,000 acres and damaged or destroyed over 9,400 structures. The estimated total economic losses could reach $50 billion. The road to recovery will be long and difficult. In a landscape where information and resources are constantly evolving, it can be challenging to determine which sources are trustworthy and where to find the most current and reliable information. LAist’s wildfire recovery coverage and accompanying guide on LAist.com addresses a range of issues faced by affected individuals, families, and communities. Our guide and public events are designed to support survivors through every stage of recovery and for years to come — from immediate needs to long-term rebuilding and resilience.

The LAist Wildfire Recovery Guide will address questions that are top of mind, with resources to keep the community up to date about the aftermath as well as help navigating the rebuilding and recovery efforts.
Key issues that our guide will cover for the foreseeable future include immediate needs and emergency support; financial and legal assistance; rebuilding and debris removal; housing and tenant rights; mental health and emotional well-being; support for special populations, such as seniors, people with disabilities, and pets; navigating bureaucracy and replacing documents; community and volunteer resources; legislation and policy; workforce recovery; and environmental and safety precautions. In addition, we will watchdog elected officials and follow the money.
LAist will continue updating our coverage to reflect evolving needs and resources as recovery progresses, ensuring that survivors have access to the most current and relevant support.
In addition to the online guide and daily updates on our broadcast signal 89.3FM and news podcasts, we plan to hold a public event where audience members from affected communities can come together and have a dialogue around solutions.

The LAist Wildfire Recovery Guide will be available free to all LA County residents, empowering survivors to navigate challenges. By offering a platform for powerful storytelling, we will also foster community connection and healing throughout the recovery process in addition to highlighting key issues for policymakers. We are committed in the long term to filling a gap by providing valuable information in one place, as a trusted source. To date we have provided guidance about access to relief programs, insurance, temporary housing solutions (promoting the use of alternate structures), and mental health support. This work will also encourage residents to join public discussions about new wildfire rules and recovery policies, ensuring that community voices shape future preparedness and resilience efforts. Looking forward, our watchdog reporting will hold institutions accountable. We seek to help drive policy improvements and keep residents informed about the evolving legal landscape.