Two weeks after the Palisades and Eaton fires destroyed thousands of homes in two distinct LA-area communities, many in Los Angeles County are still in a state of shock, even as donation drives peter out and the focus starts to shift from immediate support for fire survivors to broader questions about how the region could rebuild and recover .
Palisades Fire initially started 10:30 a.m. Jan. 7 in Los Angeles County. It has burned 23,448 acres after being active for 17 days. A crew of 2,420 firefighters has been working on site and they managed to contain 77% of the fire by Friday morning. The blaze's cause remains under investigation.
As firefighters continue to battle raging fires across Los Angeles County, a cut to the Los Angeles Fire Department 2025 budget and its commitment to recruiting a more diverse force have come under attack.
In the era when American cities regularly caught fire, the widespread destruction seeded what looks, in retrospect, like possibility.
Red-flag warnings for dangerous fire weather are in place until Friday.
President Donald Trump is criticizing California water policy as he prepares to tour wildfire damage in Los Angeles.
In the last few days, firefighters have battled multiple fires in the hills around Los Angeles and Ventura counties. Winds will linger through at least Friday morning, according to the weather service.