Saturday, February 1, the California Fire Department revealed that all Los Angeles (L.A.) wildfires remain fully contained and the fire tragedies will no longer continue for Californians. After closing off a multitude of beaches for the health and safety of residents and over a month of uncertainty for millions, the L.A. fires died down, allowing inhabitants to begin their journey toward recovery.
“I have a couple of friends who were affected and needed to evacuate so me and my friends and family sent some care packages and supplies to help with the aftermath because we couldn’t be there physically. The fires that have affected L.A. are just absolutely devastating and they have such a profound impact on communities and wildlife. It’s heartbreaking to see families lose their homes and businesses get destroyed and natural landscapes too. Especially for me, I really love nature and it’s something I’ve always loved and I bond with,” magnet junior Keazandra Clyne-Verdeflor said.
The fires caused extreme destruction throughout L.A., leaving thousands of residents displaced after their homes burnt to a crisp. Now, survivors return to their landmarked homes and try to find peace within the chaos from the past month. The fires killed 29 individuals and left nearly 16,000 structures in pieces — including homes, offices and grocery stores. To begin the recovery process, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) work crews dressed in hazmat suits headed to the areas in dire need of waste cleanup under an executive order from California Governor Gavin Newsom. The crews helped clean up debris along the streets including potentially hazardous household materials such as paints, Lysol, propane tanks and fertilizers.
These hazardous materials, specifically lithium-ion batteries, became known as a major source of dangerous waste for humans. Items including lithium now remain under treatment as an unexploded ordnance to further protect the public. Before the rebuilding of the city may commence, cleanup crews must free all regions of toxic debris; this cleanup could potentially last up to 18 months. Similarly, President Donald Trump issued an executive order to expedite the bulk removal of contaminated and general debris from the wildfires by February 25. This order will increase work crews from the EPA and hopefully quicken the recovery process.
While EPA crews work together to eliminate the intense debris, the FireAid organization helps fundraise money to add to fire relief efforts. January 20, this organization held a concert in two L.A. venues — and streamed across various platforms — featuring 27 artists and musicians. FireAid collected donations to fund programs and initiatives to rebuild communities while also aiming to reserve funds to prevent future wildfires from occurring in southern California. Artists such as Katy Perry, Billie Eilish and Stevie Wonder performed in two stadiums in L.A. to lighten the mood during the devastating times and heighten the attention towards those who remain displaced.
“It is still very important to know what is going on. It’s tough to see the fires disrupt so many lives and I think resilience and support of people coming together in times like this is really important. The internet also, how everybody came together in support was amazing and it was very heartwarming,” Clyne-Verdeflor said.
Others advocating for fire relief, such as L.A. Lakers basketball player Luka Dončić, have donated thousands — if not millions — of dollars to help restore lost homes and community space. Dončić, a new addition to the L.A. Lakers team, donated 500 thousand dollars to those in need on his basketball debut. Platforms such as GoFundMe have opened fundraising pages to send $1,000 emergency relief grants to individuals who lost their homes and loved ones due to the Palisades, Eaton and Hurst fires in L.A. County. GoFundMe set a 10 million dollar goal and currently donations have risen to nearly over 6.6 million dollars with 41.3 thousand contributors. The L.A. Tech Community Cares Fund, Paris Hilton and Beauty Together represent various of the top donors to the fund.
As residents begin to flood their way back into L.A., neighbors lean on one another to ease the pain of the uneasy month prior as the California Fire Department continues to find ways to aid those impacted by the wildfires.
“The recent fires are a stark reminder that nature is unpredictable and it has so much power, and beyond the immediate destruction, the long-term impact from communities, wildlife and the environment is felt very deeply. This tragedy highlights the importance of preparedness, resilience and unity,” Clyne-Verdeflor said.
