Los Angeles Fires: Help Finding A Way to Recover
4 min read
Image Attribution: Toastt21, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Next steps? Small steps to start the process.
The Los Angeles fires of January, 2025 are among the deadliest and most destructive in California’s history. Thousands of people have been displaced and are grappling with the immediate financial losses and long-term emotional impacts. The recovery is just beginning, and for creatives, finding a way to recover may take even longer due to the ripple effects on Hollywood and adjacent industries. While the road to recovery will take time, small steps can start the process. This column offers actionable steps to support that journey.
The fires were driven by a complex interplay of climate dynamics, resulting in a phenomenon known as “Polycrisis.” One example is “hydroclimate whiplash,” an abrupt switch between wet and dry conditions. In 2023 and early 2024, LA experienced heavy rainfall, promoting plant growth, but an unusually dry spell since July turned this vegetation into fuel for wildfires. When the Lachman*/Palisades and Eaton fires broke out, strong Santa Ana winds (extremely dry winds originating in the deserts) amplified the flames, sometimes spreading embers up to 3 kilometers.
Life where cityscapes meet natural landscapes…
Construction in wildland-urban interfaces, where cityscapes meet natural landscapes, exacerbated the problem by enabling fires to jump from wildland to urban areas. This pattern mirrors the tragic Lahaina, Hawaii fires of 2023. Entire neighborhoods have been reduced to ashes, with damages estimated at $250 billion. Recovery will be both expensive and emotionally challenging.
For creatives, the impact is going to be especially multilayered. Artists, musicians, potters, and other creatives have lost studios, instruments, and valuable works. Beyond direct losses, many will face but also see their work opportunities and income take a huge hit. For example, the cancellation or postponement of award shows and events has disrupted the livelihoods of Hollywood’s gig workers—a workforce already hit hard by the pandemic and the 2023 writers’ and actors’ strikes. Last year’s significant downturn in production, particularly in TV, further compounded these challenges. With all these compounding setbacks, the creative can take some immediate steps to get the support and help needed to get started after the fires.
1. Apply for FEMA Assistance
FEMA disaster assistance can meet the basic needs of uninsured or underinsured households. Visit DisasterAssistance.gov to apply.
2. Explore Local Recovery Efforts
Foundations and communities are driving initiatives to help with immediate needs. Review this Hyperallergic list of resources geared towards artists. Please focus on the section “Relief funding, Grants, and Residencies” in the piece for some focused grants and funding opportunities. Note that some are first-come, first-served.
3. Utilize City and County Support Pages
Many departments offer resources for various needs, including animal care, tax relief, childcare, business recovery, education and distribution of N95 masks. Kindly review these links:
Temporary Housing Assistance
211LA and some hotels offer discounted accommodations for those displaced by the fires. Check availability.
File Insurance Claims
Begin the insurance process promptly, as wildfire property claims can take months. Insurance companies are required to:
Pay at least one-third of the estimated value of personal belongings.
Cover a minimum of four months’ rent if your home is completely destroyed.
For guidance, consult United Policyholders, a nonprofit specializing in insurance advocacy.
Visit Local Assistance Centers (LACs)
LACs offer disaster relief services such as help with lost records, mental health counseling, and property tax reassessment. Find a location here: LA County Recovery Centers.
Small Business Assistance
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) provides interest-free disaster loans to businesses, nonprofits, homeowners, and renters. Apply at SBA.gov/disaster. Note that these applications have deadlines.
Most importantly, community support is crucial during this time. Check in on friends, family, and neighbors. Please be mindful of misinformation online and verify any information you share through official sources. Further, please follow CDC guidelines to mitigate the long-term effects of wildfire smoke. Above all, take care of yourself as we work together to rebuild and recover.
*CBS News Report Updated January 20, 2025 :
“Officials have not determined a cause for the Palisades Fire. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives said Monday that it has deployed 15 investigators to work with local, state and federal agencies to determine the cause and origin point.
Planet Labs satellite imagery from Jan. 5 shows the first traces of charred land likely from the Lachman Fire. Additional Sentinel-2 satellite imagery captured on Jan. 7 shows smoke again drifting from the same area around the Temescal Ridge Trail.” Link To CBS News Article Here.
