A week after fires broke out in the Los Angeles area, Californians are grappling with the widespread destruction.
They’re also seeking answers from their leaders about why so much has been lost.
Mike Baker and Christopher Flavelle, who have been covering the fires, discuss the authorities’ response and whether some of the devastation could have been avoided.
Guests:
• Mike Baker (https://www.nytimes.com/by/mike-baker) , a national reporter for The New York Times.
• Christopher Flavelle (https://www.nytimes.com/by/christopher-flavelle) , a reporter for The New York Times.
Background reading:
• Some Pacific Palisades residents said the community had long asked for more detailed fire preparation plans (https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/08/us/california-fire-palisades-evacuation.html) .
• The L.A. fires show the limits of America’s efforts to cope with climate change (https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/10/climate/california-fires-climate-change.html) .
• How Los Angeles firefighters ran out of water (https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/09/us/los-angeles-fire-water-hydrant-failure.html) .
For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily (http://nytimes.com/thedaily?smid=pc-thedaily) . Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.
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It is amazing. Cali is burning at the moment and u get a guy to come on and say« nobody couldn’t be more ready” what a joke.
By the way the interviewer sucked. Fed lies and shook her head yes. What a joke.
The climate change angle to this conversation is so forced. You built communities in a desert that is essentially a tinder keg. These fires were always going to happen over and over irrespective of any minor change to the climate caused by human activity.
The hills in Southern California burn naturally every 30 years or so. Nothing can be done to stop these fires once they get going. The only thing that can be done to prevent this kind of destruction is to not build in the mountains and near the brush. Any house that is built near the mountains and brush is going to eventually burn, and it doesn’t matter what you do. I worked as a wildland firefighter including time in Southern California and I know what I am talking about. More water or men doesn’t make in difference. It is going to burn. It is easy to cast the blame, but when the conditions are hot, it is going to burn.
Fire hydrants are only suppose 5o address 3 burning homes..not meant to handle a massive fire destroying 1ks homes at a time
5:49 can I gently urge YOU to reflect and humbly take responsibility too!
YOU also have agency. MANY/several wise aware homeowners DID save their properties and their neighbors’ by simple preparedness. Their own roof or portable sprinklers, (pool)pumps, modest emergency water tanks, things they could quickly setup/turn on (or were auto-sensing) then evacuate.
Also smoke hoods/filters etc.
This attitude of the authorities must do everything for me just makes me scream. (Im European btw).
Seeing aerial images of large swimming pools full of water, surrounded by ruined homes. Had these people paid zero attention to current affairs in the last few years??
That said, ive seen plenty of pictures, i see in many situations structures that perhaps stood no chance in an apocalypse hurricane of hot embers
Wishing all those affected much strength and support. xxx