California Today: Tacos, Water and ‘Homies’: A Gas Station Becomes a Uniquely L.A. Relief Site

Today's top stories from California.

January 16, 2025, 9:31 a.m. Eastern time By Adam Nagourney From the day I moved to Los Angeles nearly 15 years ago, friends and family back in New York would take note of some crisis afflicting the region and send notes of concern, envisioning me fighting off flames or mudslides from my front stoop. Their reaction reflected a misunderstanding some people (myself included, before I got here) had about Los Angeles. It's so immense that the calamities capturing national attention might as well have been taking place in another state. It was just another sunny, blue-sky day where I was. And for the first hours after the fires broke out in Pacific Palisades and Eaton, I responded to similar emails of concern the same way: We live in Hollywood, and those fires are miles away. Another world. I was intensely concerned about what was taking place there, but, like many people I know out of state, I was mainly following events on the news. Until one night last week, when I looked up the street and saw the hillside of Runyon Canyon, a few blocks from my home, swept by a wall of fire. We evacuated (no need to wait for the inevitable "get out now" order). In our case, since the winds had died down, the Fire Department was able to deploy helicopters to contain the blaze overnight. We were back the next day. We were lucky. But I realized that night — as I sent my friends and family the "ignore previous email" message — that, at least until it rained, few parts of Los Angeles would be immune from the threat of fires. This is a very different world — and different city — we are living in. Today's Top Story Philip Cheung for The New York Times Tacos, Water and 'Homies': A Gas Station Becomes a Uniquely L.A. Relief Site Out of desperation and a need for social bonding, volunteers have banded together to help Altadena residents. Read more More California News Canelo, a Dog With Scorched Paws, Is Among Many Animals Rescued in the Los Angeles Fires Over 150 stray animals from the Eaton fire in Altadena are waiting to be reconnected with their owners at Pasadena Humane. A Bastion of Los Angeles Hippie Culture Survived the Flames Though landmarks were lost, the tight-knit and storied community of Topanga Canyon counts its blessings. United by Disaster, L.A. Mourns, and Hopes, Together More than a week after the wildfires ignited, the hazy numbness described by many looks a lot like grieving. More Americans Than Ever Are Living in Wildfire Areas. L.A. Is No Exception. Fierce winds and months of drought set the conditions for the catastrophic wildfires in Los Angeles, but the growth of housing in fire-prone areas also played a major role. L.A. Prosecutor Vows Severe Penalties for Looting and Price Gouging The recently elected district attorney of Los Angeles, Nathan Hochman, signals that crime fighting will be key to the region's resurgence from the devastating wildfires. He Saved His Home From Fire. But Toxic Dangers Still Lurk. Health hazards from soot and smoke blown indoors onto furniture and walls can linger for months, researchers say: "Wind will get through every crack." Firefighting Pilots Face High-Pressure Job: 'It Gets a Bit Scary' The people flying planes and tankers involved in dousing blazes face hot, sweaty, turbulent conditions — and the risk that fire retardant won't land where it's needed. The Design Legacy of Los Angeles That Fell to the Fires The finality of the wildfires' destruction has taken 10 more cherished buildings — by Richard Neutra, Gregory Ain, Eric Owen Moss and others —that showed the city's great diversity. Local Conditions Look up the heat index in your area using The Times's heat tracker. See active fires using The Times's wildfire tracker. Today's Recipe Armando Rafael for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Hadas Smirnoff. Chicken and Red Lentil Soup With Lemony Yogurt  By Andy Baraghani 1 hour Makes 4 servings   Play a Game The Mini Crossword Solve this bite-sized puzzle in just a few minutes. Spelling Bee How many words can you make with 7 letters? Wordle Guess the 5-letter word with 6 chances. See all our games Sign up for Your Places: Extreme Weather. Get notified about extreme weather before it happens with custom alerts for places in the U.S. you choose. Get it in your inbox Need help? Review our newsletter help page or contact us for assistance. You received this email because you signed up for California Today from The New York Times. To stop receiving California Today, unsubscribe. To opt out of other promotional emails from The Times, including those regarding The Athletic, manage your email settings. To opt out of updates and offers sent from The Athletic, submit a request. Subscribe to The TimesGet The New York Times app Connect with us on: Change Your EmailPrivacy PolicyContact UsCalifornia Notices The New York Times Company. 620 Eighth Avenue New York, NY 10018