California Today: The Terrifying Ride of Copter 17

Today's top stories from California.

January 17, 2025, 9:31 a.m. Eastern time By Jesus Jiménez I moved to Los Angeles from New York less than a month ago to help report on Southern California. It's been taking some time to settle in and adapt to my new home. I still miss my old neighborhood in Queens — the fruit stand around the corner, the cast of characters on my subway ride to work, the bodegas down the street. My new neighborhood doesn't have a fruit stand, and I drive to work now. But the Los Angeles I've started to discover, and appreciate, is a city reeling from disaster. It's hard to get to know a place when that place is in crisis. But a city can reveal its true self in such times. On Sunday morning, I visited Friendship Pasadena Church. Before I could tell several churchgoers I was there as a reporter, I was quickly and warmly welcomed, and offered water, coffee and doughnuts. The people at Friendship Pasadena have been hit hard by the Eaton fire. At least 15 families who go to the church lost their homes. Others had to evacuate or know someone whose home was destroyed. And yet they still had so much to offer me, a total stranger. It may take more time to get used to living here, but this past week taught me the meaning of home. It's more than a physical space. It's people. Today's Top Story The Terrifying Ride of Copter 17 A former Army pilot. An aging helicopter. Furious winds. The race to put out the Eaton fire tested Los Angeles County's night-flying firefighters like never before. Read more More California News More Than a Week After the Fires, Los Angeles Evacuees Remain in Limbo Many neighborhoods are still off-limits to residents. Evacuees say they are increasingly frustrated and at a loss over what to do next. In a Fire's Ruins, Signs of a Previous Loss Leave a Family With Seeds of Hope The Carrs have made their life's work honoring the dreams of their precocious son, who died suddenly at 16. They rescued some mementos and others survived when their Altadena home burned to the ground. Los Angeles Fire Chief Faces Calls for Resignation As a disastrous fire continues to burn on the city's west side, some are calling Chief Kristin Crowley to account: Why wasn't the city better prepared? 'Profit Off of My Tragedy': Donation Scams Compound Suffering for Fire Victims Online fund-raisers with stories of loss and desperation have become a symbol of the Los Angeles wildfires' destruction. Officials warned of scammers using them to prey on people's generosity. L.A. Fires Revive Calls for a 'Climate Superfund' Law in California New York and Vermont recently passed laws like these, which require energy companies to pay climate damages and will likely face fierce challenges. 'Stuck on an Island,' Some Residents Insist on Staying in the Fire Zone In fire-scarred Altadena, dozens of people are still living in their homes and surviving without electricity or clean tap water. L.A. Officials Warn of Compromised Drinking Water in Fire-Ravaged Areas "Do not drink" orders have been issued in some areas where damaged pipes that lost pressure might pull in toxic smoke and harmful chemicals that could linger in the system for years. They Escaped the Wildfires. Now, They're Facing Personal Costs Evacuating a disaster is often the lifesaving choice, but it comes with short-term costs to address immediate needs and incalculable personal and financial tolls in the future. 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 Kelly Marshall for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Samantha Seneviratne. Kung Pao Tofu  By Ham El-Waylly 1 hour Makes 3 to 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