California Today: Los Angeles Had Substandard Hydrants Near Devastating Fire’s Starting Point

Today's top stories from California.

February 4, 2025, 9:31 a.m. Eastern time By Adam Nagourney The streets above Sunset Boulevard in Pacific Palisades, once lined with homes, are now fields of rubble. A light haze of smoke hung in the air the other day. A huge American flag was affixed to the burned-out remnant of a home overlooking the boulevard. It was disconcertingly quiet; except for the crews working to restore power and the occasional fire truck, the streets, blocked off on this day by police and National Guard cordons, were deserted. It reminded me of another disaster that took place less than a mile from where I lived more than 20 years ago: the attacks that destroyed the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001. The piles of rubble, the haze, the workers and the firefighters, the American flags, the mournful silence. In some ways, Sept. 11 stands alone as an American catastrophe. Nearly 3,000 people died that day in Lower Manhattan. The terror attacks reshaped America's place in the world, and transformed our airports and our homeland security system. It is one of the reasons the nation went to war in Iraq. But the tragedies in Los Angeles and Manhattan left scars on the landscape and psyche of America's two biggest cities. Sept. 11 is a before-and-after time stamp for New York City. The fires in Los Angeles seem likely to become the same kind of marker in time. In the days after the attacks in New York, there was speculation about whether downtown Manhattan, covered in dust, blocked off by police barricades, a graveyard for thousands, would ever rise again. The same questions are being asked now about the Palisades and Altadena. Will people build again or just head someplace else? The patch of southern Manhattan that seemed so desolate in 2001 is today a neighborhood of soaring office buildings, memorials, a museum and a transit center. What was once the target of a terrorism attack is now a destination, and a stirring one at that. When I walked around there a few weeks ago, it was filled with people. It's a testimony to urban resilience and recovery. And it's a lesson and an inspiration for Los Angeles in the difficult years ahead. Today's Top Story Erin Schaff/The New York Times Los Angeles Had Substandard Hydrants Near Devastating Fire's Starting Point The Palisades fire first took hold in a neighborhood where many hydrants had only a single small outlet for firefighters to use. Read more More California News Downpours, Road Closures and Mountain Snow: Enduring a Week of Powerful Storms Skiers may delight in the snow forecast, but the latest in a series of atmospheric rivers threatens to bring flooding and mudslides to California. The University of California Increased Diversity. Now It's Being Sued. The state's elite campuses, prohibited from using race-based admissions for decades, are now admitting more Black and Hispanic students. A new group is suing, arguing the university system is cheating. State Farm Seeks an Urgent Increase in California Rates After Fires The company asked state regulators to approve a 22 percent increase on average. Pacific Coast Highway Reopens Nearly 4 Weeks After Devastating Fire The stretch of the highway along the Pacific Ocean between Santa Monica and Malibu reopened to regular traffic. Some local officials believe it is too soon. Best and Worst Moments From the 2025 Grammys Doechii and Chappell Roan brought dramatic performances and heartfelt speeches, new artists stole the spotlight and men took a back seat at the 67th annual awards. He Went to Jail for Stealing Someone's Identity. But It Was His All Along. A decades-long theft of a man's identity raised questions about who gets believed in the justice system, and what happens when your name is taken. Idina Menzel Played Elphaba and Elsa. Now She's Going Out on a Limb. Menzel, a fan favorite since "Rent," is back on Broadway in "Redwood," and this time she's climbing conifers. What It Will Take to Clean Up Properties After the L.A. Fires Many fire victims are eager to clear their home sites and move on to rebuilding. The big question is when. Today's Extreme Weather CITY RISK TYPES San Jose Excessive rain San Francisco Excessive rain Sacramento Excessive rain Stockton Excessive rain Risk Some High View detailed forecast Get separate alerts for your own places 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 Christopher Testani for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Simon Andrews. 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