It’s been hard to focus this week.
And it’s been much harder on my friends and colleagues who still live in Los Angeles.
I’ve heard from a few that have lost their homes, part of the mind-numbing 10,000 structures that have burned so far. And I know some of you I haven’t touched based with are in the same unthinkable situation.
This week has reminded me of being in NYC on 9/11, though not in the midst of it. Having lived in Los Angeles for 11 years, having spent so much time hiking and cycling in Temescal Canyon, Topanga, Dirt Mulholland, and nearly every canyon that connects Los Angeles to the Valley and Malibu, having a number of friends whose houses I spent time at in Pacific Palisades, and having considered moving to Altadena before ending up in Portland, this still feels all too close.
Earlier this week, I realized how grateful I am that 9/11 happened before social media. While I value seeing the footage from friends online, knowing they’re safe even if their property and belongings are not, the level of dissonance from those outside Los Angeles—and even some who live there, just well out of harm’s way—has been soul-crushing.
The very day the fires started, wellness influencers began selling “detoxes” from wildfire smoke. The idea that anyone would try to capitalize on disaster is numbing.
Then there’s an entire right-wing media operation, fueled by the incoming president and his Project 2025 pick-mes, citing a lack of regulations as the reason for these wildfires and the challenges firefighters have faced. Ironic, given that they’re set to be part of the most deregulatory administration in our nation’s history. These are the same people who, for years, have lambasted California for having too many regulations.
Opportunism never ceases for some.
Postmortems will be necessary to strengthen the region’s response for future fires, which sadly are inevitable. We’ll need politicians to protect against shock doctrine tactics, when private venture moves in to scoop up land cheap and flip it for a profit. And, of course, we have to stop pretending climate change isn’t destroying our planet—and, importantly, figure out how to manage our new reality.
All of these and more will have to be faced. But right now, as the Santa Ana winds pick back up today and the Palisades Fire (6% containment) continues to grow, and the Eaton Fire (0% containment) could spread further, we—those of us outside the danger zones—need to ask ourselves:
How would we feel if that was our home?
Is what I’m doing right now helpful to the people who’ve lost everything, or am I just trying to benefit from tragedy?
If you have the means to help, the Red Cross is on the ground in Los Angeles. If you’d prefer to help individuals, here’s the Eaton Fire (LA) BIPOC Support & Donations Tracker. The excellent nonprofit World Central Kitchen is also on the ground as well.
In your opinion, what has been worse between Los Angeles 1992 riots and Los Angeles 2024 wildfire?