It’s been a year of heartbreak and chronic worry since the most destructive wildfires in the Los Angeles area’s history scorched neighborhoods and displaced tens of thousands of people. The two blazes that ignited during fierce winds on Jan. 7, 2025, killed 30 people and destroyed nearly 17,000 structures, including homes, schools, businesses and places of worship. Rebuilding will take years. People whose homes were left standing are still living with the hazards, including new trauma for those afraid of what still lurks inside. A crowdsourced data effort by Altadena residents has found many homes still standing remain unsafe.
