‘Devastating’: Wildfire ravages historic Black community in Los Angeles

In Altadena, California, a community rallies together to respond to deadly wildfires, despite widespread property loss.

Los Angeles, California – Bill Threadgill picked through the ashes of his home in Altadena, California, where he lived for 15 years, pulling out copper pipes and setting them aside to sell.

Only his chimney and two porch pillars remained standing, but nothing else. A wildfire had burned the whole structure to the ground.

Even before flames swept through the area, his family had struggled to make ends meet. “We’ve been stretched financially,” Threadgill, a handyman and caregiver, said through his N95 face mask.

On January 7, the Eaton Fire ignited in the nearby mountains, forcing thousands of residents to evacuate. Fanned by hurricane-force winds, the fire damaged or destroyed more than 5,700 structures and killed at least 16 people.

It was one of a series of blazes that tore through the Los Angeles area over the last week and a half, intensified by climate change. All told, nearly 12,000 buildings have been consumed, and 25 people killed.