Part of The Bird on Fire’s What’s in the News

By Blogger Max Pretorius

Over a year ago, on the seventh of January, 2025, Southern California was shocked as Los Angeles was consumed by fire. By the time the dust settled on the 30th of January, according to The LA Times, an estimated 31 people died with an estimated damage cost of $250 billion, and, according to NBC News, 13,000 homes were destroyed. 

A year later, we still see the effects of the fire. Despite a year having passed, according to NBC news, “fewer than a dozen homes have been rebuilt in Los Angeles County since Jan. 7, 2025.” Furthermore, NPR’s Capradio states that “insurance companies have paid $22.4 billion of the expected $40 billion in total claims from the L.A. fires.” We hope that in the future, LA can finally be rebuilt and that people can return to their homes.