The devastating 2025 LA wildfires that blazed through multiple neighborhoods in Los Angeles County including Palisades, Pasadena, Altadena, and Malibu have created a surprising but comforting sense of community among people from far and near.
When talking to Alex Castillo, police officer for the Los Angeles Port Police Department, he said, “Despite destruction and devastation from the SoCal FIRES the communities came together and have continued to assist each other with vital needs. Besides the local community members there’s been assistance from across the State of California.” All of the fires are now currently 100% contained.
Social media has connected people in multiple ways trying to help fellow Angelenos in this situation people are using social media platforms to spread information about the fires, and people have also been fundraising on social media as well. This tragedy is bringing all of LA County closer together as they support one another during this difficult time trying to stay positive.
In LA on Jan. 30, 2025, FireAid hosted two concerts at two different locations to fundraise for rebuilding the communities that got affected by the fires. Taking place at the Intuit Dome and the Forum, these concerts brought together the city for a night of music and support. To read more about the FireAid Benefit concert, read Ian Henriquez’s story here.
The Palisades fire burned more than 20,000 acres of land including part of their local high school Palisades Charter High School. No students were hurt by the fire at their high school since none were at the high school when the fire started. Students are currently doing virtual learning and according to their Instagram the Palisades relocation team are making final arrangements to secure an alternate location for now and are hoping to be back on campus in the fall of 2025. Pali High School hopes to have their class of 2025 graduation on their home football field which was one of the least impacted areas of their school.
Castillo added, “The communities have become closer because they are in the same uphill battle of rebuilding their neighborhood,” he was part of the team helping homeowners identify their homes and what was left of them and assisting with locking down neighborhoods in the evacuation zones. As a first responder, he also saw the way our community has helped one another.
LA County is slowly rebuilding from all the effects of the fires with the support of all Angelenos, people outside of the county, and all around the world. We’re thankful for all the first responders that contributed to putting out the fires and helping people regroup afterwards.
