A Community Levelled by Flames
A charred car sits amidst the ruins of the Pacific Palisades neighbourhood, a stark monument to one of the several major wildfires that terrorised Los Angeles earlier this year. This single image, captured by David Levene for The Guardian, encapsulates the devastation that swept through western Los Angeles, turning vibrant communities into barren wasteland.
The Stark Statistics of Destruction
The Pacific Palisades fire has been recorded as the most destructive wildfire in Los Angeles history. The catastrophic event claimed the lives of 12 people and razed more than 6,800 structures to the ground. The scale of the destruction is almost incomprehensible, leaving vast swathes of the region unrecognisable and countless residents displaced.
Facing the Festive Season Amidst the Ashes
As the holiday season approaches, The Guardian is reaching out to those whose lives were irrevocably changed by the flames. We wish to speak with people who lost their homes in the wildfire to understand how they are preparing for the holidays under such extraordinary circumstances.
Are you still displaced from your home? If so, where will you spend the holidays this year? Will you be staying with friends or family? How is your approach to the festive period different now? We want to hear about your experiences and feelings as you navigate this challenging time.
You can share your story with us anonymously if you prefer. We are committed to handling your data responsibly and will delete any personal information when it is no longer needed for this feature.
