Could the L.A. Fires Have Been Stopped Sooner?

The Daily

The New York Times

Daily News, News

4.4 • 102.1K Ratings

🗓️ 14 January 2025

⏱️ 39 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

A week after fires broke out in the Los Angeles area, Californians are grappling with the widespread destruction. They’re also seeking answers from their leaders about why so much has been lost. Mike Baker and Christopher Flavelle, who have been covering the fires, discuss the authorities’ response and whether some of the devastation could have been avoided.

Transcript

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0:00.0	From the New York Times, I'm Natalie Ketroweth, and this is The Daily.
0:10.5	As wildfires ravaged Southern California for a seventh straight day, residents are seeking
0:16.1	answers about why so much has been lost, and whether their government could have done more to protect them.
0:23.6	Today, my colleagues
0:25.0	Mike Baker and Chris Flevel
0:26.7	on the response so far
0:28.2	and whether some of the devastation
0:30.8	could have been avoided.
0:36.9	It's Tuesday, January 14th.
0:39.5	Hello, 12th.
0:52.7	Help!
0:53.6	Help! Help! Help!
0:59.0	I'm right here.
1:02.0	You need a little water.
1:07.0	In the day since the fire started, a bleak picture has emerged of the extent of the damage they caused.
1:13.3	My family and I just lost our home here that we grew up in.
1:18.0	It's very, very hard.
1:19.9	It's hard not to cry.
1:21.7	As you can see, there's nothing left, and I've been here for about an hour and a half, and I don't want to leave.
1:28.0	It's home.
1:29.2	I'm like, man, how much can one guy take?
1:31.5	People tell me to be strong.
	...

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