Small tears formed in Michelle Leon’s eyes as she talked about the many lost homes Monday after fires burned for nearly a week across Los Angeles County.

Community members and public officials criticized Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass’ approach to recent fires.
Bass signed off on the city’s nearly $13 billion 2024-2025 budget in June.

This post was updated Jan. 12 at 11:25 p.m.
The federal government is racing to fund recovery efforts as wildfires ravage Los Angeles.
Since Tuesday, fires in the region have burned over 40,000 acres of land and destroyed over 12,000 structures, leaving thousands without homes and in need of assistance.

This post was updated Jan. 12 at 11:34 p.m.
When Farinaz Pirshirazi served the customers in her restaurant Tuesday, she found some of them in their pajamas.

This post was updated Jan. 12 at 9:01 p.m.
After hearing from a neighbor that his family’s Altadena home had burned down, Zion Berry knew he had to see it for himself. 
He drove to his home of over 12 years Wednesday after his neighborhood had been destroyed by the Altadena fire, which started near Pasadena and Altadena on Tuesday and has since claimed over 14,000 acres. 
While driving and walking through his hometown, the first-year music performance student said he saw power lines on fire, street signs missing and chimneys with no houses left standing, including his own.

This post was updated Jan. 12 at 8:58 p.m.
UCLA Health hospitals have treated about 30 individuals with injuries related to ongoing wildfires in Los Angeles County.

This post was updated Jan. 12 at 11:49 p.m.
Students raised over $15,000 to support a chemistry senior lecturer who lost his home to the Los Angeles County wildfires. 
Laurence Lavelle announced in a Thursday classwide email that he lost his home, adding that the only clothes he owns are the ones he wore to work the previous day.