Broadband's Role in the Los Angeles Fires Response and Recovery Efforts

On January 7, 2025, fires erupted across the city of Los Angeles, California. The Eaton Fire burned through the eastern side of the city, burning through the Altadena, Pasadena and Sierra Madre communities and causing 18 deaths, destroying 9,400 structures, and scorching 14,000 acres of land. In the west, the Palisades Fire led to twelve deaths, destroyed over 6,000 structures, and covered over 23,000 acres in the Pacific Palisades, Topanga and Malibu. The Hurst, Kenneth and Hughes fires also burned through parts of northwestern and central LA. The Eaton and Palisades fires are the second and third-most dangerous fires in California’s lengthy wildfire history. Each burned for 24 days. By the end of January, almost 13,000 households were displaced by the Eaton and Palisades fires alone. When the fires first began, the State of California and the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) jumped into action, providing Los Angeles residents with up-to-date information on the fires and active recovery efforts. The state and federal recovery plans span countless priorities, from housing to healthcare to education. Recovery includes establishing and maintaining emergency communications networks and ensuring that all displaced households have access to online services as they deal with the aftermath of these disasters. Undoubtedly necessary to these response and recovery efforts is the role of broadband.