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On Tuesday, January 7, 2025, a rapid wildfire broke out in Los Angeles, California. Seven different wildfires broke out, all within 48 hours. 10 people died and 10K structures burned.
The Bunny Museum, dedicated to all things bunnies, most known for their Guinness World Record, fell victim to the wildfires. Reality TV star, Paris Hilton watched in horror alongside others as her Malibu house burned down on TV. Sunset Boulevard, the famous 1.7-mile strip between Hollywood and West Hollywood has also burned down. Sunset Boulevard has been reported to be in ruins since Wednesday, January 8.
Pasadena Unified School has suffered severe fire damage. At this moment, at least 70% of the campus has survived. Palisades Charter High School and Palisades Charter Elementary School have also suffered severe fire damage. Palisades High School is most known as the school from, “Freaky Friday” and the school from, “Carrie”. The football field and many of the building’s structures were affected.
Palisades Student: Nico Troedsson ’25
Palisades Charter High School student Nico Troedsson ‘25 shares his experience on the challenges of returning to normalcy.
“Right now, a return to normalcy does not seem feasible in the near future. The gym I go to? Gone. My favorite Indian place? Gone. A third of my school? Gone. This is my senior year, and I have just finished my college applications. I was looking forward to a freer schedule this semester to do so many things,” Troedsson said.
Troedsson also shares a piece of advice to others going through similar experiences.
“Lean on the people around you–your family, friends and community. Do not be afraid to ask for help or just let someone know how you are feeling. You do not have to go through this alone, and even the small moments of support can make a huge difference,” Troedsson said.
Due to the severity of these fires, the Oregon Government has announced they set out 15 firefighting crews to help fight the wildfires. 300 firefighters and 75 engines have been sent down to Southern California.
