Photo Essay — Unimaginable Damage: The L.A. Fire in Photos 

By Solomon O. Smith | California Black Media 

1. Fire crews walk past the ashes of a home and an open gas leak. Altadena, Calif. Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025. Photo by Solomon O. Smith

• For many in Altadena, staying in their homes meant keeping the flames from their neighbors’ house from spreading. That process required a mix of wit and diligence — and consistent watering with garden hoses. Altadena, Calif. Wednesday, Jan.  8, 2025. Photo by Solomon O. Smith

• A mailbox and a citrus tree in blossom are among a few recognizable remains on this severely damaged property. Altadena, Calif.  Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025. Photo by Solomon O. Smith

• A firefighter walks back to the truck as another crewmember uses a shovel to put out a relatively small fire. Altadena, Calif. Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025. Photo by Solomon O. Smith

• A sign marking a neighborhood corner remains standing beneath a smoke-filled sky and amid falling ashes. Altadena, Calif. Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025. Photo by Solomon O. Smith

• A view of the interior of a burned structure. Altadena, Calif. Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025. Photo by Solomon O. Smith

• A man stands at what was once the front porch of his home still decorated for Christmas. Many families have returned to sift through the ashes of their homes and recover what they could. Altadena, Calif. Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025. Photo by Solomon O. Smith

• Firefighters doused a downed transformer. Although it had been disconnected from a power source, the chemicals and caustic smoke remained dangerous. Altadena, Calif. Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025. Photo by Solomon O. Smith

• A lone staircase and a scalloped wall are all that remain of a residence. The Eaton Fire burned down an estimated 200-500 structures. Altadena, Calif. Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025. Photo by Solomon O. Smith

1. Waiting patiently, a fire crew watches for sparks from a downed transformer. Altadena, Calif. Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025. Photo by Solomon O. Smith

1. The blue flames of a gas leak can be seen in the remains of a structure fire. These leaks were a threat – and major worry — for nearby homeowners with unaffected homes worried about explosions or embers. Altadena, Calif. Wednesday, January 8, 2025. Photo by Solomon O. Smith

1. A home burned to the ground continues to smolder. Many of the structures that had already burned helped to spread the fires to other homes. Altadena, Calif. Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025. Photo by Solomon O. Smith

1. Trees and bushes in or near yards were typically the first to catch fire before the blazes spread to homes.  Altadena, Calif. Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025. Photo by Solomon O. Smith

1. An abandoned car sits near a burning garage and the remains of an attached home. Many people relocated based on evacuation orders and returned to find little remaining of their homes. Altadena, Calif. Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025. Photo by Solomon O. Smith

1. Firefighters look for a gas main and inspect for flare ups. Shutting off the gas and putting out flames in homes already damaged saved many others that escaped the fire. Altadena, Calif. Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025. Photo by Solomon O. Smith