Los Angeles, Baby — You Were Always Going to Be Okay

Captured on iPhone yesterday evening in the golden glow of Los Angeles, California, Mitchell Royel frames a moment that feels both intimate and electric. Against this vivid backdrop, we’re immersed in the sounds of Terror Jr’s “3 Strikes” and “Fourth Strike,” the perfect soundtrack to the city’s rhythm as day fades into night.

Okay, let me be real with you for a second. I've been thinking about Los Angeles a lot lately. And look — that city stays in the headlines. Crashes, drama, the whole circus. It never really slows down out there. But when I say nothing prepared us for January 2025? I mean that with my whole chest. The wildfires that swept through LA that month were something else entirely. So let's talk about it — because some moments deserve more than a scroll-past.

Here's How It All Went Down

Let me give you the timeline, nice and clean.

January 7, 2025 — The Palisades Fire starts. It kicked off around 10:30 in the morning in Pacific Palisades. The Santa Ana winds were in rare form that day — whipping fast and showing zero mercy. Within hours, people were grabbing what they could and getting out.

Same day — The Eaton Fire shows up. Because apparently one wasn't enough. The Eaton Fire broke out near Altadena and Pasadena, and suddenly LA was fighting two massive blazes at once. The kind of day that stops a whole city in its tracks.

The days that followed — Just devastating. These weren't small fires. We're talking neighborhoods gone. Homes people spent their whole lives building, reduced to nothing. Schools, churches, local spots people loved — all of it. Thousands of structures lost across both fires.

The toll. At least 25 people lost their lives. Twenty-five. I don't gloss over that. Those were real people — with families, plans, whole worlds of their own. That part will never be light.

The fight back. Firefighters gave everything they had for weeks. They didn't quit. Crews poured in from all over the state, all over the country, to stand beside them. Day after day, they held the line.

January 25, 2025 — The exhale. By this point, things were starting to shift. Containment was climbing. Some evacuation orders were lifting. People were slowly making their way back — some to their homes, some to where their homes used to be. It wasn't over, but it was the first real moment LA could look up instead of just running.

What I Actually Think

Here's the thing about moments like this — they peel everything back. All the noise falls away, and you see what people are actually made of. And what I saw from Los Angeles? People showing up for each other without being asked. Strangers bringing food. Neighbors helping neighbors get out safe. That quiet, stubborn goodness that doesn't make it onto the highlight reel but keeps a city alive.

Were there things that could've gone differently? Sure. There always are. But I'd rather sit with the image of people choosing to show up than spend energy on the blame game. That part can wait.

For Los Angeles

Here's what I want you to know, LA.

You took a real hit. You grieved hard, and you're still grieving. Some of what was lost can't be replaced — and it's okay to sit with that for as long as you need to.

But here's what I also know: you're still here. Still breathing. Still finding ways to be beautiful even in the places that got burned down to the ground. You always find a way to come back — not the same, but something new. Something that remembers what it went through and keeps going anyway.

That's the whole thing, isn't it? You don't have to pretend it didn't hurt. You just have to decide what comes next.

To everyone who lost someone — I'm so sorry. To everyone starting over — you're not starting from zero, you're starting from everything you already survived. And to LA herself — you don't need to rush it. Just keep going.

We see you. We're with you. And while we hold space for healing, let's also do our part to make sure fewer people ever have to live through this again.

Let's Talk About Getting Ready — For Real This Time

Okay. Deep breath. This is the part where I get a little practical with you, and I hope you'll stick with me, because it matters more than almost anything else I could say.

Here's the truth nobody loves hearing: fire doesn't wait for you to feel ready. It doesn't send a calendar invite. When the winds pick up and the air goes dry, things can move faster than you'd ever believe. I've heard people say they had minutes — not hours, minutes — to grab what they could and run. So the work of getting ready? That happens now. On a normal, boring Tuesday when nothing's wrong. Not when the sky turns orange.

I want to walk you through this like I'd walk a friend through it. No lectures. Just the stuff that actually helps.

Give Your Home Room to Breathe

Let's start with defensible space, because this one's huge. The idea is simple: create a buffer between your home and anything that can burn. Fire feeds on fuel — dry grass, dead brush, stacked wood, overgrown shrubs. The more of that you clear away, the harder you make it for flames to reach your walls.

Aim for at least 100 feet of managed space around your home if you can. Break it into zones. The first zone — the five feet closest to your house — should be the cleanest. No wood mulch right against the walls. No dead plants. No firewood leaning on the siding. Think gravel, stone, well-watered plants, bare dirt.

Then work your way out. Trim tree branches so they don't hang over the roof. Keep them well clear of your chimney. Prune the lower limbs so a ground fire can't climb up into the canopy. Rake up the dead leaves and pine needles that pile up in corners and gutters. I know it sounds like a lot of yard work, and honestly, it kind of is. But every bit you clear is one less thing handing the fire a path to your front door.

Harden the House Itself

Here's something I didn't fully understand until I started reading about it: most homes don't catch fire from a wall of flame rolling in. They catch from embers. Tiny burning bits of wind-carried debris that land in the wrong spot and smolder until they take hold. Sometimes those embers travel a mile or more ahead of the fire.

So you want to close off every little opening where an ember could sneak in. Cover vents with fine metal mesh so embers can't blow inside your attic or crawlspace. Clean your gutters and roof — dry leaves up there are basically kindling waiting for a match. If you're ever replacing your roof, siding, or deck, choose fire-resistant materials. Class A roofing, tempered glass windows, non-combustible siding. Weather-strip your garage door so embers can't slip underneath.

You don't have to do all of it at once. Nobody's asking you to renovate overnight. But when something's due for repair or replacement, make the fire-smart choice. Those small upgrades add up into a house that has a real fighting chance.

Landscape With Fire in Mind

The plants around your home can either protect you or feed the flames. Some greenery is naturally more fire-resistant — plants with high moisture content that don't build up a lot of dead, oily material. Space your plantings out so fire can't hop easily from one to the next. Keep everything watered and trimmed during dry season.

And please, watch what you store outside. Propane tanks, gas cans, patio cushions, doormats — anything flammable sitting close to the house is a risk. Move it, store it properly, or keep it well away from the walls. Little things. But little things are what this whole game comes down to.

Build a Go-Bag — And Keep It By the Door

If you take one thing from all of this, let it be this: have a bag packed and ready before you need it.

When you've got minutes to leave, you do not want to be digging through drawers for your passport or your medication. Pack it now, put it somewhere you can grab it in the dark, and check it a couple times a year.

Here's what goes in it: important documents — IDs, insurance papers, deeds, copies of prescriptions. Cash, because card readers go down when the power does. Any medications you can't skip. Phone chargers and a backup battery. Water and some non-perishable snacks. A flashlight. A change of clothes and something warm. And don't forget the ones who depend on you completely — pet food, a leash, a carrier. If you've got kids, tuck in a small comfort item too. It helps more than you'd think.

Keep a list taped inside the bag of the last-minute things you'll want to grab if there's time — laptop, family photos, that one irreplaceable thing. When your brain's in panic mode, a list does the thinking for you.

Make a Plan Everyone Actually Knows

A plan that only lives in your head isn't a plan. Sit down with the people you live with and talk it through. How do you get out? What are your two ways out of the neighborhood, in case one road is blocked? Where do you meet up if you get separated? Who's the out-of-town person everybody checks in with?

Practice it. Yeah, I mean actually run through it. Know how to shut off your gas and power. Figure out ahead of time how you'll help anyone who can't move fast on their own — an older neighbor, a family member with mobility needs, the pets. When you've walked through it once while calm, your body remembers what to do when you're not.

Know Your Risk Days and Get the Alerts

Pay attention to red flag warnings. When the forecast calls for high winds and low humidity, that's the fire danger flashing bright red. On those days, skip anything with a spark — no outdoor burning, no equipment throwing off heat, extra care with everything. Keep your car fueled and your bag by the door. Stay tuned in.

And sign up for your local emergency alerts. Every city and county has a system, and it's usually free. Register your phone. Turn on wireless emergency alerts. Follow your fire department and local officials on whatever app you actually check. In a fast-moving fire, knowing early can be the whole difference between a calm exit and a terrifying scramble.

None of Us Get Through This Alone

Preparedness isn't just a solo project. Check on your neighbors — especially the older folks and anyone who might struggle to leave quickly. Swap phone numbers. Know who's on your street and who might need a hand. A prepared block is safer than a prepared house standing alone.

Get involved where you can. A lot of communities have programs that help you plan and clear brush together. And if you ever see something off — someone acting strange near open land, or setting anything alight where they shouldn't — report it right away. Arson is a crime, and early eyes save lives. You're not overreacting. You're looking out for everyone.

Look, I know that's a lot. You don't have to do it all today. Pick one thing this week. Pack the bag. Clean the gutters. Sign up for alerts. Then pick the next thing. That's how it gets done — one small, stubborn act of love at a time.

Because that's what this really is. Love doesn't just show up in words — it shows up in the small, smart choices we make every single day to protect each other.

With love,
Mitchell Royel