@gbs I am so sorry you went through that unimaginable loss but incredible no one one was harmed including fur babies. 100% agree with each of your points. We all hold onto things for a variety of reasons. For those of us with a little too much in our closets, we can donate knowing that the things we love are being repurposed and appreciated.
Side note on storage. I use mason jars and a vacuum sealer that attaches to the top of the jar. Everything stays fresh 3x as long and the jars and lids are all reusable.
The Pacific Palisades fire MAY have been caused by the re-ignition of an old fire, according to a Washington Post analysis of images, radio communications and witness interviews. Firefighters had put out the old fire six days before the Palisades fire started. Residents believe that one was caused by New Year's Eve fireworks. Then, the Palisades fire appeared to start from the same spot.
About 30 minutes after the Palisades Fire started on Tuesday, the firefighters’ radio crackled: The flames were coming from a familiar sliver of a mountain ridge.
“The foot of the fire started real close to where the last fire was on New Year’s Eve,” said a Los Angeles County firefighter, according to a Washington Post review of archived radio transmissions.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2025/01/12/palisades-fire-origin-new-years-eve-fire/
Want a great and story about a man whose dog went missing during the Pacific Palisades fire?
This is the one you want to watch. With SOUND ON!
When the fire broke out, the man raced home from work to retrieve his dogs but was stopped by firefighters from entering the neighborhood. While he wasn't allowed in, the firefighters decided go to his house and were able to rescue one of his dogs but the other, Oreo, escaped during the attempted rescue.
The man's house burnt down and he was desperate to find Oreo who was eventually spotted near his old home by a neighbor.
Their reunification is like nothing I have ever seen.
https://www.nbcnews.com/video/man-reunites-with-missing-dog-oreo-after-palisades-fire-229092421646
@theungamer I am an Angelino and the amount of outpouring of help has been immense and emotional, to say the least. May we shine a light on what the world can accomplish if we work together rather that be divided.
As I was collecting a few things to evacuate myself and my cat, I was struck by how much “stuff” I have and how in a moment like that it was easy to decide what was most important. Definitely enlightened me on the fact I need to consume less. (I was only evacuated for one night due to the Subset fire and back home and safe)
@lyndsayt Am happy you and kitty are safe. I'm in and out of LA periodically. The food and restaurants in the area are amazing and the people are incredibly friendly and they chat. A lot of those restaurants are supporting the effort.
Thank you for your post, @cc21, and thank you for your second post, @light, that humans are living excessively, i.e., off the charts.
I also studied the Chinese five elements and agree with all but the suggestion that anger caused the LA lands to spontaneously combust. (I think you did not mean it that way.) Your mention of human excess is true. Especially greed, caused fossil fuel companies and their paid-off politicians to fuel people's beliefs that they could burn fossil fuels forever without consequences for the earth.
It's tragic and yes these are dark times, and once humans suffer enough, they will change, and revere the earth, and we will see a golden age. Humans are addicted to fossil fuels, and we have to wonder how far this addiction will cause us to crash before we end it.
Because climate change from burning fossil fuel is the undisputed cause of these extraordinary fires. And make no mistake, this and much worse is coming.
The most loving response I can have from these fires aside from sending all my love and care and help to the angelenos, is to work on bringing our carbon footprint to zero. Don't buy stuff. Eat sustainably. Use alternate means to fuel your home. Get an EV car or ride a bike to get around. That is my prayer. That is my love song to the angelenos, to humanity and the earth - we hear you, dear earth. We will do better.
@jeanne-mayell The LA fires did not 'spontaneously combust' due to humanity's anger. I'm sorry that I wasn't clear.
Mother Earth is reacting to our negative karma with winds to stir up and spread the fires that are out of control causing unprecedented damage.
Our karma has manifested the out of control fires. I wasn't referring to 'how' the fires started, but WHY the fires are out of control. This has never happened before.
I think my time is up here. Thank you.
@anya Thank you for mentioning the Red Cross! I manage blood drives for them and the things we need most right now are monetary donations, volunteers and blood donations.
Being on the ground here in LA we have lost many, many blood drives and sponsors who have future drives planned that no longer have their facilities. Every 2 seconds in the US someone needs blood so keeping the blood supply stable is imperative and Los Angeles houses one of the nations largest blood donor base.
We are recommending to donate physical items to other places where you can as we can’t take them. YMCA of Los Angeles has been making a huge difference with creating community hubs for this! One of my partners, The Magic Castle is a place for donation and hosting a community hub tomorrow for people to eat and have a place to meet and pick up items (Tuesday 1/14).