Untold Stories of L.A. Fires: Incarcerated Firefighters, Black Altadena & Octavia Butler's Warning

[@ROZ-y8v]

The Navajo Nation (U.S.Navajo Indigenious) also sent their firefighters last week🙏

[@carolutley6523]

Thank you all. Sending love to our Navajo Nation ❤

♥

[@Seven-Planets-Sci-Fi-Tuber]

💚

[@gregpendrey6711]

❤agreed❤

[@fuckbankers]

Free Leonard Peltier.

[@eastern2western]

If insurance companies cancelling insurance contracts is not sign of immediate disaster, i do not know what else is.

[@pjaro77]

I would say that uncontrolled building of residential suburbans full of wooden houses in seasonaly drying chaparral biome almost without fire lakes is recipe for catastrophe.

[@helenclark7876]

Houses shouldnt be built from wood, go build em out of clay or rocks. These substances wont burn nez pa?

[@talleman1]

Those people paid for decades for policies then that money was stolen by insurance companies. It is a scam.

[@pjaro77]

@@helenclark7876 Medditeranean area in europe is also prone to wild fires and typical architecture there are rock or concrete based houses.

[@MrReymoclif714]

@@pjaro77They ran out of trees centuries ago. Think about how many thousands of years they have been living there?

[@tothelighthouse9843]

I learned so much from this broadcast, Amy, thank you for covering stories that continue to be ignored despite HUNDREDS of hours of coverage from mainstream & rightwing media. I didn't even know Altadena was a historically Black community. These fires--like the flooding in New Orleans--will have a devastating effect on Black people who've been creating community together for generations. Such a terrible loss, & no doubt that climate change hits Black & poor communities hardest. That 2005 interview you did with Octavia Butler before her death is a precious historical document, Amy. I've watched it several times--I'm in awe of Octavia Butler's writing & the power of her vision. She literally wrote about a future America with a far-right extremist demagogue becoming US President, LA basically on fire & people having to flee, & companies & investors taking over housing in the US on a vast scale. AND HERE WE ARE!

[@AndreaSimone57]

😮

[@Davidpath9127]

how come they developed bombs that burn a large neighborhood in few seconds and they do not develop a SAFE way to extinguish a large fire in few seconds.

[@MH-st6vk]

Search up Japans fire hoses on their homes… they are innovative and ahead of these times.. wish we had something similar

[@meanderinoranges]

This has always, always, always been the truth: it's easier to destroy than to build. It's literally one of the biggest reasons why the right opposes the left.

[@meanderinoranges]

Because it would need all oxygen removed. Every living thing, other than anaerobic bacteria, would die.

[@freyahmartell]

So true

[@DaveATKIN]

There's a scandal just getting underway here in the UK over the production of fire-retardent materials. Turns out that there are noticeable spikes in the incidence of cancer in the communities where these items are produced. So it's one of those Be Careful What You Wish For scenarios; you'd not want one of those factories in your town would you?

[@brendaodowd307]

Thank you Mexico for sending help👏❤

[@nachomom-fk2bi]

Thank you Mexico and Canada for sending help.

[@mcheatle8270]

Canada too.

[@aliciai.9150]

They owe us

[@javierjaime9386]

​@@aliciai.9150 ungrateful..

[@javierjaime9386]

​@@aliciai.9150 ungrateful..

[@Laurentipia5]

I don't remember many specifics, but I watched a documentary once about the Spanish settlers in the LA Valley. It was about how the Native American tribes in the area warned the Spanish not build houses in the valley. They told the Spanish that they don't live there because the area is regularly subjected to forest fires and mudslides. Sometimes decades will go by and nothing happens, but you just don't know when these catastrophes will happen. The Natives warned this causes a false sense of security, but the Spanish settled the LA Valley anyway.

[@LivinCaliforniaMalibu]

I agree with you @Laurentipia5

[@vincentcasados146]

Please supply me source historic links or books. Thanks! 5:58

[@Jonathan-Sund]

The aboriginals in Australia gave similar advice to the “first settlers” in fire prone areas in Australia

[@kriskabin]

Indiginous intelligence: live in small seasonal or nomadic groups. Move on when the area & wildlife becomes depleted so it can recover. Natives practiced controlled, intentional burns to renew an area & to avoid large catastrophic wildfires.

[@pjaro77]

European people typical mentality that time - we will order to wind and rain. And some people trust to it until these days.

[@paul9156c]

It's not just LA. I'm under a Red Flag warning in San Diego County as well. Very high anxiety.

[@mishellymermaidmermaidsfor6291]

Same. I live in Escondido. Lots of dry brush all around us.

[@archiegoodwinjr]

I did not know that. I hope it doesn't come to that.

[@pjaro77]

Do you have in San Diego some fire ponds in residential areas ?

[@swampsprite9]

My house burned down when I was a kid and I've had a fear of fire and it's rapid power ever since. My heart goes out to everyone enduring this.

[@MrReymoclif714]

Escondido. Up in the canyons down past the high school? Lotta older people who’ve lived there forever. It’s not a big renters market!

[@thomasgarrett3397]

Just like Hawaii

[@QuinnOsgood-c9v]

Yep, caused by anthropogenic global warming and fueled by extreme greed

[@methonyHolmes-e8p]

Greece, Spain, Siberia, Canada, even the artic circle had a record wild fire .... But blame the Black woman.

[@KatharinaK117]

Yep....but also: Karma s a beeech. And don't ever blame "climate change"... Maybe use your 🧠

[@pharmerdavid1432]

And it isn't because of a "climate crisis"!

[@user1qaz2wsx3edc]

Hawaii was stolen😂

[@svetlanasannikova6073]

LA County resident here. Thank you @democracynow for always providing actual insight. As much as it has been good to get blow by blow local coverage, it is nice to hear people putting it together beyond blame and build back better. Climate change does not care about your politics. If we get bailed out, it better be after Lahaina and Asheville.

[@TuBez294]

Yeah but No one is talking about the Billionaires who own the water and held the water for themselves, public water that taxpayers pay for. Discuss the real culprits, billionaires, developers want that land where in the Blk community and would do anything to get it. Intentional fires and bombing Blk towns is nothing new, and wouldn’t surprise me. The truth will come out!!

[@brendawiener2630]

I'm glad I live in ohio

[@Speakfordemocracy]

Yes 🙌 My heart goes out to all involved!! The state needs to allow permits and insurance for tiny homes, earth homes, 3d printed homes, (especially for fountains) use less wood!!!

[@azalia423]

I believe you're referring to the res ni ck s.

[@JustJD-m4h]

Billionaires burned their own homes to get blk communities? 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 wow more like mismanagement from LA leadership caused this. Stop making it about race. You’re pathetic

[@deadpanfish]

​@@brendawiener2630isn't that where all the trains keep spilling toxic waste? Yeah good thing.

[@queenbell-moor1055]

Insurance companies also drop thousand of homeowners 10days before this happen How?

[@daleval2182]

Warned my globalists depopulation actor's. The new world order uses crises to control,they build crises then say we have a solution. Watch this play out before our eyes

[@broncoazvideo]

The insurance companies were driven out by state regulation not allowing them to price policies appropriate to the risks in the area. Insurance companies are for profit companies, they aren’t going to continue doing business at a loss.

[@philflip1963]

@@broncoazvideo Someone, (a non-corrupt government?) Needs to look at the books of the insurance companies and decide what is legitimate proffit and what should be the payout policy in extraudinary situations like these.

[@angebrowne1371]

Setup Protect Diddy n TRUMP so no one is busted hence hollywud no.1 PEDOFILE SICKNESS HOLLYWUD N REPUBLIC PARTY CONGRESS ATE PEDOFILES IN BED WITH DIDDY?

[@jutho460]

It was known for decades that these areas were a dangerous place to build homes and that drought and winds might come together one day even without climate change.

[@carolutley6523]

All of us in SoCal are vulnerable to Santa Ana winds and fire. It's like earthquakes. It's a risk of living here

[@gregpendrey6711]

Like building in a frequent lava zone. Not if but when.

[@MrReymoclif714]

@@gregpendrey6711The ‘WHEN’ has arrived.

[@edescalante9356]

The climate change IS the fire.

[@WES-z5m]

Then there's no excuse for the authorities to be so unprepared

[@inspirationalspirituality2690]

Iran sent aid, too, which blows my mind.

[@shey2444]

Iranians are very cultured people. Unfortunately they have been demonised by Israhell and USA so that they can invade and steal their vast resources.

[@donnadeandean2720]

We should be good friends with Iranians. We all need peace

[@nkumaze]

😅

[@greg6509]

Israel did not, because they don't care about us. They just use us.

[@gary100dm]

There are a lot of Iranians in Los Angeles

[@christinaulibarri4777]

Thank you, Ms. Goodman and Democracy Now for covering the California fires. Prayers for safety and thank you to the Californian, Mexican, and Canadian firefighters for your tireless work in fighting the fires.

[@SuperBajafresh]

Please focus on the needs of renters who have been displaced and have no funds to recover from these fires. Set up a fund for them and no reports on celebrities unless they donate to help the renters. How about the pain of renters who loss everything in these fires and no support by celebrities? There is a need to rebuild in these areas by going all Green Building materials and avoid rebuilding on the shoreline of our beaches. Change the tax structure for home owners (reduce since you failed them) and allocate funds to renters to help them relocate and set up a job bank ASAP: Okay rich company and rich people: if you really cared for the people of Los Angeles how about you set up a special nonprofit fund and allocate $20 million dollars to this fund and the mission: To support renters affected by these fires. face-orange-frowningShow us you really care for those who helped you make money; workers who help build your places; mostly hard workers like people of color; many of them renters. And stop bragging and showing off your richness celebrities; Fund for renters is needed ASAP. DO you have a better idea? Do not donate to United way, they take about 20% for their high salaries for their staff and they hardly work at all, cut the salaries of all City/County and state administrators as well in all government services. They make too much money for the little work they hardly do; it's mostly done by their secretaries.

[@Lp78Ch]

Amy is not telling you _why_ the fires were so bad. She's a leftist. Communist. She won't tell you the truth.

[@kazkazimierz1742]

I believe Canada has sent some people to help as well.

[@QuinnOsgood-c9v]

True

[@coxmosia1]

Mexico and South Africa as well.

[@nacarreira777]

They are better neighbors than the US.

[@larsstougaard7097]

I heard Trudeau is there too

[@pjaro77]

What about help from aussies ?

[@muddywaters538]

Shame on the county paying so little to the incarcerated firefighters

[@georgemetesky5519]

It's voluntary 😊

[@jp13119]

@@georgemetesky5519 still, it's a valid point....

[@dianedeck]

They can choose not to it's totally voluntary. They are prisoners, thieves, drug pushers, burglers, and much worse. The money they earn is so they can buy from the prison cafeteria/store. They do not have to earn a living pay bills no rent , no groceries, etc. This is a privilege they earn with good behavior. Stop feeling sorry for criminals and start realizing that this disaster could have been avoided with planning and putting in place the proper equipment and people who would help this be avoided. Climate change is not what is happening its incompetence from the leaders.

[@robertholland7558]

@@georgemetesky5519do they get time of their sentences?

[@steveo2226]

​@@robertholland7558in most cases yes you have to have less than 5 years left on your sentence to go there most sentences are structured 85% time 80% * 50% time for instance once you are endorsed to fire camp and are sent to a camp if you had 50% time your time is now cut to 35% only for the days you spend at camp which Knocks months up to years off of your sentence it is 100 times better than doing time on a prison yard you're fed well you're in the city not stuck in a cell during your time of rehabilitation

[@GreenCanvasInteriorscape]

During an interview that resurfaced in January 2025, Larson made controversial remarks about firefighters’ capabilities. She stated, “Am I able to carry your husband out of a fire? He got himself in the wrong place if I have to carry him out.” These comments have sparked significant backlash and criticism for their perceived lack of empathy towards fire victims. This quote highlights the broader discussion around the expectations and responsibilities of firefighters, as well as the public’s perception of their role in emergency situations.

[@indirahogan8676]

I would like to see Democracy Now cover the role of the Resnicks as it relates to water shortages. There is more to the story of this catastrophe.

[@Katrina-mx2sf]

Exactly 💯, I think so too

[@BADHABIT571]

BWAHAHAHAHA . . . What do you think this is . . . FOX NEWS

[@JayREKA-b9o]

Please don’t investigate the Resnick if you investigate the Reznick where am I gonna pay for my $10 bottle of pomegranate juice and $15 bag of pistachios and $10 bag of tangerines.

[@GregS-em8tn]

And b.s. fiji water

[@kwanchan6745]

another small hatter family exploiting its host

[@kevinwilliams1768]

excllent interview. Blessing to the firefighters who are battling these fires.

[@thanosdoomjuggernaut2846]

She wants to get rid of police and firefighters. What are you talking about?

[@mozart12100]

Those prisoners fall under the exception clause of the 13th Amendment, which puts one back into slavery if convicted of a crime. See “Slaves of the State”, by Dennis Childs.

[@jwells3315]

Treated like crap!! I know!

[@broncoazvideo]

They are prisoners, they owe a debt to society.

[@jb2736]

​@@broncoazvideoAlot if them was set up by the police. We know how they operate.🤔🙄

[@essencefrazier2398]

Who are the prisoners? If they belong to The Most High.....that's asking for it without knowing it. There are People in this World 🌎 under the jurisdiction of The Most High......back off, leave them People alone.........Man don't ask for that kind of ignorance. Can't roll up on People just because they don't mean anything to you ......They mean something to "Created in His Image". Remember that and avoid the Cringe.

[@loopthetube]

Anything predictable is preventable. Gross incompetence.

[@MelanieG3467]

I could not have said it better myself 💯

[@rommadsen6443]

We now have two classes of homeless people. The "regular" or ordinary homeless people and the recently displaced and often well to do homeless. Look at how much help we are willing to offer to these new homeless people, or new unhoused people. Of course it's right that we offer as much help as we can at the time of such a disaster. And at the same time, how is it that we refuse to even look at people who might be poor, who might have mental illnesses? Please let us see and help all of the people who do not have homes.

[@dontnoable]

Yeah absolutely this. It's terrible for everyone there, but somehow so much worse for homeless people and folk who are disabled 😓

[@georgemetesky5519]

Anyone who owns a $40M home, also has other homes elsewhere.😊

[@finnb-anarchy]

The poor unhoused people are necessary for capitalism to continue. of course the ruling class doesnt help them

[@ceeemm1901]

Homeless= Looters......

[@MrJuanjv]

Another thing is, the struggle to survive in LA will now be more 'cut-throat', now that 'wealth' will be competing for the already overly expensive housing.

[@redhotruby6503]

Israel never send help ?? Viva Mexico thank you for your help.send our prayer to LA and new York

[@kpokpojiji]

Iran has offered to help as well.

[@nacarreira777]

NFL and Taylor Swift donated 15 million between them. Musk? Trump? Not one dime.

[@TRICHOMETRIST]

Canada ✅

[@Letsgoplaces_retiredlife]

Israel, the ultimate frienemy.

[@theGoogol]

Musk sent a few cybertrucks, it's just an ad opportunity to the richest man on Earth. You won't hear from Zuckerberg, Bezos, Trump, Musk or any of 'm unless they can blame people with 20/20 hindsight.

[@chrispauls7178]

Millions of dollars of Fire department equipment sat and wasn't repaired because of money. L.A. Fire department and city officials have let the people down.

[@CT-vm4gf]

Nothing would’ve stopped this fire.

[@sheilaconcitis8385]

​@@CT-vm4gfwater and prevention would've absolutely made a big difference. Instead the leaders collect the taxes and go on trips overseas with your tax money.

[@philflip1963]

@@CT-vm4gf Dead Right! Except maybe if everyone had a swimming pool and a high pressure pump!

[@alvaroramos9069]

It's shameful how a wealthy state like California does not have enough firefighters for a crisis.

[@greatedges]

Maybe have a supply of firefighters at the ready as reservists? Can't imagine having the numbers of firefighters needed for this catastrophe in regular day to day fire stations. And please don't forget... we are in the midst of a catastrophe of an unprecidented scale. However the main thing is to address climate change and greed... And people need to demand tough regulations to aid in "life/property" preserving construction and follow regulations up by also limiting areas for habitation.

[@sarahfern7128]

​@@greatedgesCA doesn't like to tax itself. It doesn't support the numbers of paid firefighters per capita in nearly every other state. But why should it when it cashes in on the legal modern slavery of their prison system. Remember when Kamala Harris was attorney general. She refused to allow pardons for minor drug users convicted of disobeying laws no longer in effect? She justified her actions by saying the state financially needed the incarcerated people's labor.

[@smilingfox8978]

This is not your standard house fire. When these types of fires happen, it is common practice for the brotherhood/sisterhood of firefighters to come together and fight the fire. Neighboring towns, counties, states, and countries do not just stand by and watch it burn. It is only the neighborly thing to do. It is the way it has been done all my 63 tears of life. Go crawl back under your rock, and say hi to the big guy for me while you are there.

[@Mr.PhatsVarietyVibesShow]

@@greatedges what does Climate change got to do with this? the whole central valley is naturally desert ; if man left that whole area to nature it would go back to being a desert.. California does have natural green but many unnatural greens .. that area is meant to be desert..

[@tamic193]

We have enough firefighters! We don’t have, nor does ANY state have enough firefighters for a catastrophic event.

[@Gurgleskletch]

As an Angeleno, I’m so grateful and touched by the response of good people & other countries to help. No one should get it wrong. The LAFD did the best they could against the flames and winds.

[@havnchorts4106]

This is an abysmal failure on so many levels.

[@mischevious]

This is an overheated atmosphere. I would say welcome to the new normal but it’s only going to get worse.

[@jp13119]

It's a failure because the extreme radical right wing thinks the USA is going back to black slavery while most are indentured servants anyway...the blind and wilful ignorance for more than 70 years by the incoming really smart legislatures is going to be nothing more than the red-herring side show spectacle of dick nixon and his mccarthy culture war clowns who murdered 4 Democratic leaders and have sent this country into a theocratic oligarchy of imbeciles.

[@finfrog3237]

@@mischevious Bless your heart. Sweet summer child. Its refreshing to see such innocence as your's.

[@mischevious]

@@finfrog3237 Study the science foo! I’ll wager you’re not even aware that wildfires burn 800 degrees hotter now than they used to. Likely due to the ever increasing atmospheric concentrations of oxidizers from our military and industrial activities.

[@OldManStrong-j5m]

Tearing down dams, not building reservoirs, not practicing proven forest fire management...what could go wrong? Oh, but it's "global warming" that's at fault.

[@GailDrinkard-yw1sc]

Thank you, all who are fighting this inferno, God bless and keep you safe,

[@scarce63]

Gross behavior from those developers taking advantage of a vulnerable situations. So shameful, ugh

[@alexandrajablecki]

I don't think anyone would argue that the climate is always changing. The nature of CA geography would always be on fire if it wasn't for the people living on this land managing that. I hate to be the one to say it but it was the facist dictator who warned our governor to be more prepared fore fires and now here we are. We should be conserving the water runoff that we just dump into the ocean. There are better ways to manage fire danger and sadly events like this will teach us all. I live in the North Bay of the Bay Area where we had catastrophic fires in 2017. Most of the properties have built back better with fire safety in mind. Also, leaving your sprinklers on and putting some on the roof are helping to save homes.

[@broncoazvideo]

Trump was right about the fire prep on Rogan. Fortunately he’s right on many things so people reelected him. Vance 2028!

[@catserver8577]

We pay taxes to protect, rescue and/or recover our citizens and property. The US government, state governments, and local governments need to work better together for the citizens as they are charged to do. The communities should be commended for all of the contributions to cleaning up or helping during any disaster, but that should not give the false view that it is up to them to perform and provide for things that, again, we pay taxes to ensure we have resources to do. The amount of civic duties society has increasingly been responsible for including search and rescue, diving for missing people, fire suppression, these things are all becoming increasingly placed on communities and individuals. Meanwhile, our taxes, which are collected at an amount that rarely changes for the average citizen, are being squandered on things that do not benefit the general public. Public service and the services that we all pay for are not "politics", and they do not belong in the private sector. This is our choice of how we want to live in a society, and it is being corrupted by special interests like corporations, billionaires and money changing hands. The people who have interfered with the advancement of the repairs to the climate should be charged with paying for it and taking responsibility for their denial. We've been warned for decade that we are reaching the tipping point, the point of no return, and we should not be surprised that ignoring that caused this. People need to focus and realize that living in a society means funding the quality of life for everyone. Pay now, or pay later. It's later.

[@rommadsen6443]

Yes, and the thing about pay later is all the people who are hurt during the time it takes for society to wake up and get a clue.

[@angie6649]

100% correct.

[@aviyahcrow6617]

But how would politicians PROFIT?🤔

[@catserver8577]

@@aviyahcrow6617 Might sound counter productive, but paying civil servants of all kinds a wage that would make buying them off not worth losing their job would probably work.

[@user1qaz2wsx3edc]

Jewlenksky collects our taxes.

[@knowendsports84]

Santa Ana winds are natural, living there and building houses in a fire zone is not!

[@bonniebluebell5940]

Who in their right mind would go back there now?

[@RonnyThomas-v7q]

That's a damn shame to take someone out of prison and force them to put they life on the line for 5 dollars and hour

[@RonnyThomas-v7q]

That's a disgrace I thought a hour but a day if they going to fight the fires they should be getting paid just like everyone else

[@RonnyThomas-v7q]

These guys be threatened if they refuse to go

[@TwinAquarius484]

It's 5 dollars per day. Just horrible.

[@azalia423]

Slave labor, an industry, revealed.

[@daiu48]

Naked capitalism hard at work. Weather extremes literally exposing the absurdity of incarcerated prisoners doing the firefighting for a few dollars,along side private company firefighters protecting uninsurable mansions.

[@bobbresnahan8397]

I've been waiting for someone to report on the impact of the fires on the homeless. How about lives as well as property. And, how about the impact on the poor not just the wealthy.

[@l.c.3150]

PBS pls air Pistachio Wars, explores the way water is controlled by a few.

[@MrReymoclif714]

Thank you.

[@wdvest8333]

Thank you so much Mexico for not turning your back on the USA. YOU are a friend. Unlike USA towards Mexico to you of late.

[@wdvest8333]

By the trump

[@mkadi70]

@@wdvest8333 Both Trump and Beideb...Sheissegal

[@stopthelies4249]

Lies but they should turn their backs on the rascit usa

[@michaelterry4394]

Your polirics are showing help comes i. All sizes texas sending 135 firefighters along with 45 vehicles

[@christinetaia8735]

Nicely said thank you New Zealand 🇳🇿❤

[@HeathTate-sh7wr]

Didn't people vote for these policies?

[@jeremydatta3326]

why must somebody always ring up voting? Between 2 or 3 useless choices?! Shts a joke

[@scubadiverhaley]

5 dollars a day pay for prisoners and $2,000 an hour for private fighters. Disgusting. USA should be ashamed of this prison labor

[@Jonathan-Sund]

The USA has too many things to be ashamed of Free Palestine 🇵🇸

[@scubadiverhaley]

@jonathan-sund yes, the US’s support of Israel’s genocide against the Palestinian people is definitely another thing to be ashamed of.

[@bencintron2368]

That's why Amerikkka is being judged by GOD

[@daiu48]

@@Jonathan-Sund Academics, environmentalists, civil servants and politicians disagree, while LA burns. Climate change and / or fossil fuel. Naked capitalism working fast and furious. Only one life and get rich quick.Surely a recipe for disaster. Listen to the words from indigenous community leaders managing these areas long ago - some saying, with good reason why they would not live in places now in ruin.

[@Jonathan-Sund]

@ I like to call it "Late-stage" Capitalism. This is the era businesses, investors and even the layperson will try everything they possibly can to capitalize on literally anything and every situation. Yes , re. Indigenous people I made a previous comment of how the Australian aboriginals used to try to tell the "first settlers" not to build in certain areas.

[@methonyHolmes-e8p]

The terrible thing is, this is not getting better. The fires will just get worse in the future. Thanks Exxon

[@aviyahcrow6617]

Thanks politicians with PERSONAL STOCK PORTFOLIOS IN EXXON

[@jp13119]

Nahhh.....you'd better be thanking the republikkkans and their culture wars because they're who has caused this with their decades long blind ignorance and cognitive dissonance.

[@realdealz39]

Instead of addressing the glaring issues-failed leadership, pre-planned negligence, and opportunistic land grab-the narrative shifts to distractions. This isn’t about accountability; it’s about protecting those in power and their profit-driven agendas.

[@spaulobrasil]

Task for Los Angeles: Build gigantic tanks in high places to store sea water. Better to have salt water than not to have water to fight fires. This is preparation for the future.

[@jp13119]

That's a Great Idea! Good Job! More Water Storage Tanks, like the old times! (one actual thing that is worth saving from the 'old times').

[@tictaktotiki]

Absolutely. Every new build should have a couple of designated fire water only tanks

[@daleval2182]

Salt destroys the soil forever how does this help. Salt kills micro in soil. Do research before you come up with bad ideas , that salt would double the dryness of dead plants ?

[@finfrog3237]

If only this wasn't the first time they've had a massive fire! They had no idea what could happen or how to fight it. Maybe next time they'll get it right.

[@TheCatbert2010]

Is better to built artificial lakes. And why would you fill the tanks with salt water??? ++ Desalinization plants

[@freyahmartell]

Great channel, keep this up. Octavia admirer here

[@joannecaron5016]

conspiracy theories, blame game, you think rich people had any better chance of their homes not burning to the ground, rich or poor people lost their home, their keepsakes. their community and I cannot believe how ugly some of the comments are, where is your compassion

[@heythere5817]

I think it's because the reality is if you were privileged enough to live there to begin with, then you're going to be able to either rebuild or move on without it destroying your life like it would for people living on a average income or poverty line. It's the tale as old as time... No one is going to feel all that bad for millionaires losing some property when we struggle to feed our kids week to week

[@realdealz39]

@ This!

[@matthewingerson]

This is what you get for voting for RWers. If it weren't for the RW-extremist Repubs & the moderate-RW Dems, the wealthy-class would've been taxed to more adequately fund the services needed to combat these wealthy-RW-induced climate catastrophes, and the lesser-predictable natural disasters. But BOTH parties are bought, owned, bribed, & controlled by the corrupt wealthy-class & their corrupt RW-politics. And the working-class dupes in the US continue to vote for BOTH of these corrupt RW-parties.

[@lisabishop6266]

Thank you!! Many do NOT seem to realize that 10-60 + yrs ago, before it became a " ritzy" area,hard working avg people bought houses. As the rich found the area,prices rose!! So a house that cost 20-40k way back, is now worth over a million because of the rich. So regular average people may have had an expensive house right next to a celeb. Or they work/worked at those rich houses.

[@timiburke7133]

Thank prisoners for Volunteering & willing to work

[@benjamintaylor4402]

When free Black men apply for firefighter positions they are told they are not qualified. But when they are incarcerated and those fire departments need their labor, all of a sudden they are qualified to fight the most fierce fires that are driven by 100 miles winds. ( I HAVE LITTLE TO NO SYMPATHY FOR THESE TOWNS.)

[@catherinenelson4162]

Thank you, Mexico, for your most welcome help!

[@Treasurerose11]

Amy you are such a phenomenal human. You are the first reporter outside of RolandMartinUnfilter to acknowledge the historical significance of the altadena black homeowners. 😊

[@thanosdoomjuggernaut2846]

No one cares…. These fires have nothing to do with them.

[@mozart12100]

Firefighters are automatically eligible for benefits related to cancer. Those prisoners are not eligible for those health benefits.

[@mariaharrington8708]

We need reform. $5 a day is a disgrace. They do the job they deserve the pay, and praise

[@sheilaconcitis8385]

I'm wondering why there are 1000 fire fighters locked up and how many prisoners said they have the skill just to get out of jail.

[@jamesbckmstro3]

@@mariaharrington8708 I think it is overly gracious.

[@42Laisa]

Leah Stokes -Im so glad you brought up the element of urban planning ,I do think these homes are built too close together 😔

[@therealdonaldtrumpjr]

If I was getting paid $5 a day as a prisoner to save a bunch of multimillionaires houses, knowing that when I get sick nobody will help me, I'd be starting fires.

[@TheDunmoyer]

fixing the very real climate crisis will not solve poverty and as long as we have poverty we will have crime. anyone else here been hungry? anyone else here have a hard time finding a good job? the system is what needs fixing.

[@robertholland7558]

Exactly, capitalism gone completely of the rails!

[@finfrog3237]

I got an idea! How about not dump all your water in the ocean and instead, hear me out, this is crazy I know, fill up your reservoirs? Ah yes, we let Climate Change get away with building a dam to divert water into the Pacific. We really shouldn't let Climate Change get away with it.

[@DanielHulce]

Climate change is a huge lie. Try not to believe all the hype!!!

[@aaronvu6292]

Just wanted to voice my opinion: Thank you for all the emergency workers, including the incarcerated firefighters. The payments should be higher at least to the legal minimum wages for the inmates. But to be fair, $43,000/year sheltering and foods should be considered in the equations. We as citizens of South California should be fair to everyone. It's only enforced humanities and motivations.

[@Renee-xo8hk]

We have way too many people incarcerated, an unnecessary expense. A conversation for another day.

[@BrendaDunn-o1w]

⁠@@Renee-xo8hk agreed…much of the money they list for the incarcerated don’t actually go to the incarcerated. Much goes to administration cost.

[@kpokpojiji]

Her description sounds like Gaza.

[@philflip1963]

Don't let em forget Gaza!

[@menudobucket9837]

Such a strange contrast between ‘authorities’ manning barricades in Southern California to keep people out, and ‘authorities’ manning ports of entry in Gaza to keep people in and journalists out. 🧐

[@KatharinaK117]

Karma s a beeech...is ALL. I've to say!!!

[@Bdermady]

😢🥲

[@menudobucket9837]

@KatharinaK117~ .. ain’t it, though?

[@menudobucket9837]

@@Bdermady~ Yeah, me too.

[@KatharinaK117]

@@menudobucket9837 it is!

[@Joy-e3v9b]

Appreciate meeting Sonali. And Octavia. And these intelligent and helpful women.

[@Joy-e3v9b]

@J.M.-nb4gw america is made up of immigrants.

[@grzegorzgreg09]

Planet earth is magically beautiful! We have to protect our home!!! 🌎🌎🌏

[@nacarreira777]

Big oil should pay for the clean-up and rebuild. They lied for decades about the effects of burning their products.

[@thanosdoomjuggernaut2846]

@@nacarreira777😂😂😂😂😂

[@VG-cz7yg]

Yep, blame everything on climate change and not on the incompetence and poor preparedness of the current leaders.

[@pamamime1]

It's both.

[@AminEL7]

“…high risk zones” that’s a dubious classification for a land grab…

[@broncoazvideo]

Agreed. Seems ripe for government takings.

[@WES-z5m]

You don't leave the basement much do you

[@ceeemm1901]

@@broncoazvideo For what?

[@realdealz39]

@ Concerns have emerged regarding the potential for opportunistic land acquisitions by developers in the aftermath of the recent Los Angeles wildfires. Governor Gavin Newsom acknowledged the presence of speculators in the affected areas, stating, "I was just up there yesterday, and I already saw speculators and developers..." before pausing and redirecting his comments. NEW YORK POST Additionally, discussions about urban redevelopment have included concepts like "15-minute cities," which aim to design urban areas where residents can access most of their daily needs within a 15-minute walk or bike ride. You can rest assured money with funnel into the right pockets😉😜

[@Murray-z2h]

It’s a climate change problem. Thank God. I thought it was the Russians. More regulation, larger taxes, that’s what LA needs

[@finfrog3237]

Yes as long as you continue to hike up the minimum wages, everything will be fine. They still won't clean up the tinder or fill the reservoirs though lol.

[@realdealz39]

LOL, you know you're headed in the right direction when it costs 1.7 million to build a single public toilet.

[@ounsselhachemi4896]

😅👍

[@jalatlaco9827]

Thank you Mexico for sending help. I doubt the US would be as compassionate.

[@jomamacita1318]

not all Americans behave like you, dont judge

[@pauldevlin3841]

1:52 ‘incarcerated FIREFIGHTERS’…??no…’incarcerated PRISONERS assisting FIREFIGHTERS’

[@kathybeauchesne]

agree! language is extremely important to ensure the message and information communicated is accurately reported. prisoners fighting fires in my humble opinion isn’t an abuse but an opportunity to give back to society howeveradequate pay and personal protection should definitely be provided…

[@LT_Cancer]

@@kathybeauchesne It is and that's why they framed it the way they did. It was intentional.

[@vonstev1668]

The term is incarcerated individuals. Incarcerated prisoners is redundant.

[@thanosdoomjuggernaut2846]

Exactly they’re assisting. They are not trained firefighters.

[@LT_Cancer]

@ they're CDCR trained firefighters, they do the same thing CAL Fire crews do. But you don't that "incarcerated prisoners" is a redundant statement

[@mamatrain100]

What a nightmare! And there's some who delight in adding to the misery because of politics. How pathetic, right? Prayers

[@pjc87guy]

The same people who made up the lies about FEMA and North Carolina's floods are saying that Californians brought this on themselves and that officials are faulty. I'll give you one chance to guess who those people may be.

[@bruce4130]

These commentators are politically driven!

[@realdealz39]

Yes, Trump did propose a plan during his presidency, around 2018-2019, that emphasized better water management in California. He criticized the state for allowing massive amounts of rainwater runoff and snowmelt to go unused, instead flowing into the ocean. Trump suggested that if California collected just 10% of that water, it could significantly improve water availability for the LA Basin and other areas in Southern California. His comments were aimed at highlighting the state’s mismanagement of natural resources, including its failure to invest in adequate water storage and infrastructure improvements. He argued that better water policies would not only address water shortages but also help mitigate fire risks by providing more resources for vegetation management. However, his proposals were largely dismissed by California officials at the time, with critics framing them as oversimplified or politically motivated.

[@finfrog3237]

Shhh Shhh you'll wake Climate Change and Climate Change will divert water into the ocean again.... lol

[@pamamime1]

Not consuming water on golf courses would help.

[@lorrainemagarian2677]

Government doesn't want to solve these issues; they create these disasters!

[@bullcrap9409]

@realdealz39 You’re hilarious. Trump is a climate crisis denier, wants to allow drilling in parks, and shovels tax breaks to fossil fuel companies.

[@lolstalgic9602]

GASP Trump actually being right? Impossible!!

[@rockychristakes951]

Let's take care of North Carolina first. Their policies didn't create their problems

[@realdealz39]

They are the wrong voting demographic. Didn't you get the memo from FEMA to avoid Trump supporters? The Carolina Tin-Spodumene Belt (CTSB), located in the Piedmont region of North Carolina, is one of the largest lithium deposits in the United States. Some companies are evaluating the feasibility of reopening mines or developing new ones in the state. now that the populous has been conveniently wiped out. Now they will attempt to starve the rest and go for a land grab. But those pesky, resilient Appalachian folks will not go away. Thanks in large part to the outpouring from fellow Americans who are stepping up with compassion and persistence. Government neglect and bureaucratic red tape continue to strangle the Piedmont area. Now that the lens of the media is gone, we are forgotten by most.

[@RichardMcgee-ys6lp]

It is nature's way of telling us that something is wrong!

[@consev]

Terribly wrong.. Karma

[@aviyahcrow6617]

Yea, natures way if saying INTENTIONALLY SET FIRES Spread fast with NO WATER which is pumped bk into the Pacific Ocean can't flow south🤔 Who woulda thunk it?!🤔😂

[@MrReymoclif714]

We’re not supposed to be there?

[@giovanna722]

It's Nature's Way is a song from the 70's that warns us to pay attention to how we live.

[@daleval2182]

That's a song

[@JaBoss397]

2000 dollars a hour 2k x 9 hr = 18k a day 18k day x 7days = 126,000 k a week 4 week = over 500k

[@larsstougaard7097]

Eye watering prices 💧 🚿

[@fuckbankers]

Prisoners are spoilt

[@nacarreira777]

Stay strong, California! Love from Connecticut.

[@DaveATKIN]

I am so sorry to hear of everyone who has lost their homes & property in this terrifying conflagration but, Sonali Kolhatkar, you're not 'living in a war zone' and for many out here it's a rather unfortunate description when you consider what your country is doing to Gaza. You are experiencing a natural disaster brought on at least in part by your government ignoring climate change until it became the climate emergency you're the expressly not living in a war zone. Incredibly your incoming government is considerably more in denial about the CE than previously, so we definitely live in perilous times. So the albeit narrow prospect of the US becoming an actual war zone for the first time ever, if you set aside civil war, must be quite sobering. And yes, the US must stop building houses out of ticky-tacky in high-density neighbourhoods and you'll probably find that the fires are at least better and more easily contained.

[@Phantom1127-ck3qr]

No, what LA is experiencing is a Dumass governor, Dumass mayor , Dumass fire chief, Dumass head of the water supply , that's the real definition of " D" in DEI

[@Phantom1127-ck3qr]

And yes , I can prove that

[@mareerogers1114]

Mind your business. We the citizens are in a war zone it's called America. So, STFU!

[@WES-z5m]

Since climate activists have the ear of the Governor it makes their lack of preparation even more inexcusable

[@Bauks]

You're not fixing the climate before the next fire season. Might want to figure something out...

[@TheRiiiight]

Nope, they can just pointlessly wave their hands at the weather and take no practical steps or responsibility towards any prevention. The grift and scam culture in California will never end.

[@alfredrivera4895]

🤣🤣

[@kpokpojiji]

​@TheRiiiight it's all of America, bro.

[@TheRiiiight]

@@kpokpojiji ‘American’ culture is really just the top 5 cities, with LA and NYC at the very top. Most of the empty or poor areas America don’t have any cultural pull at all.

[@finnb-anarchy]

​@@TheRiiiightThats not true at all lol

[@reginawilliams9593]

Prayers needed

[@tiffanyrussell6858]

Common sense, you cannot keep enough firefighters employed to fight a fire this large. Should they be paid during their downtime? Which will be often because wildfires and forest fires like these don't happen everyday? It has nothing to do with not enough firefighters it has to do with the people of California not wanting safe burns because they're afraid that it will pollute the air even more, and it would.Therefore safe burns always get voted down 😡 And it's healthy for the prisoners to be out working! It's healthy and motivating to be outdoors and helping their community, and being productive. I doubt there's a single prisoner complaining about fighting the fires

[@JayREKA-b9o]

This lady is so happy to be on TV smiling and laughing. It’s a shame. I never wanna see her on democracy now ever again wipe that smile and smirk off your face lady. This is a tragedy.

[@spacemonkey200]

Blackrock will make Billions from this. Just watch.

[@Martell-XO]

This is California, not Alabama. Pay prisoners a fair wage for helping out. Slavery went out a long time ago.

[@jerigreen4837]

Democracy Now and host Amy Goodman continue to bring truth and accountability to the people. Thank you for covering the untold story of how Black communities are fighting to save their homes and help each other hold on to the dreams and hopes of their ancestors in Altadena. Similarly, the use of incarcerated firefighters who are risking their lives for a pittance. Thank you, Amy Goodman, a friend of the people upon whom we can depend to tell our stories.

[@Lp78Ch]

I never see black people in Altadena. It's all rich white people who vote Democrat. It's a very liberal town.

[@thanosdoomjuggernaut2846]

Yes, they cannot miss an opportunity to pander to people.

[@stevendaleschmitt]

Small government conservatives paying $2,000 an hour for fire protection sounds just about right to me. They should be proud. Now is their chance to pull themselves up by their bootstraps and shoulder responsibility for their communities, and no area of the world is better financed or prepared to do so.

[@richyough3605]

Richest state in the Republic and they don't have enough resources to combat a disaster they were sure was going to happen . Santa Ana winds are nothing new and not raking the forest is neglect.

[@finfrog3237]

Don't forget the plight of the delta smelt! Another reason why the reservoirs are empty lol

[@matthewingerson]

That's what you get for voting for RWers. If it weren't for the RW-extremist Repubs & the moderate-RW Dems, the wealthy-class would've been taxed more adequately to fund the services needed to combat wealthy-RW-induced climate catastrophes, and lesser-predictable natural disasters. But BOTH parties are bought, owned, bribed, & controlled by the corrupt wealthy-class & their corrupt RW-politics. And the working-class dupes in the US continue to vote for BOTH of these corrupt RW-parties.

[@vivekmalhotra3330]

Welcome Mexico!!! Thks alot for coming to the aid of USA. God bless U.

[@benchohramokhtar7579]

From GAZA, the power of God is the greatest!

[@nevertoolate6653]

If American technology can’t defeat the Fires 🔥…. who else ?

[@matthewingerson]

@@nevertoolate6653 Probably one of the OECD nations. There are plenty of countries that are better than the US corporatist/fascist RW-sh!tehole.

[@CherylDavis-w4z]

Such outstanding reporting !

[@charleskennedy8548]

Blaming climate and fossil fuel for this disaster is about as stupid as it gets .

[@jomamacita1318]

well it is coming from Dumbacracy Now so not too surprising😂

[@conniegreenamyer6636]

They do not have firefighters enough in La because Was cut off the budget So equipment not working Plus plus You can finish the rest

[@HsingSun]

Why didn't residents have water pumps where they live along the coast?

[@theresas2520]

Probably some stupid law because it's California. That's what I don't understand, we see water right there in front of those homes!

[@suzannerouleau6127]

Nobody addresses the issue of nuclear energy. And yet, its technologies have evolved a lot in terms of security.

[@georgecoons6872]

build your house like fort knox. heavy thick concrete. inside outside. no wood only what you bring inside. cheaper too.

[@philflip1963]

Build a pond or swimming pool, collect water off your roof and buy a pump.

[@Joy-e3v9b]

Thank you very much for the enlightened dialogue!

[@carolutley6523]

Inmates are given a choice to fight fires.

[@vonstev1668]

And every day they serve in fire camps count as two toward their sentence.

[@broncoazvideo]

@@vonstev1668 sounds like a fair trade. They can pay their debt to society faster.

[@magfam9980]

Condolences to all affected, and thanks to all first responders and volunteers,l and military, it will be cheaper to fight climate change now, instead of paying for all these disasters and it will also stop most of this pain and suffering, cali is leading in climate change prevention but climate is global and we need the USA to take it more seriously

[@pharmerdavid1432]

Climate change has no influence on what's happening, all the extreme weather, fires, floods, etc...all weaponized. You are aiding and abetting genocide by believing and echoing the official lies.

[@emeraldcitydreamz]

Here another untold story. The Mayor of LA has ties to the terrorist group M-19, and traveled to Cuba many times training extremists who later made bombs to blow up federal buildings. Maybe you can tell that story next.

[@matthewingerson]

Working-class Cubans needed to be liberated from the wealthy-class, just like the US does. Luckily, Cuba succeeded.

[@chrisallen5257]

Water appears to be an issue. I researched the Colorado River as it supplies Los Angeles and other states and Mexico. It is drying up and cannot support the numbers of people that live there. Is that why there was not enough water? A large amount of water is going to Agriculture and may not be well maintained. The military and huge numbers of people and agriculture are draining the river. AZ use of canals is draining the river. It is a huge problem going back many years.

[@bonniebonbasa3257]

Its hard to listen to these people talk about climate change instead of chem trails causing weather problems. Are they ignoring the weather control centers that play around with the weather. This is a very complex situation to resolve if ever.

[@pB-ox3qr]

Follow dane wiggington he specialises in weather weapons tech

[@vintagechild4418]

Talk about the architects of the area drained the wetlands to accommodate the building and the billionaires who secretly negotiated the confiscation of the remaining water. The area is crispy dry now.

[@ang3liqu3]

Your reports are always, a++, but this was a S teir report. Thanks for all you do.

[@IanKing-vr5sk]

I have a lot of sympathy and love for the good people of the USA, I myself enjoy the creativity of Americans but like all over the world, the wicked one's find themselves in power and causes a lot of harm and suffering to humanity.

[@uhhhmm1]

car battery fires will be even worse not to mention the massive amount of minerals it takes to build them. What are the climate and social costs of refining, extracting, building, and distributing the 283million cars in the US? Replacing combustion cars with electric cars is not a solution. We need mixed density neighborhoods and beautiful green walkable transit rich environments.

[@chioma3100]

Public transportation as opposed to hundreds of millions of personal vehicles.

[@Nottherebutthere]

If they are prisoners, they are paying back society for their wrongs. No problem with this as long as they are given all the protective gear they should have.

[@fuckbankers]

How much are they paid?

[@vonstev1668]

@fuckbankers Not much. However, every day served counts as two toward their sentence. That's valuable.

[@broncoazvideo]

@fuckbankers they owe a debt to scoiety, no need to pay them money.

[@jomamacita1318]

@fuckbankers they are given a chance repent for their crimes, priceless foo!

[@malikab3258]

You are wrong. Any prisoner reflects the image of his/her community/society and what the society has done wrong that pushed the prisoner to be in such situation. In one of the worldwide cultures, when someone steals something, they question the community! (A country with an indifferent system can push people to feel depressed, losing hope, and doing wrong things) So, it is the society and the system that should be hold accountable for those prisoners. As per the safety gears, why don't you wear them and start fighting fire over your house, if you are someone impacted by the fire?🤔 It takes courage to fight fire, let alone a whole area on fire with strong winds! I've read and heard that those firefighters are paid very low rates per working hour or extra hour ($5/hour? doing a very risky job!!). Selfishness and absence of compassion for others is a desease and it causes so much harm to "any" society and community. No one will succeed in building their own happiness (and that of their kids and family) while others around them are miserable. So learn to have mercy so that others will have mercy on you, when you need it🕯

[@stevendaleschmitt]

You CAN fight Mother Nature, but you will lose every time, because Mother Nature is physics.

[@damali-karlawhittaker6462]

Mother Nature is VERY angry at humanity. An unbalance between GOOD and EVIL, HATE AND LOVE.😢

[@GetOutandVote1]

Democracy now is the best news coverage. Thank you, Amy Goodman; I love the way you interview people and let the person speak with out being interrupted. You are great.

[@joshuatoro8977]

Climent change is not to blame. The governor is

[@realdealz39]

The recent wildfires in California expose more than just environmental challenges-they reveal a systemic failure in leadership. While officials and media scramble to blame climate change, the truth may lie closer to pre-planned negligence and opportunistic land grabs. Speculators circling burned neighborhoods, talk of rezoning, and whispers of 'smart city' developments suggest more than coincidence. These actions demand scrutiny. Deflecting with paid narratives only serves to protect those who stand to profit while communities suffer

[@normandong4479]

When the Governor announces shortcuts to speed reconstruction, there is one extremely important point being missed. Building codes must be changed & updated: LA must encourage steel framing, steel siding and steel roofing that can resist fire. Wildfires & Santa Ana winds will come back to SoCal.

[@OldManStrong-j5m]

6:40 There goes the "expert" babbling on about "climate change." Was it the fault of 'climate change' that dams were tore down, snow pack water is diverted into the ocean, reservoirs weren't built even though the money was there, and time honored methods of reducing the damage fires cause like clearing timber and scrub, weren't performed?

[@finfrog3237]

Hey, it's a cult and you're not allowed to think for yourself based on observations not spoon fed to you. lol

[@OldManStrong-j5m]

@finfrog3237 yup

[@Mr.PhatsVarietyVibesShow]

ure right dude.. Climate change is just a myth I remember it used to be called global warning then they changed the title. the fact is ure right .. the whole central Valley is naturally a desert .. if man stopped everything it would go back to being a desert.. & ure right the progressive left that is in charge ruined the state.. but we gotta keep voting progressive & for the commies.. but the sad part is the state was never like this only when the hard left took charge during the 90's & 2000's but we never gonna hear about this on the left..

[@aromero385]

What about construction materials used massively; wood, sheetrock plus others flamables, instead of concrete, brick and mortar, ceramic. When one home catch fire, immediately transmits to neighboring houses. Depends of the materials, fire can be contained easily without the need of tons meter3 of water. Tornadoes, hurricanes destruction and construction material used are related to it also.