Los Angeles residents return to wildfire-ravaged community to dig for memories

“It’s hard to look at this. But it’s nice to find those little things that – you know – at one point didn’t mean so much” says Jack Hassett.

The 22-year-old is one of hundreds of Pacific Palisades residents returning to their neighbourhood in downtown Los Angeles for the first time since they were forced to flee.

Among block after block of black and grey debris, Jack digs through the ruins of his house. He’s looking for anything that has survived, from cherished keepsakes to mundane items of daily life.

“Plates are plates. But now they’re, you know, a memory to sort of look back on”, he says. “It’s such a scary thing to see all this, but it’s really sort of beautiful in a way”.

Resident Jack Hassett on returning to his home in Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles.

The Palisades Fire started on January 7 and would grow to become the largest of this month’s California wildfires.

At least 12 people were killed and more than 6,800 structures destroyed as flames engulfed the coastal hillside community.

Now, three weeks later, firefighters are close to fully containing the Palisades Fire.

Firefighters battle the Palisades Fire on 7 January as it burns multiple buildings. / Credit: AP

The devastation from the Palisades Fire shown in an aerial view in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles. / Credit: AP

Evacuated residents are queuing up along the Pacific Coast Highway to get a permit to return to their homes – anxious to see what is left of their homes, and what keepsakes they can find to remind them of their lives before the fire.

Returning residents have to be out of the area again by nightfall because a curfew remains in place to prevent looting.

Up to now, people were only allowed to go to certain areas, and with a police escort. On Monday afternoon, all remaining evacuation orders were lifted.

A queue of vehicles along the Pacific Coast Highway as residents wait to return to Pacific Palisades / Credit: AP

Many are wearing protective gear, heeding health warnings about toxic ash – caused by a mix of incinerated cars, electronics, batteries, building materials, paints, furniture and other household items.

Tim Bearer wears a face mask as he surveys the remains of his 93-year-old mother’s home, where he grew up. Amid the pile of mangled metal, he finds her golf putter, bent but otherwise ok.

And then, from under the ash, he pulls a porcelain heart with the words “I love you mom” — a gift from his sister. Bearer planned to return it to his mother, who was at a friend’s house in Santa Monica.

“My mom will just lose it when I show her”, he says.

Tim Bearer walks in the rubble of his mother’s fire-ravaged property, and holds keepsake he intends to return to her. / Credit: AP

Liz Zaret searches for salvageable items in what remains of her home destroyed by the Palisades Fire. / Credit: AP

Last week Los Angeles city and county officials expedited clean-up efforts and other measures aimed at mitigating the environmental impacts of fire-related pollutants.

The White House said President Donald Trump had directed federal officials to help local authorities.

California Governor Gavin Newsom has announced an initiative with business leaders and elected officials to help support wildfire recovery and rebuilding in Los Angeles.

The Los Angeles Dodgers baseball team has provided $100 million (£80.4 million).

Tony Lai rakes through the remains of his fire-ravaged beachfront property in the aftermath of the Palisades Fire. / Credit: AP

Newsom says it will assist in ongoing recovery efforts by providing access to private capital and strategic guidance, as well as coordination between separate charities.

“Los Angeles will rise again — stronger, more united, and more resilient than ever. Just as California came together to fight the fires, we’ll work together to rebuild”, he adds.