Who is behind this project?

This project was initiated by students in Cal State LA’s History Department as a Special Feature of Volume 52 of the student history journal, Perspectives: A Journal of Historical Inquiry. The Perspectives class (HIST 4970) has partnered with the Special Collections and Archives of the Cal State LA Library to turn this project into a permanent digital special collection.

This website highlights some of the submissions we received. The permanent digital archive will be available online later this year through the Special Collections website. 

Why an LA fires archive? 

The Los Angeles fires of January 2025 affected people across Southern California, destroying thousands of homes and workplaces and forcing tens of thousands of Angelenos to evacuate. Many were unable to return home for weeks or months, and many more are still displaced. Many members of the Cal State LA community were affected by the Eaton and Palisades fires, including some in our very own History Department who lost their homes.

As history students, we wanted to create a community archive focused on the LA fires to create a historical record of this crisis from a broad variety of perspectives and experiences, and to preserve the legacies of Altadena and Pacific Palisades, communities destroyed by the fire.

We hope that future Angelenos can use this archive to learn more about this pivotal moment in the history of our community.

How can I submit?

Fill out our submission form. You can also email photos and videos to lafiresarchive@gmail.com. 

What should I submit? 

We are looking for personal stories about how the fires affected you and your family, friends, and colleagues. Most people in the LA area were affected by the fires in some way, whether by losing a home, supporting a friend or family member, or breathing in the smoky air. We want to include a record of all these experiences and more in this community-focused archive.