LA families return to charred homes as death toll rises to 11

Families sift through the wreckage of their homes, salvaging the few remnants that survived the devastation caused by the wildfires.

A young man stands among the remains of his father’s fire-ravaged Malibu beachfront property. AP

Manuel Valdes, Julie Watson, John Seewer and Heather Hollingsworth

Jan 11, 2025 – 11.14am

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Many watched their homes burn on television in a state of shock.

Since the flames erupted in and around Los Angeles, scores of residents have returned to their still smouldering neighbourhoods even as the threat of new fires persisted and the nation’s second-largest city remained unsettled. For some, it was a first look at the staggering reality of what was lost as the region grapples with the gargantuan challenge of overcoming the disaster and rebuilding.