California is a beautiful state; the sun is always shining, palm trees line the roads, and the coast is gorgeous. However, the Golden State has turned into a fiery ablaze overnight.

Wildfires are currently roaming the state, destroying everything in their path. Homes have been destroyed, lives have been lost, and families are in dismay.

California is so far from the East Coast that we may not realize how bad the problem is.

At present, 306 fires roam southern California, the biggest being the Palisades fire, which has consumed 57,528 acres. Citizens all over have been evacuated from their homes to find safety, knowing that once they leave, there’s probably no coming back. The chance of their home surviving remains slim because, as of now, over 16,000 structures have been lost. 

“Our house may be gone as many neighborhoods close to where we are have either burned or are actively involved. We really won’t know for sure until we are allowed back in. We are safe but are seeing news that a lot of homes very close to ours are gone. Hoping for the best, preparing for the worst,” Altadena resident Lenard Berglund told The Uproar. 

I spoke with Berglund on January 8th, 2025, which was one day after the Palisades fire started. Berglund and his wife, Carol, lived in Altadena for around 30 years. They were looking forward to many more years in their home with new renovations. Unfortunately, they were met with a terrible surprise — everything was gone. 

“[We] had to bug out in a very big hurry when we were evacuated,” Berglund explained. 

With little time to grab much, they evacuated. They did not grab many clothes, items, or even legal papers. They were expecting to go back to their house to retrieve their belongings but were pushed back by officials.

Not being able to go back really set it in for the Berglunds. Their home was probably gone. 

Eventually, they were able to go back to their home but were met with a horrible sight. Berglund’s convertible car was destroyed, leaving a carcass of the outer shell. The only thing still standing from their house was their fireplace. The only thing that survived the fire was their hot tub, which they call their spa.

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The living room of the Berglund household. (photo used with permission of the Berglund family)

Fortunately, the Berglunds have found a safe place to live. Family and friends surround them and are helping them get through this difficult time. Their son, Aaron, organized a GoFundMe, and with the help of hundreds, they have almost reached their goal of $50,000. Hopefully, after the chaos dies down, they can start to sort things out. But finding a new home, as well as retrieving lost items, will be a challenge.

The Berglunds were not the only family affected. Around 200,000 residents were told to evacuate at one point. As firefighters battled the fires, some were let back into their homes. Officials then announced a limited population for certain areas around the Palisades and Eaton.

The term “limited population” refers to those who can go back to their homes. The Berglunds, for example, cannot. However, many of those who have homes still standing are experiencing survivor’s guilt, for while their homes remain, over 12,000 others are gone. 

Initial damage costs are around $350 million but are expected to grow. But that cost estimate refers to public infrastructure (street lights, libraries, etc.), not the thousands of homes lost to the fires. The homeowners are turning to insurance coverage to help cover the finances lost. Thousands of people are filing for insurance claims in hopes of fair coverage.

The insurance adjuster is in charge of meeting with families to decide how much their insurance will cover. The adjuster will assess the damage done by the fires and decide from there. California law requires insurance to pay one-third of the owners’ belongings value along with at least a four-month rent.

Once the adjuster has assessed the damage and tells the family how much they can cover, families are advised to ask for the insurer’s policy and to revise it. Once the costs are discussed, it is also advised to get a second opinion, which helps while negotiating with the insurance company. Even with the insurance, officials are suggesting that families apply for disaster assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

With the terror each family faces in California, how can you help out? There are many donation sites to go to, including but not limited to GoFundMe, American Red Cross, California Fire Foundation, and Salvation Army. Each dollar helps a family in need. So many families are in need, and they need our help to relieve the pressure.