Editor’s Note: In June 2026, this story was modified to add an attribution. 

“Our government has failed us in many ways.” 

A year has passed since the fires in Los Angeles devastated Altadena, CA. Who gets to rebuild? Who stays and who leaves? 

We begin by checking back in with Sal Saucedo, a hairdresser who spoke to us after his home became rubble. He has since planted new roots by opening a hair salon in Mexico City. 

Then we delve deeper into the slow and heartbreaking recovery in Altadena so far with the help of UCLA researcher Silvia González, comedian and Altadena resident Chris Garcia, and environmentalist Isaias Hernandez. 

Featured image by Sarah Reingewirtz/MediaNews Group/Los Angeles Daily News and Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images.

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Episode credits:

Producer: Monica Morales Garcia

Field Producer: Memo Tejeda

Engineer: Stephanie Lebow & JJ Qerubin

Managing Editor: Fernanda Echavarri

Executive Producers: Peniley Ramírez and Maria Hinojosa

Social Media: Luis Luna, Paloma Perez and Anhelo Reyes