The California wildfires are struggling to be contained. Celebrities like Kim Kardashian are hiring fire squads to protect their beloved, multi-million dollar homes while the rest of the Pacific Palisades face homelessness as homes are burnt to a crisp. The causes of these fires are still under investigation, detailed by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. Out of the three fires burning in Los Angeles, the Palisades have suffered the most damage, with only 19% of the fire being contained. Justice has yet to be served for the thousands of families who were displaced, and many people are asking one question: What will recovery look like? 

Plans of federal action in the past have demonstrated a disturbing reality. According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), approximately 375,000 North Carolina households sought federal disaster assistance as a result of Hurricane Helene striking in late September, 2024. Yet, many Asheville survivors continue to rot in the ruins of their hometown—some living in tents, sheds or automobiles. More than 5,600 households are living in federally funded hotels and motel rooms as of now. And though it has been months since the disaster, by the looks of it, it seems like it all happened yesterday. 

The Palisades’ situation doesn’t seem any different. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass cut the city’s fire department funding by roughly $17.6 million in the 2024-2025 budget plan. Although such a disaster couldn’t have been predicted, a wildfire of this magnitude wouldn’t easily be contained regardless of budget cuts. However, the cut raises questions about what impact it could’ve had in efforts to extinguish the flames. 

LA is home to celebrities and a large homeless population, and the economic disparity between its residents could not be more apparent in light of the disaster. Kim Kardashian used 232,000 gallons more than her share of water to protect her $60 million mansion, after explicitly being warned to cut back on water usage in the dire times. She, along with celebrities like Kevin Hart, have been fined for their excessive use of water. While in stark contrast, homeless people have nowhere to go and face health risks from prolonged smoke exposure. Other residents of the Palisades have lost their only homes to this fire. 

Members of the public have mixed feelings about the actions the elite have chosen to take. Some believe that it is warranted as they have the money available to do so, while others believe that the actions are utterly selfish and inexcusable as hundreds of thousands of people are victims to the same fires. The average LA resident does not own 10 other homes across the globe to retreat to in times like these, unlike most celebrities. But, at the end of the day, the elite are victims too. The true fault lies in the federal government and state officials, who are behind the decision-making that has led the Palisades and North Carolina into their respective tragedies.