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Laura Coates Live

Race to Contain L.A. Fires Intensifies as Winds Strengthen; Trump Escalates Attacks on Gov. Newsom; At Least 10 Fire-Related Deaths Across L.A. County; Warning of Health Effects of Smoke. Aired 12-1a ET

Aired January 10, 2025 - 00:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

LAURA COATES, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome to a second hour of LAURA COATES LIVE. You are looking live right now at just one of five fires that are burning through Los Angeles County.

[00:00:48]

And the newest one, the Kenneth Fire, could grow very quickly. This as the winds are set to pick up overnight into tomorrow.

The Palisades, the Eaton Fires, they have been the most destructive, and neither of them are contained at all.

This drone video from the Pacific Palisades shows just how widespread the devastation is. Countless homes are gone. Overall, 10,000 structures destroyed across the entire L.A. County region.

At least two people have been killed in the Palisades Fire alone, while five are dead from the Eaton Fire. Authorities say the actual death toll could be much higher.

CNN's Bill Weir is in Big Rock, a neighborhood just East of Malibu.

Bill, an L.A. Fire Department official said last hour that there are reports of another fire breaking out in the valley. What have you seen from your vantage point?

BILL WEIR, CNN CHIEF CLIMATE CORRESPONDENT: Well, it's interesting, Laura. We spent a lot of time here on Pacific Coast Highway, watching a crew from Kern County. That's a different part of the state.

They were just spending a long time dousing the hotspots of these, what were oceanfront properties. Big mansions here on the coast. They're still smoldering.

Now, whether the fear is that these would kick up overnight and blow embers and cause more havoc, we can't be sure how those were deployed.

But what we're seeing now is a pitch-black Pacific Coast Highway. The power is out. So, other than the occasional first responders, a truck that goes by with their flashers on, it's -- it's a dark and dreary place tonight, especially when light of day brings so much devastation. This five-mile stretch, I would guess 75 percent of the homes along

this coastline, this iconic stretch of real estate, are turned to ash. And so many questions about what comes next for those folks, as well.

But as you've been talking about, there's still active -- as you can see, all this flashing lights going by. There are still active flames in the Palisades Fire and still active worries about what the winds will do overnight.

COATES: You know, in the midst of so much loss, there must be extraordinary desperation. Bill, I wonder what have those who've been most affected, what are they telling you about the state's response?

WEIR: It's interesting. I was up in Topanga Canyon, where there is a tight village of folks who love this part of the world. They love canyon life. They love the ocean. These are water people as well, but a pretty tight community.

I've found, in these disasters that test the fabric of community, those that trust each other fare the best. And they have these plans on, you know, how to protect them -- themselves.

But I was talking to a guy named Tyler Stock (ph) who said, the last thing we want to do is blame the firefighters. These people are heroes.

They just had another major fire a month ago in this part of Malibu that they had to deal with. And he refused to -- to get political. He said, we've got to save that. Right now, let's rally around each other. I heard that from a couple different residents in that particular neighborhood.

It's counter to what the folks in the Palisades have been saying and the frustration there. You can understand that they, when they see that no fire crews showed up while those winds were howling, and couldn't have something been done? Those are very valid questions.

So, really, you get a difference in response as where you are right now, Laura. But I've seen, again, from Lahaina to Paradise to all of these disasters, people cycle sort of through the five stages of grief.

Because what you know, your community is gone. And so, the five stages. Initially, it's denial. Like, I can't believe this is happening. And then there's anger and bargaining and depression, before you get to acceptance, which may not be surrender, but accepting that this is the hand that you've been dealt. The sooner you get there, the sooner you can rally and rebuild and recover.

So, it's understandable that there's all this sort of pent-up emotion right now. That is so natural, given the stakes, given the fear, given the loss. People have to process this in their own way.

[00:05:06]

COATES: I mean, Bill, just watching these vehicles flying by, trying to get to the next blaze, just tells you how this is still ongoing. The urgency, the devastation.

Bill Weir, thank you so much for being there.

WEIR: You bet.

COATES: I want to bring in the captain of the Los Angeles County Fire Department, Sheila Kelliher. It's good to see you again, Captain. I know that you have been informing the public about all that's happening, and we appreciate that so much.

And we're learning that, I mean, really, these -- these fires are nowhere near contained. What is your top concern at this very hour?

CAPT. SHEILA KELLIHER, LOS ANGELES COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT: Yes. Thank you for having me again, Laura.

And yes, I think our top concern is going into the next two days, we have more high-wind warnings coming. Our red flag conditions kick in through tomorrow, and maybe a little bit beyond.

So, it's that constant battle of the winds flaring up that make this incredibly challenging, especially in the Palisades and the Eaton Canyon Fire.

COATES: You know, the National Weather Service is warning that the winds, the dry conditions could complicate further the efforts into even next week.

I mean, fighting against these wildfires has been your mission for, what, 25 years? Do you think it's possible to have a more effective firefighting system when these winds continue to happen and they're still on the horizon?

KELLIHER: I think because -- that's a -- that's a challenging question, because when Mother Nature kicks up, and you have 70-mile- an-hour to 100-mile-an-hour gusts, remember that's hurricane-strength- force winds. It just so happens instead of water pushing alongside it, we have fire pushing alongside it.

So, there is, you know, only so much we can do when it comes to that combination. And then when you put the topography in that we have, with those steep hillsides and the densely populated areas, it makes for a very hard combination to fight fire.

COATES: Unbelievable. I mean, those hurricane winds bringing fire with them, it's unbelievable.

And understandably, residents are very anxious to know about the condition of their home. I can't imagine the anxiety that they're feeling. Some are trying to go back to survey their neighborhoods to see if they can salvage anything, to find loved ones.

Pasadena's mayor is asking people to stay out of those areas until all these evacuation orders have been lifted. Do you have a message to residents tonight about the safety, or lack thereof, of going back? KELLIHER: Yes. I think it's critical that they heed the warnings of

their officials. There's a reason why those evacuation orders have not been lifted.

There are all kinds of incredibly dangerous situations that reside out there, whether it's gas leaks, whether it's downed power lines, whether it's still smoldering embers that are still being cast and causing spot fires down the road.

So, we could have an incident with an incident and it flare back up, and then someone's picking through the rubble. I understand why they would want to, but it puts them in harm's way.

So really pay attention to what your local officials are saying. We don't want any more life tragedy. That's our No. 1 priority when we fight fire, is life safety.

So, remember that nobody else is -- you know, we're not -- we're not doing anything with anybody's stuff. It's just like, wait until it's truly safe where you can come back in and do it so safely and you're protected.

COATES: Captain, how do you coordinate with all the different entities that are coming in, whether it's out of state, upstate? You've got, I know, there are inmates who are also -- who have volunteered to be helpful, as well, in the process of it. How do you coordinate all of this, knowing the scope of the problem?

KELLIHER: It's incredible, the mutual aid system we have all through the state and CAL FIRE and all the assisting agencies.

They have put together this incredible matrix where the call goes out, and everybody really answers the call and comes together, especially the Western states in that region.

We have an incredible resource of how that is -- amazing how it all comes together.

COATES: Captain Sheila Kelliher, please stay safe and thank you for all you're doing.

KELLIHER: I appreciate you. Thank you.

COATES: Countless people -- I mean, countless people in the L.A. area -- are forced to say goodbye to their homes, not knowing if they can ever return to them or what they will find when they do. Like my next guest, who captured a heartbreaking farewell to his house of more than 40 years before escaping to safety.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, I'm going to have to --we're going to have to evacuate our house. OK, everyone.

I see this beautiful area go up in flames. Unbelievable. All right. God bless you all. Be cool. (END VIDEO CLIP)

COATES: Actor and author Eric Braeden joins me now.

I've watched you my whole life. And to hear your voice narrating that moment is truly devastating for so many people. Can you -- can you take us back to that moment when you saw that blaze approach your home and realized you had to leave?

[00:10:13]

ERIC BRAEDEN, ACTOR AND AUTHOR: First of all, Laura, I would be remiss if I didn't tell you that I watch you lot. OK? And I watch CNN a lot. Let's get that out of the way.

COATES: Thank you. Well, thank you so much.

BRAEDEN: What did I feel when I saw those flames? Well, it scares the living -- living daylights out of you. And you hope that the flames don't cross.

There's a canyon below me. And about many years ago, they had a big fire in that area. And it actually destroyed Will Rogers Park. It's a state park. But it never came across the canyon to our side.

And a few nights ago, we were told by some emergency person not to worry, that the wind was drifting out towards the ocean. And however, they were wrong. I don't blame them. You can't predict the wind patterns really. And it came back.

And I began to see some flames licking at Will Rogers Park. I thought, boy, that could really get bad. And it got bad. And you saw that clip now. And we decided it was time to go.

Others on the street had already evacuated, and I thought perhaps one could wait it out. But you can't.

So, you grab, in that last minute, anything you can: passports, et cetera. But never enough.

And so, then you wait anxiously to actually see the result of the fire. Has it destroyed your home? Has it not? And the neighbors on my street, the Bernsteins, and the Newmans, and the Grays and all those people, and Dave Lawrence (ph), we communicated with each other. It's a small cul de sac.

And they had left, and no one really had a video of what had happened. And bits and pieces. And today I found out.

COATES: Do you know what happened to your home?

BRAEDEN: Joshua Morrow, who plays my son on "The Young and the Restless," actually broke through some barriers, went there and sent me the -- yes. Tough to see. Lived there for 45 years, and to see your home.

And do you think you're tough? And then you see that, and -- yes. Haven't shown my wife yet.

COATES: Aww.

BRAEDEN: Don't know whether I'm going to or not. It's tough.

COATES: Do you think it would be too much to think about the memories, to show her?

BRAEDEN: Yes. A house can be rebuilt, but everything that you have gathered over the years, you know, a lifetime, actually, in America. I've come here in 1960 and lived in that whole area of L.A. for the last 60 years, nearly, and have seen all kinds of wildfires, all kinds of disasters and slides.

It's the price we pay for living in this beautiful area. California is a fantastic state. It's one of the most productive states in the nation, not according to the orange idiot who will take over on 25th of January or whatever. But it is truly one of the most productive states ever in the United States, produces more agricultural products than any other state in America. OK?

So, all this nonsense you hear about liberal California, there are just as many conservatives here as anywhere else. OK, that is all mis- and disinformation. Anyway, let's -- let's not get on that -- on that bandwagon.

COATES: But I understand the frustration of -- of how the state is being described in the wake of -- and the ongoing devastation that's happening right now.

I mean, you -- you've been in that area for so long, but you grew up in war-torn Germany. And I -- I wonder if you ever imagined that you would live through this extraordinary loss that you've experienced in California.

BRAEDEN: No. But to be frank with you, the difference simply is -- what simply -- the difference is I was born in 1941, at the beginning of the Second World War, more or less, the beginning of the bombing. And I was born in Kiel on the Baltic Sea, and it was a huge area for building warships, et cetera. So, it was a target by the allies, by the Brits, in my case.

And they bombed the smithereens out of my town. Five hundred thousand bombs over Kiel alone. And the town was 96 percent destroyed.

[00:15:06]

So, for the first years, four years of my life, I experienced sirens and then bombs, anti-aircraft. So, we were taken down to the basement of the house every -- every night, every day. And so, I'm kind of used to it. It brings back some memories. Obviously, not pleasant ones.

But this is nature. This is not manmade. The Second World War was caused by an Austrian private who had delusions of grandeur. And this is nature talking to us. And I certainly am not blaming anyone, most certainly not the fire

department. They're wonderful people and always have been; have had nothing but great experiences with them. They are simply outmanned right now. It's extraordinary. It's a devastation unlike any I've ever seen here. It's biblical.

COATES: When you look at -- when you look at -- and I know you say, certainly, politics can always wait, especially in devastation of here. I wonder what you make of the path forward and the response from government; what it ought to be, in the conversations you're having with your neighbors, with your community.

BRAEDEN: To be very frank with you, I think everyone is really trying to do their damn best. OK? And some idiot, the orange idiot, went on television, some -- your fellow network, and claimed all kinds of things about Newsom, and California, and the water distribution. All nonsense, disinformation, period.

There's a guy on your show that does fact checking. I like him a lot.

COATES: Daniel.

BRAEDEN: It's a breath of fresh air. Say hello to him. He's very, very good.

And what some of these characters are now disseminating on one particular network, and on some podcasts, is outrageous and very damaging to our nation.

This is a great nation. Trust me. I know whereof I speak. I come from a nation that believed in fascist ideology for a while, OK? And we certainly will not want to go into that again. But we are close to it, because people want to simplify complex problems.

The essence of fascism is to simplify complex problems and feed people who don't have time to read some bullshit. OK? Wrap.

COATES: Eric Braeden, I'm so glad that I got a chance to speak with you. I'm sorry it's under these circumstances. I truly am. And I'm just praying for your community.

It's hard for me to call you "Eric." I would love to call you "Victor Newman," but I know --

BRAEDEN: Please do.

COATES: -- you have a real -- you have a real name, sir.

BRAEDEN: I love that. I love that role. That's been very good for me for the last, what, 45 years now. And I'm very grateful to it. I'm one of the few actors who's still working with wonderful colleagues and a great network.

And here we go, hopefully, for another ten years at least.

COATES: At least. BRAEDEN: But I watch your program. I watch your program. I want you to know that, OK?

COATES: I very much appreciate it. I -- the cameras are catching me blush, so I better go right now. Thank you so much.

BRAEDEN: And -- and Stephen A. Smith says hello.

COATES: Well, hello. Tell him hello. And thank you so much for joining.

BRAEDEN: Yes.

COATES: And I'm really glad that you were here, but I'm so sorry for the loss. And we are going to continue to follow to make sure that so many communities --

BRAEDEN: We will survive this.

COATES: Yes.

BRAEDEN: We shall survive this.

COATES: Indeed.

BRAEDEN: I'm going to rebuild.

COATES: I hope, soon. Thank you so much.

BRAEDEN: Yes. Thank you.

COATES: Up next, speaking of California Governor Gavin Newsom, he's under a lot of pressure as residents and the president-elect are blasting him and Democrats over the wildfires.

Fellow Governor Jared Polis is standing by to respond, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[00:23:22]

COATES: Governor Gavin Newsom facing a major leadership test as frustration over the response to the fires begins to boil over. Newsom was confronted by a woman in Pacific Palisades earlier today.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Please tell me what you're going to do. I'm not going to hurt him, I promise.

GOV. GAVIN NEWSOM (D-CA): I'm literally talking to the president right now to specifically answer the question of what we can do for you and your daughter.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Can I hear it? Can I hear your call? Because I don't believe it. Why was there no water in the hydrants, Governor? NEWSOM: It's all literally --

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Is it going to be different next time?

NEWSOM: It has to be.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COATES: That woman's frustration was palpable and has been fueled nationally by President-elect Donald Trump, as well, who has been relentless in blaming the governor, accusing him of mismanagement.

Trump today labeling Newsom as an incompetent governor and even called for his resignation.

Joining me now, a fellow governor who has dealt with his fair share of wildfires, Colorado Democrat, Governor Jared Polis.

Governor, thank you so much. As I've just stated, you have dealt with some very tough fires in your own state. The Marshall Fire in 2021 is an example: 100-mile-per-hour winds. We're seeing something similar in California. One thousand homes in your area destroyed.

What is your assessment of how Governor Gavin Newsom is handling this moment?

GOV. JARED POLIS (D-CO): Well, look, Colorado and many other states are sending help. We sent a multi-mission aircraft, five fire engines and crews.

This is not the time for politics. It's not the time for blame. In the middle of a crisis, we all work together. That's what this country is all about.

I'm glad Gavin Newsom is on the scene. I'm glad he's in touch with President Biden. I'm sure the federal forces, as well as, again, many states sending help.

[00:25:08]

There'll be plenty of time to talk about what we can do better next time after. But when you have active fires going and evacuations, everybody should be working together.

COATES: They are certainly in the thick of it. But you heard that woman confronting the governor: impassioned, frustrated, desperate, as well. What can be the response?

POLIS: Look, when -- when people lose everything they have, or they've evacuated and they don't know if they have a home left, emotions are going to be raw.

And all you can do as a leader, as a governor, as well as working to address the crisis, is just to -- to be somebody there to listen. And after our fire, Marshall Fire, 1000 homes lost, President Biden came out a few days later. He met with families that lost their homes around tables in a -- in a big, empty gym. Just hearing their stories and showing that while, look, nobody can bring back your home, but we can do whatever we can to help you rebuild your life. And we're here to understand that you're going through a very tough time.

COATES: They will want tangible results, as you can imagine, in California and beyond.

And speaking of days, we're days away from when President-elect Trump will become President Trump once again. He'll have to work with the likes of Governor Newsom to help California, to help the rebuilding process.

Do you have any concerns about his ability to do that, given the way many believe he's been piling onto this moment and adding politics to really fuel this proverbial fire?

POLIS: Well, I found that the FEMA, the federal emergency workers, to be very professional. They should not be political. They do their work.

The main job of the president is say, get to work and send them. I sure hope that President Trump continues that tradition that all presidents have done before. When we need help, that's what the federal government is there for, and it shouldn't be politicized at all.

They're there to help people with shelter, to get on their lives, to access their insurance, and programs. We set up emergency shops for -- one-stop shops where people could get what they needed that were open for weeks. And I'm sure they'll do the same in -- in California.

And that partnership and trust with the federal government is very important in dealing with disasters and the aftermath, and I hope it's something we can maintain in the Trump administration.

COATES: You mentioned that you have given some assistance to California, as well. Can you tell me the scope and the kind of assistance you've given? And has it been at the request of Governor Gavin Newsom or independently proactive by you?

POLIS: And I texted him earlier today. We have a pool through emergency management where California needs resources. We sent one multi-mission fixed-wing aircraft, five fire engines and crews.

I fully expect that us and many other states will be involved with the aftermath and some of the cleanup.

The states work very well together, along with our federal partners. There's no room for politics in this. We sent people to help with Florida during the hurricane. Again, this is how we work together as a nation.

And it's not about being Republicans or Democrats. A fire burns down your home, no matter what your politics are, no matter what your ideology are. And that's exactly what we're here to help with, however we can. COATES: And of course, you are offering this aid in addition to your

work as the governor of your own state. You delivered your State of the State address today.

You mentioned an issue that is very top of mind politically and across a variety of states 00 frankly, all of the states -- immigration. I want to play a little bit of that for the audience.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

POLIS: And I truly hope that President-elect Trump and Congress can work together quickly to secure the border, stop human trafficking, and stop the illegal flow of guns and drugs.

As a state, we welcome more federal help to detain and deport dangerous criminals.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COATES: So, on the one hand, of course, deporting dangerous criminals, certainly, is one aspect of this. But then there's the concern that many share, Governor, that these deportations could also target, specifically, undocumented migrants who have not been violent or broken the law in == in a way similar to the dangerous criminals.

How will you make sure that federal agents that you cooperate with are prioritizing the distinction?

POLIS: Well, and moments later in the speech, I called for Congress, in addition to securing the border, to create a pathway for people who are here contributing to our society.

That's exactly what we need to do. We need to make sure we can fix our broken immigration system. Of course, help in apprehending criminals always appreciated to make our communities safer.

At the same time, hardworking people in our communities that have been here for years or decades need to have a way that they can come out of the shadows, get their paperwork right, and continue to contribute to our country.

In states like Colorado, it's important for our hospitality and tourism sector, our agriculture sector, our construction sector.

If the Trump administration moves ahead with mass deportations of people who have not committed any crimes, it would increase grocery prices, increase housing prices, and force much of our tourism economy to close.

[00:30:08]

COATES: Governor Polis, we're 11 days away from a new administration. We'll see how they implement what they've stated on the campaign trail.

Governor Polis, thank you so much. POLIS: Thank you.

COATES: Communities decimated by the fires. CNN's Natasha Chen has been out among the wreckage today, and she joins us with a live report, as the winds pick up tonight, making the fight against the fires even harder. That's all next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COATES: We're now following the ongoing fury and destruction of the wildfires that are ravaging the Los Angeles area.

[00:35:02]

Let's go straight to CNN's Natasha Chen, who's in Altadena.

Natasha, I understand you have a devastating update for us.

NATASHA CHEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Laura, we're learning from the L.A. County medical examiner that there are at least ten fire-related deaths they're reporting tonight.

Now, that number may climb as we see more people, more authorities being able to comb through the wreckage of these multiple fires.

And they did not give names for these ten people just yet. Of course, they're wanting to notify next of kin.

We know at least five people have died from the Eaton Fire in Altadena here, where we're standing.

You know, yesterday when we spoke with you, this area was on fire. One side of the street, then another side of the street. That went on for hours and hours.

Tonight, that fire has moved on beyond the hills. We can see some glow beyond the ridge there. But the neighborhoods are completely burned out.

And it's just really devastating to hear families' stories of finding out that their loved ones did not make it, including one woman who told "The Washington Post" that her father was trying to evacuate. He was an amputee who used a wheelchair. And she said he was found next to the bed of his son, who had cerebral palsy, and she said that he would have never left his side -- Laura.

COATES: Unbelievable. Just breaks your heart to think about what happens when the smoke clears, and the choices people have made. And what is left behind is unimaginable.

And earlier today, you visited an evacuation center in Pasadena. What did you hear there?

CHEN: Yes. So that Pasadena shelter mainly took in a lot of people who had evacuated from this fire, from the Eaton Fire. They have about 1,200 people staying there tonight, plus hundreds more who had come during the day just to find resources, to get a toothbrush, to get some clothes.

And that's where we met a couple of people who told us that they lost their homes, including one woman who said that she actually stayed to try and protect her house, because she said it was 100 years old. She was trying to fight the fire for hours until the firefighters had to remove her from the premises.

Here's what she said.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RAYA REYNAGA, EVACUATED FROM FIRE: I can't even teach, and I'm a first responder. I teach people to save lives, and I couldn't even save my house. And I'm just shattered.

VERONICA OSBORN, EVACUATED FROM FIRE: Apparently, I have a decent policy, so maybe I'm going to be OK. So, I'll rebuild. But I'm thinking, am I going to be anxious every time the wind blows, even after I rebuild? And you know, am I going to sit here and go, Oh, is it going to burn down my house again? And I have to start over?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHEN: That last woman that I spoke to, that -- that comment really hit me because that is the question. If you do rebuild, if you decide that this is the place you really want to continue to live, you know, how are you going to react the next time there are high-wind warnings and fire dangers?

That woman also lived in a house that was nearly 100 years old, and she said she was going to throw a party there when it hit the 100 years. And that house did not make it for that date -- Laura.

COATES: I mean, this is trauma. I mean, we're seeing trauma in action. The questions being asked and where things will go.

Natasha Chen, thank you so much.

Experts are warning with the flames comes another hazard: talking about air quality.

The fire is releasing towering plumes of smoke and soot, leading dark clouds of unhealthy pollution to spread throughout the region.

And these fires have more dangers when it comes to air quality than the typical wildfires. Dr. Sanjay Gupta is here to explain -- Sanjay.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Just about anything you might imagine is going to be inside that smoke.

But it is important to draw a little bit of a distinction between standard forest fire and what they call the wildland urban interface. GUPTA (voice-over): Think about that urban setting that you're looking

at there. You're burning everything: plastics and metals. You're unearthing certain metals that are even in the soil. Cars and electronics and carpets and drapes.

All of that gets into the atmosphere. These volatile organic compounds: benzene and formaldehyde and toluene. All these types of things are in the air and people are breathing them in.

GUPTA: Now, initially, you may not have sort of classic symptoms of smoke inhalation injury.

GUPTA (voice-over): It may be more sort of burning eyes and scratchy throat. Even vaguer symptoms like headaches, for example.

But eventually, people may develop breathing difficulties and even chest pain. That's because of the toxicity of the smoke.

GUPTA: But it's also really small particle sizes, as well, something known as particulate matter 2.5. And what that means is, basically. particles as small as 1/20 the width of a human hair. You breathe that in, that goes into your bronchioles, it goes into your lungs, it gets into your bloodstream and can eventually affect just about every organ in the body.

[00:40:10]

So, that's -- that's why there's so much concern there. That can cause sort of this systemic inflammation.

GUPTA (voice-over): There are things you should do to protect yourself. And keep in mind that this -- these toxins in the smoke can travel. They can get miles into the air, and they can travel miles with all the wind.

So, even if you're not directly in the path of the smoke or the fires, you need to be careful here. Stay inside as much as possible.

If you do need to go outside, think about wearing an N-95 mask, a high-quality mask.

Inside, portable indoor air cleaners. That can be really helpful to keep that indoor environment as clean as possible. Now is a good time to look at the filters on your HVAC system, make sure they're up to date.

And also, if you're driving around, turn on the recirculation button on your car. You want to keep the air circulating inside without bringing outside air in.

GUPTA: It's a dangerous situation. Obviously, there's a lot of toxins in the air, but there are also ways to try and protect yourself.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COATES: Dr. Sanjay Gupta, that was so helpful. Thank you so much. You know, some 10,000 structures have been destroyed in the fires

across L.A. And all of those structures mean something to someone.

Next, a family who lost their home in the Eaton Fire joins me to tell their story.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[00:45;49]

COATES: Welcome back to our live breaking coverage of the wildfires raging in Los Angeles. The stories of loss, they just keep pouring in.

Take a look at this. This was the Storc family home before the Eaton Fire. Friends described it as a place of warmth and creativity and community. Family would often host for holidays and other celebrations.

But now, the home has been burnt to the ground. There is nothing left except for a few burnt-through walls that are just barely standing.

Michael and Ruth Storc join me now.

I'm just so sorry to see, especially that before and after, and just get a sense of the community and home that that memory -- that those memories must provide. I'm so sorry you're dealing with this.

And, Michael, I'll begin with you. Can you tell us how long you had to even evacuate? And were you able to rescue anything before you left?

MICHAEL STORC, LOST HOME IN FIRE: We -- we didn't think it was going to be this. We -- we were at dinner. The fire started.

We ran home with the kids and said, you know, grab a few things. We're going to get the pets, and we're going to just spend the night somewhere else. And we'll come back in the morning and, you know, it'll be fine. And --

RUTH STORC, LOST HOME IN FIRE: We hadn't even been evacuated, truly. We just were -- in an abundance of caution, leaving.

COATES: Wow.

M. STORC: Yes. And so, we -- we grabbed a couple things, but not nearly -- not nearly enough. Like, not nearly enough.

R. STORC: We grabbed just some documents and clothes for the next day. So, everything else -- everything else is gone.

COATES: And -- and now, we see what has happened. And I know that you both are, I've heard, eternally optimistic people and grateful for your health and the safety of your loved ones. But, Ruth, can you -- can you describe what you feel like you've lost?

R. STORC: It's really hard to quantify, because my kids lost their home. We lost our home. But besides that, we lost our town, all the people we know from that town, and we lost our sense of security. We have no idea what's going to happen next.

But we lost Altadena. And Altadena -- I don't know -- when people hear fires in California, you know, or in Los Angeles, they think of Hollywood or glamor. Altadena was a really unique and special place.

It was a place where there were people who came to homestead and people who came to ride horses, creative people of all kinds, every very diverse community and all sorts of economic levels. It was really a one-of-a-kind place.

And once we moved there, we knew that was the only place in Los Angeles we would live. It's not just a neighborhood. It's a very specific kind of place.

COATES: I mean, just thinking about that loss, to those who didn't know the community, to hear you describe it, Ruth, is just heartbreaking.

And of course, I'm sure, as anyone would, you think about what's next and -- and what you can try to salvage. Michael, do you know if insurance is going to help in any way or -- or cover any of your at least tangible losses?

M. STORC: Yes, some of it, but it's so hard to know what to do with that. You know, if -- we don't know if everybody's going to come back. We don't know. I mean, the whole place is gone, like, so much of it is just gone.

[00:50:00]

And it's -- is it -- is it going to happen again? Is, you know, L.A. is dry. And there's not a lot of water. And the -- the weather's just become more and more volatile. Like it's just -- in my lifetime, has become more and more volatile.

I'm from there. I'm from L.A. It's different now, you know. It's -- it's -- the winds were really violent. It was just fast and cataclysmic.

COATES: Michael --

M. STORC: So, I don't think, you know.

COATES: I hear the pain.

M. STORC: I don't know at this time. I don't know.

COATES: I really do hear it in your voice. Michael and -- and Ruth, I can't imagine. I mean, just mother to mother, parent to parent. What you tell your kids and - and just hold each other a little bit tighter and -- and move forward as a family.

But I can't imagine what it's like to have those little eyes looking up at me in that moment.

R. STORC: They've been amazing, actually. COATES: Yes.

R. STORC: Yes. Thank you.

COATES: Thank you both. Michael and Ruth Storc, we're thinking about you both.

Up next, a photographer who's on the front lines of fire lines, who's capturing the bravery of firefighters who are battling the inferno.

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[00:56:01]

COATES: News of the wildfires have been nothing short of devastating to see, but sometimes It's the still pictures that tell the story.

My next guest is a photographer who has been covering the fires, capturing unbelievable scenes of heroism. Firefighters just feet from the flames, risking their lives to protect these communities. My guest himself getting up close to the -- to get these images of completely out-of-control fires.

And then there are, of course, the horrible images of destruction stretching as far as the eye can see.

I want to bring in photographer David Swanson.

David, what has it been like capturing these images? Being up close to the story? What are the things you've seen, the smells, the sounds you've heard?

DAVID SWANSON, PHOTOGRAPHER: You mentioned sounds. Well, first of all, thanks for having me on.

What's stood out to me is how quiet it's been. You know, you have the smells, but there's a distinct lack of noise. There are no fire engine sirens, no police cars wailing. It's just people milling about, people -- amazed at the devastation.

It's -- and forgive me, I'm slightly exhausted, but it is the worst I've ever seen.

COATES: That's really saying something, that you've been all over the world. You've reported on disasters. You've covered war zones, 9/11, Katrina, earthquakes. And I wonder how these fires have compared to -- to that.

SWANSON: Well, in all of these situations, you see good people doing good things in the aftermath.

I saw a lot of rescues. I saw a lot of bravery from the first responders. My colleagues and I would stick together. We'd pair off in twos, and we would just look at each other and be astounded.

I'm just shaking my head at what we saw. Just to the horizon. Neighborhoods gone.

COATES: I mean, we know the -- the importance of bearing witness and -- and recording what has been seen, and the pure observation that you have. It must take an emotional toll to see this and capture it.

SWANSON: Well, I'm running on fumes right now, and this is -- fumes and adrenaline. And it won't hit me for a while. It won't hit me.

And I have a good support system from my wife and from my daughter and family and friends. But it never -- it never happens the day of or the or the week of.

But later on, later on, it's going to sink in. I just still can't seem to put a grasp on the size of this: 10,000 homes now.

COATES: And you live in Los Angeles. And is -- is your home safe? And what's it like to cover it in your own hometown?

SWANSON: Well, that's what -- that's what's getting to me is going out into the canyons and on the mountains and coming home to our neighborhood and looking at the trees and looking at the palm trees. And I've just seen it in other places burned.

And how -- how it could just as easily be in our neighborhood. And I'm selfishly concerned about the wind and the weather and the lack of water and the lack of resources.

COATES: Yes.

SWANSON: So, you know, it's -- it's a genuine concern.

COATES: Dave, just thinking about what you've seen and what you have allowed the world to see through these images. I mean, just the -- this moment in time. This is just since Tuesday, practically. And here we are with the scope, as you've described.

Is there one image that is haunting you?

SWANSON: It's not haunting me. But I couldn't believe that gentleman came out of his burning house or his cousin's burning house. I don't know if you've shown it.

But he came out to his flagpole and took down the American flag and wanted it to be photographed and walked away with a folded flag.