Jelly Roll & Friends Rock Rose Bowl, Honor First Responders of Devastating Wildfires
A massive fire tore through Los Angeles, killing 11 people and burning 23,000 acres. The devastation caused $250 billion in damage, leaving 6,800 buildings reduced to rubble.
Throughout January’s grim period, teams fought against two major fires – the Palisades and Eaton fires. The weeks-long battle pushed emergency responders to exhaustion as they worked around the clock to control the flames.
In the effort, 1,100 inmates made $30 per day as volunteers. Several fire departments across Southern California teamed up in the huge operation.
“We won’t leave a fire with any hot spots,” said Los Angeles Fire Chief Kristin Crowley to the Los Angeles Times.
Musicians stepped up to help. At the Rose Bowl, Jelly Roll put on ‘Jelly Roll and Friends‘ – a sold-out concert drawing 16,000 fans, including the dedicated inmate firefighters who helped fight the blaze.
The show was packed with talent. Lainey Wilson, Marshmello, and Lady Gaga performed, with Gaga debuting a song about the fire’s toll. The crowd lifted their phones to light up the arena at powerful moments.
How the fire started remains unclear. Two main possibilities exist: a flare-up from an 8-acre fire on New Year’s Day, or a new fire starting in the area.
Assistant Chief Joe Everett questioned the first idea. “That fire was dead out. If it is determined that was the cause, it would be a phenomenon,” he told the Los Angeles Times.
When disaster hit, alert systems failed, and streets jammed. Gov. Gavin Newsom spoke frankly to the Los Angeles Times: “The fact that people were still not evacuated, still did not heed the warning … is a reminder of how serious this moment is.”
Now officials are looking at the Lachman fire, which started from New Year’s fireworks, hoping it might explain the broader destruction.
