A city rises again from the ashes - but will it be strong enough?

Key Points:

• Jonathan Vigliotti's new book, "Torched," recounts his experience covering the devastating California fires that destroyed many older wood homes in Los Angeles, highlighting how homes built to different standards fared differently during the fires.
• The city is rushing to rebuild before the 2028 Olympics, compressing processes that usually take a year into months, but this haste risks repeating past mistakes by sticking to traditional wood construction instead of more fire-resistant materials like steel and concrete.
• Unlike other disaster-hit cities such as Joplin and New Orleans, which adopted stronger building codes after their catastrophes, Los Angeles is largely maintaining the status quo in rebuilding efforts, despite the increasing threat of extreme fires fueled by climate change.
• Vigliotti emphasizes that there is still time to change course before most homes break ground, urging for more resilient building practices to withstand future wildfires, as the threat of climate-driven disasters continues to grow.
• "Torched" will be published on May 12 and is available in multiple formats, offering a detailed look at the challenges and decisions shaping Los Angeles' recovery and preparation for future climate risks.