Mariah Lanphardt

On Friday morning, a long line of cars formed in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, a place that's been decimated over the past few days by raging wildfires. In areas where the fires have burned out, authorities have started to let residents back in to assess the damage and to see what's left of their homes. In one of the cars was a woman named Mariah Lanphardt.

On Friday morning, a long line of cars formed in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, a place that's been decimated over the past few days by raging wildfires. In areas where the fires have burned out, authorities have started to let residents back in to assess the damage and to see what's left of their homes. In one of the cars was a woman named Mariah Lanphardt.

In the line of cars waiting to get back to the Pacific Palisades, Mariah, Gavin, and our colleague Catherine chatted in Mariah's Honda Civic. They talked about life before the fire. Mariah, who's 24, lived with her 80-year-old great-aunt, Their house was a white, single-story family home with a blue awning and a big backyard. Her aunt moved there in the mid-1970s.

In the line of cars waiting to get back to the Pacific Palisades, Mariah, Gavin, and our colleague Catherine chatted in Mariah's Honda Civic. They talked about life before the fire. Mariah, who's 24, lived with her 80-year-old great-aunt, Their house was a white, single-story family home with a blue awning and a big backyard. Her aunt moved there in the mid-1970s.

Mariah said it was filled with a lifetime of possessions, like her aunt's art collection and handmade wooden furniture. Several generations of Mariah's family lived in the neighborhood, including her grandma, who she calls her Obachan.

Mariah said it was filled with a lifetime of possessions, like her aunt's art collection and handmade wooden furniture. Several generations of Mariah's family lived in the neighborhood, including her grandma, who she calls her Obachan.

Gavin was a much more recent addition to the neighborhood. He moved there in 2010 with his wife. Now they have two kids and lived in an area known as the Alphabet Streets. Last Tuesday morning, Gavin and his family were at home when smoke began to appear on the hills above their house.

Gavin was a much more recent addition to the neighborhood. He moved there in 2010 with his wife. Now they have two kids and lived in an area known as the Alphabet Streets. Last Tuesday morning, Gavin and his family were at home when smoke began to appear on the hills above their house.

That day, the Santa Ana winds gusted up to 100 miles an hour, equivalent to a Category 2 hurricane fanning the flames. By the afternoon, they decided to evacuate and go to a hotel.

That day, the Santa Ana winds gusted up to 100 miles an hour, equivalent to a Category 2 hurricane fanning the flames. By the afternoon, they decided to evacuate and go to a hotel.

Mariah and her aunt first noticed a smoke plume at 10.30 a.m. while out on their daily walk. A few hours later, they got a call from the city telling them to evacuate. Mariah grabbed what she could, her passport, her journals, and managed to record a video as she was leaving. She played it for Catherine.

Mariah and her aunt first noticed a smoke plume at 10.30 a.m. while out on their daily walk. A few hours later, they got a call from the city telling them to evacuate. Mariah grabbed what she could, her passport, her journals, and managed to record a video as she was leaving. She played it for Catherine.

While Gavin and his family waited in the hotel, they were able to get a sense of what was going on back at their house. Their home was outfitted with a security system that logged when things were tampered with. And as the flames reached his home, he got a painful play-by-play of what was happening.

While Gavin and his family waited in the hotel, they were able to get a sense of what was going on back at their house. Their home was outfitted with a security system that logged when things were tampered with. And as the flames reached his home, he got a painful play-by-play of what was happening.

As of Monday morning, more than 12,000 structures have been destroyed by the L.A. fires. Everything from mobile homes to celebrity mansions, as well as businesses and schools. Entire neighborhoods have been reduced to ash. The focus now for people affected, like Mariah and Gavin, is to figure out what they lost. And to do that, they need to see what's left of their homes.

As of Monday morning, more than 12,000 structures have been destroyed by the L.A. fires. Everything from mobile homes to celebrity mansions, as well as businesses and schools. Entire neighborhoods have been reduced to ash. The focus now for people affected, like Mariah and Gavin, is to figure out what they lost. And to do that, they need to see what's left of their homes.

Mariah wanted to see if anything had survived and to take a photo for her aunt, who said she'd have to see it to believe it. In Gavin's case, he knew his house had been destroyed. He happened to see drone coverage of his neighborhood on the news, and a neighbor had sent him a picture. But it looked like there might be one thing left, his car, a silver BMW he's had for 16 years.

Mariah wanted to see if anything had survived and to take a photo for her aunt, who said she'd have to see it to believe it. In Gavin's case, he knew his house had been destroyed. He happened to see drone coverage of his neighborhood on the news, and a neighbor had sent him a picture. But it looked like there might be one thing left, his car, a silver BMW he's had for 16 years.

Another reason Mariah and Gavin were waiting in line was to take photos for insurance claims they plan to file.

Another reason Mariah and Gavin were waiting in line was to take photos for insurance claims they plan to file.

So far, the fires have racked up more than $50 billion in losses. It's the costliest fire in U.S. history. And that number is likely to grow, considering the fires aren't contained yet. At least 24 people have died. By 3 p.m. on Friday, hours after they first arrived in line, Mariah's car finally made it to the front. When they got there, a police officer was waiting.

So far, the fires have racked up more than $50 billion in losses. It's the costliest fire in U.S. history. And that number is likely to grow, considering the fires aren't contained yet. At least 24 people have died. By 3 p.m. on Friday, hours after they first arrived in line, Mariah's car finally made it to the front. When they got there, a police officer was waiting.

He told Mariah and Gavin that they'd be escorted up to their homes and that they'd only have a few minutes there.

He told Mariah and Gavin that they'd be escorted up to their homes and that they'd only have a few minutes there.

With her was a man from her neighborhood named Gavin Bates.

With her was a man from her neighborhood named Gavin Bates.

With a few other cars and a police escort, they began driving towards the neighborhood.

With a few other cars and a police escort, they began driving towards the neighborhood.

We'll be right back.

We'll be right back.

As Mariah, Gavin, and Catherine were escorted into the neighborhood by police, they saw the scale of the destruction with their own eyes. Oh, wow.

As Mariah, Gavin, and Catherine were escorted into the neighborhood by police, they saw the scale of the destruction with their own eyes. Oh, wow.

Mariah drove them up towards her street. Is this where you were going?

Mariah drove them up towards her street. Is this where you were going?

The fire's erratic path turned whole sections of the neighborhood into charred ruins. This one's still smoking.

The fire's erratic path turned whole sections of the neighborhood into charred ruins. This one's still smoking.

And Gavin and Mariah began pointing out the random objects that had survived the fire.

And Gavin and Mariah began pointing out the random objects that had survived the fire.

Getting into the neighborhood was a slow process. Police were escorting people in, in part to protect against looters, and they only let a handful of cars in at a time.

Getting into the neighborhood was a slow process. Police were escorting people in, in part to protect against looters, and they only let a handful of cars in at a time.

Incredibly, some houses were still standing.

Incredibly, some houses were still standing.

Yeah, untouched.

Yeah, untouched.

Eventually, they turned onto Mariah's street.

Eventually, they turned onto Mariah's street.

They drove down a row of burnt houses until Mariah spotted hers.

They drove down a row of burnt houses until Mariah spotted hers.

Mariah got out of the car and walked through the rubble. She called her aunt on FaceTime.

Mariah got out of the car and walked through the rubble. She called her aunt on FaceTime.

Mariah showed Catherine where her bedroom had been and reflected on the irreplaceable belongings that were now gone.

Mariah showed Catherine where her bedroom had been and reflected on the irreplaceable belongings that were now gone.

Also in the car was our colleague Catherine Sayre, who Mariah said could tag along to report on the damage.

Also in the car was our colleague Catherine Sayre, who Mariah said could tag along to report on the damage.

After taking some photos, Mariah and Catherine got back into the car where Gavin was waiting for them.

After taking some photos, Mariah and Catherine got back into the car where Gavin was waiting for them.

And then it was Gavin's turn.

And then it was Gavin's turn.

As expected, Gavin's house was gone. But his BMW was still there.

As expected, Gavin's house was gone. But his BMW was still there.

The car looked remarkably untouched by the fire. But the real test was whether it would start. Other residents that had been escorted along with Mariah and Gavin looked on as he gave it a try.

The car looked remarkably untouched by the fire. But the real test was whether it would start. Other residents that had been escorted along with Mariah and Gavin looked on as he gave it a try.

It was a small victory after a long day. By now, the few minutes Mariah and Gavin had inside their neighborhood were up. The sun was setting, and it was time to part ways.

It was a small victory after a long day. By now, the few minutes Mariah and Gavin had inside their neighborhood were up. The sun was setting, and it was time to part ways.

Gavin got into his car and drove off to a friend's house, where he and his family are now staying. Mariah and Catherine got back into the Honda Civic and started making their own journey out of the Palisades.

Gavin got into his car and drove off to a friend's house, where he and his family are now staying. Mariah and Catherine got back into the Honda Civic and started making their own journey out of the Palisades.

The Palisades Fire, which has burned more than 23,000 acres, is only 14% contained. Wind gusts are expected to pick up again tonight, and other major fires are still burning around the city. So, while Mariah and Gavin now begin the difficult process of trying to rebuild their lives, other L.A. residents are still at risk of losing their homes. That's all for today, Monday, January 13th.

The Palisades Fire, which has burned more than 23,000 acres, is only 14% contained. Wind gusts are expected to pick up again tonight, and other major fires are still burning around the city. So, while Mariah and Gavin now begin the difficult process of trying to rebuild their lives, other L.A. residents are still at risk of losing their homes. That's all for today, Monday, January 13th.

Catherine spent the next few hours with Mariah and Gavin, just two of the thousands of people whose lives have been turned upside down by the ongoing fires in Los Angeles. Welcome to The Journal, our show about money, business, and power. I'm Ryan Knudson. It's Monday, January 13th. Coming up on the show, a journey back to the Pacific Palisades.

Catherine spent the next few hours with Mariah and Gavin, just two of the thousands of people whose lives have been turned upside down by the ongoing fires in Los Angeles. Welcome to The Journal, our show about money, business, and power. I'm Ryan Knudson. It's Monday, January 13th. Coming up on the show, a journey back to the Pacific Palisades.

The Journal is a co-production of Spotify and The Wall Street Journal. Additional reporting in this episode by Joe Flint. Thanks for listening. See you tomorrow.

The Journal is a co-production of Spotify and The Wall Street Journal. Additional reporting in this episode by Joe Flint. Thanks for listening. See you tomorrow.

On Friday morning, a long line of cars formed in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, a place that's been decimated over the past few days by raging wildfires. In areas where the fires have burned out, authorities have started to let residents back in to assess the damage and to see what's left of their homes. In one of the cars was a woman named Mariah Lanphardt.

In the line of cars waiting to get back to the Pacific Palisades, Mariah, Gavin, and our colleague Catherine chatted in Mariah's Honda Civic. They talked about life before the fire. Mariah, who's 24, lived with her 80-year-old great-aunt, Their house was a white, single-story family home with a blue awning and a big backyard. Her aunt moved there in the mid-1970s.

Mariah said it was filled with a lifetime of possessions, like her aunt's art collection and handmade wooden furniture. Several generations of Mariah's family lived in the neighborhood, including her grandma, who she calls her Obachan.

Gavin was a much more recent addition to the neighborhood. He moved there in 2010 with his wife. Now they have two kids and lived in an area known as the Alphabet Streets. Last Tuesday morning, Gavin and his family were at home when smoke began to appear on the hills above their house.

That day, the Santa Ana winds gusted up to 100 miles an hour, equivalent to a Category 2 hurricane fanning the flames. By the afternoon, they decided to evacuate and go to a hotel.

Mariah and her aunt first noticed a smoke plume at 10.30 a.m. while out on their daily walk. A few hours later, they got a call from the city telling them to evacuate. Mariah grabbed what she could, her passport, her journals, and managed to record a video as she was leaving. She played it for Catherine.

While Gavin and his family waited in the hotel, they were able to get a sense of what was going on back at their house. Their home was outfitted with a security system that logged when things were tampered with. And as the flames reached his home, he got a painful play-by-play of what was happening.

As of Monday morning, more than 12,000 structures have been destroyed by the L.A. fires. Everything from mobile homes to celebrity mansions, as well as businesses and schools. Entire neighborhoods have been reduced to ash. The focus now for people affected, like Mariah and Gavin, is to figure out what they lost. And to do that, they need to see what's left of their homes.

Mariah wanted to see if anything had survived and to take a photo for her aunt, who said she'd have to see it to believe it. In Gavin's case, he knew his house had been destroyed. He happened to see drone coverage of his neighborhood on the news, and a neighbor had sent him a picture. But it looked like there might be one thing left, his car, a silver BMW he's had for 16 years.

Another reason Mariah and Gavin were waiting in line was to take photos for insurance claims they plan to file.

So far, the fires have racked up more than $50 billion in losses. It's the costliest fire in U.S. history. And that number is likely to grow, considering the fires aren't contained yet. At least 24 people have died. By 3 p.m. on Friday, hours after they first arrived in line, Mariah's car finally made it to the front. When they got there, a police officer was waiting.

He told Mariah and Gavin that they'd be escorted up to their homes and that they'd only have a few minutes there.

With her was a man from her neighborhood named Gavin Bates.

With a few other cars and a police escort, they began driving towards the neighborhood.

We'll be right back.

As Mariah, Gavin, and Catherine were escorted into the neighborhood by police, they saw the scale of the destruction with their own eyes. Oh, wow.

Mariah drove them up towards her street. Is this where you were going?

The fire's erratic path turned whole sections of the neighborhood into charred ruins. This one's still smoking.

And Gavin and Mariah began pointing out the random objects that had survived the fire.

Getting into the neighborhood was a slow process. Police were escorting people in, in part to protect against looters, and they only let a handful of cars in at a time.

Incredibly, some houses were still standing.

Yeah, untouched.

Eventually, they turned onto Mariah's street.

They drove down a row of burnt houses until Mariah spotted hers.

Mariah got out of the car and walked through the rubble. She called her aunt on FaceTime.

Mariah showed Catherine where her bedroom had been and reflected on the irreplaceable belongings that were now gone.

Also in the car was our colleague Catherine Sayre, who Mariah said could tag along to report on the damage.

After taking some photos, Mariah and Catherine got back into the car where Gavin was waiting for them.

And then it was Gavin's turn.

As expected, Gavin's house was gone. But his BMW was still there.

The car looked remarkably untouched by the fire. But the real test was whether it would start. Other residents that had been escorted along with Mariah and Gavin looked on as he gave it a try.

It was a small victory after a long day. By now, the few minutes Mariah and Gavin had inside their neighborhood were up. The sun was setting, and it was time to part ways.

Gavin got into his car and drove off to a friend's house, where he and his family are now staying. Mariah and Catherine got back into the Honda Civic and started making their own journey out of the Palisades.

The Palisades Fire, which has burned more than 23,000 acres, is only 14% contained. Wind gusts are expected to pick up again tonight, and other major fires are still burning around the city. So, while Mariah and Gavin now begin the difficult process of trying to rebuild their lives, other L.A. residents are still at risk of losing their homes. That's all for today, Monday, January 13th.

Catherine spent the next few hours with Mariah and Gavin, just two of the thousands of people whose lives have been turned upside down by the ongoing fires in Los Angeles. Welcome to The Journal, our show about money, business, and power. I'm Ryan Knudson. It's Monday, January 13th. Coming up on the show, a journey back to the Pacific Palisades.

The Journal is a co-production of Spotify and The Wall Street Journal. Additional reporting in this episode by Joe Flint. Thanks for listening. See you tomorrow.