A Pasadena native has lost her home to the wildfire razing through Los Angeles just a day after she finished paying her mortgage.
Totress Beasley, 64, was one of the residents who was placed under evacuation orders. When she returned, she found that her property had been hit by the Eaton Fire and was left in ruins.
"It's gone," she told KTLA 5. "We're in this circumstance with so many other people, victims of the fire."
Struggling Against Price Gouging
Apart from losing her home, Beasley said she and her son, Aaron Miller, are now struggling to find a place to move into after landlords jacked up the rental price. In one case, a landlord charged them $5,000 a month for a one-bedroom apartment. Beasly, however, added that some other people she knew had been charged up to $8,000 for a rental with one bedroom.
The devastating wildfires have displaced tens of thousands of residents, creating a surge in housing demand. Beasley's experience is similar to other cases. For example, a property in Bel Air that was listed for $15,900 last September now costs $29,500 a month. In other places, rental prices spiked by more than 100%.
For perspective, landlords in California cannot increase rents by more than 10% during a declared state of emergency. People who violate the law may face up to one year in jail or pay $10,000 in fines.
Gov. Gavin Newsom, D-CA, has recently extended price-gouging protections until January 2026.
Recent Update on the LA Fires
The Eaton Fire, which began on January 7, 2025, near Altadena and Pasadena, remains active but is now 45% contained. The fire has burned over 14,000 acres, destroyed more than 5,300 structures, and damaged around 600 others. Tragically, it has claimed the lives of 16 civilians and injured six firefighters.
The Palisades Fire, which burned through Pacific Palisades, has destroyed 23,713 acres and is only 21% contained. Meanwhile, the Hurst Fire has burned through 799 acres and is currently 98% contained, according to Cal Fire.
Over 200,000 people have evacuated since the fire began last week.
