The U.S. Department of State has released new dates through March for its special passport fairs around the country for travelers who must apply in person.
14.01.2025 - 21:03 / travelpulse.com / Donald Trump / North America / Delta Airlines / Mia Taylor
Words can barely do justice to the devastation that has unfolded across Los Angeles this week amid the raging wildfires that have erupted everywhere from Pacific Palisades to Pasadena.
Entire neighborhoods have been wiped off the map and residents have lost a lifetime of treasures.
At last count, the death toll from the unprecedented four-day fire event stood at 10 and more than 9,000 structures have been destroyed or damaged.
The Biden Administration has swiftly responded to the climate change-driven crisis. The president visited California on Wednesday and later vowed that the federal government will cover 100 percent of the disaster assistance costs for California for the next 180 days.
“I told the governor and local officials, spare no expense to contain these fires,” Biden said. “We’re doing literally everything we can at the federal level.”
The president has sent 400 additional federal firefighters to the state and more than 30 firefighting helicopters and planes. Canada is also providing firefighting aircraft.
While all of these measures and promises have brought comfort to California, Biden only has 11 more days in office. And President-elect Donald Trump has taken the opposite tact, roundly criticizing California officials for the fires and spreading misinformation and falsehoods that have since been debunked.
In addition to the Biden Administration, the travel industry has provided an outpouring of assistance and support for Los Angeles and its impacted residents.
Local organizations such as the Hotel Association of Los Angeles and the Los Angeles Tourism and Convention Board are pitching in, as are international, national, and regional tourism industry operators including Airbnb, Delta Airlines, Internova, and Signature. Here’s a closer look at what’s unfolding.
Wildfires devastated many areas throughout Los Angeles this week. (Photo Credit: Courtesy Ken Shapiro)
Hotels throughout the Los Angeles region are providing shelter and supplies to Angelenos who have been forced to evacuate amid the Palisades, Eaton, and Hurst fires, according to a statement from the Hotel Association of Los Angeles (HALA) that was provided to TravelPulse.
“We are devastated by the destruction of the fires raging across the Los Angeles region,” HALA’s Board of Directors said in a statement. “Hotels are currently taking in thousands of Angelenos who have been displaced…Many of our hotels are providing guests with discounted rates and the necessities they may have left behind in their evacuation, including toiletries.”
In addition, many hotels are welcoming guests’ pets. Some of the pet-friendly properties offering assistance to evacuees are Hilton Irvine Orange County Airport, Alisal Ranch, and the Mission Inn Hotel & Spa.
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The U.S. Department of State has released new dates through March for its special passport fairs around the country for travelers who must apply in person.
The January 2025 wildfires that ravaged parts of Los Angeles have been among the most destructive in California’s history. Recovery efforts are underway, but rebuilding may take years. Understandably, travelers are wondering whether visiting LA right now is safe—or even ethical.
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