Natalie Kittroff

From The New York Times, I'm Natalie Kitroweth, and this is The Daily. As wildfires ravage Southern California for a seventh straight day, residents are seeking answers about why so much has been lost and whether their government could have done more to protect them.

From The New York Times, I'm Natalie Kitroweth, and this is The Daily. As wildfires ravage Southern California for a seventh straight day, residents are seeking answers about why so much has been lost and whether their government could have done more to protect them.

Today, my colleagues Mike Baker and Chris Flavell on the response so far and whether some of the devastation could have been avoided. It's Tuesday, January 14th.

Today, my colleagues Mike Baker and Chris Flavell on the response so far and whether some of the devastation could have been avoided. It's Tuesday, January 14th.

In the days since the fire started, a bleak picture has emerged of the extent of the damage they caused.

In the days since the fire started, a bleak picture has emerged of the extent of the damage they caused.

These fires are on pace to be the most destructive in California's history. In the Palisades, on the west side of Los Angeles, an out-of-control fire ripped through homes and historic landmarks. Near the eastern edge of the city, entire neighborhoods in Altadena were reduced to ashes. As rescuers combed through the rubble, they found the body of a man named Victor Shaw.

These fires are on pace to be the most destructive in California's history. In the Palisades, on the west side of Los Angeles, an out-of-control fire ripped through homes and historic landmarks. Near the eastern edge of the city, entire neighborhoods in Altadena were reduced to ashes. As rescuers combed through the rubble, they found the body of a man named Victor Shaw.

He was laying dead in his front yard, clutching a garden hose.

He was laying dead in his front yard, clutching a garden hose.

Throughout the week, intense winds fueled new fires. There were more and more haunting images. There were roads full of charred cars, embers falling from the sky onto scorched palm trees, hollowed-out houses. And even though the fires were still burning, residents who had evacuated to safety began to return to survey what was lost. Oh, shit.

Throughout the week, intense winds fueled new fires. There were more and more haunting images. There were roads full of charred cars, embers falling from the sky onto scorched palm trees, hollowed-out houses. And even though the fires were still burning, residents who had evacuated to safety began to return to survey what was lost. Oh, shit.

My colleague, Emily Baumgartner Nunn, was driving up a street in the Palisades when she saw a woman named Naz Sykes hiking up a canyon with her husband, Steve.

My colleague, Emily Baumgartner Nunn, was driving up a street in the Palisades when she saw a woman named Naz Sykes hiking up a canyon with her husband, Steve.

Mike, we've seen this outburst among residents in L.A. of frustration and anger over the government's response to these fires. And there's been a lot of speculation about whether more could have been done. Take me through what happened with the efforts to contain the fires.

Mike, we've seen this outburst among residents in L.A. of frustration and anger over the government's response to these fires. And there's been a lot of speculation about whether more could have been done. Take me through what happened with the efforts to contain the fires.

So they're actively trying to guess, it sounds like, where the most vulnerable places are, and they're surging firefighters, water, resources to those areas.

So they're actively trying to guess, it sounds like, where the most vulnerable places are, and they're surging firefighters, water, resources to those areas.

At this point, do we know how the Palisades fire started?

At this point, do we know how the Palisades fire started?