Environmental Tradeoffs Weigh On California’s Rush to Rebuild
Residents embrace amid the ruins of a home in Altadena, California.
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The dangerous winds that kept Los Angeles on edge for days have finally calmed—but a lack of rain and another forecast of high winds next week have officials worried. The two largest fires still burning have become among the most destructive in California history, killing at least 27 people and forcing many residents to move in with family or friends or leave the area altogether. And while politicians are rushing to make it easier for residents to rebuild their homes by waiving green construction mandates, suspending environmental reviews and promising to expedite permits, their efforts could be complicated by the toxic remains of lithium batteries that powered so many Teslas and other electric vehicles in the area. In the meantime, Hollywood studios are beginning to resume shooting many film and TV productions that were halted by the flames.