Airbnb co-founder donations $15 million to Steadfast LA to help wildfire victims rebuild

Headlines From The Times

L.A. Times Studios

News, Daily News, Society & Culture, The Times, California

4.1 • 544 Ratings

🗓️ 20 February 2025

⏱️ 5 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

When wildfires strike, some communities burn—but one neighborhood in Irvine proves that doesn’t have to be the case. A controversial procedure—leg lengthening surgery—is gaining popularity. LA County is taking steps to protect renters following January’s devastating fires. The LA Unified School District has implemented a cellphone ban. In the first month of President Trump’s administration, thousands of federal workers have been fired. And billionaire Joe Gebbia, co-founder of Airbnb, is donating $15 million to Steadfast LA to help wildfire victims rebuild.

Transcript

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0:00.0	This is an LA Times Studios podcast.
0:10.1	Hi, I'm Angelica Coronado here at LA Times Studios.
0:14.0	Here are today's headlines from the Los Angeles Times.
0:17.9	When wildfires strike, some communities burn, but one neighborhood in Irvine proved they don't have to.
0:24.6	Reporter Jack Fleming takes us inside Orchard Hills, where smart planning and strict building codes help stop a massive fire in its tracks.
0:33.6	In 2020, the Silverado fire headed straight for the community, and residents evacuated,
0:40.0	bracing for the worst. But thanks to fire-resistant homes, cleared land, and even a well-irrigated
0:46.4	avocado orchard, not a single house was lost. Unlike older communities in L.A. with dense tree
0:53.4	canopies and winding roads,
0:55.0	Irvine's modern design factored in fire safety from the start.
0:59.0	The lesson is clear.
1:01.0	Smart planning and preparation can make all the difference.
1:05.0	A controversial procedure is gaining popularity, and it's not for the faint of heart.
1:11.6	Reporter Brittany Mejia takes us inside the operating room for a closer look at leg lengthening surgery.
1:18.6	It costs up to $100,000 and requires months of painful recovery, all to be a few inches taller.
1:25.6	18-year-old Eli Maddern underwent the surgery after years of struggling with his self-image.
1:31.8	His doctor, Kevin Debbie Parshad, has performed hundreds of procedures on clients ranging from
1:37.5	tech executives to social media influencers.
1:41.0	The process involves breaking the femur, inserting a titanium nail, and using a magnetic
1:46.0	device to gradually lengthen the bone over time.
1:50.0	It's expensive, painful, and not without risks.
1:54.0	But for some, the promise of a few extra inches makes it all worth it.
	...

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