Trial by Fire: Reflections on Disaster Relief in the Aftermath of the 2025 Los Angeles Fires as an Emerging Conservation Professional

Presentation authors: Malaika Abramson

Blogpost Summary by Sarah Ellison, LACMA Conservation Technician

Malaika Abramson generously shared her personal conservation and preservation experience during the 2025 Los Angeles fires. She began with a moment none of us will forget, the morning hours of January 7, 2025, it was just the beginning . At that detail alone, the room seemed to lose its breath. We were instantly transported back to that morning. 

Abramson reflected on volunteering at fire relief clinics with Art Recovery Los Angeles and the private organization LA Art Labs. Her memories centered not only on the objects she treated, but on the people behind them. She recalled the emotional weight of helping a guest gently clean a soot-covered vase and a menorah, objects carrying history, faith, and survival. Her reflections revealed deep empathy and a commitment to meeting community members where they were at. 

She addressed how intimidating conservation can feel to those unfamiliar with the field. By replacing technical jargon with accessible language, she worked to make the clinics welcoming. Abramson spoke candidly about the emotional and physical toll of working in fire-affected areas, wearing full Tyvek suits and protective gear while handling ash and debris. Even then, she found ways to lighten the heaviness of the work. 

One of her guiding intentions she shared was to “keep art safe for people and connectwith.” The arts, whether drawing, dance, music, or sculpture is how many of us heal. On January7, 2025, for many of us with just a few hours into our work days, in a city of over three million,we became one, caring for both our art and each other.