Wikipedia:Meetup/LA/Wildfire Edit-a-thon at the Live Oak Library

Wildfire Edit-a-thon at the Live Oak Library
When and Where
DateTBD (postponed from Sunday, January 26, 2025)
TimeTBD
AddressLive Oak Library, 22 W. Live Oak Avenue
City, StateArcadia, CA 91007

In response to the January 2025 Southern California wildfires, the Wikimedians of Los Angeles User Group (WikiLA) is organizing a series of edit-a-thons to help document and preserve the story of Los Angeles, especially that of areas in the fire zone, for posterity. For those living in the western half of the Greater Los Angeles area, including Downtown, Central LA, the Westside, the San Fernando Valley and other areas, there is a parallel edit-a-thon on January 26 at the Ebell of Los Angeles in Mid-Wilshire.

To sign up for this event: Log in or create an account.

So many structures with historical, cultural, and architectural significance were lost in the Los Angeles wildfires. Wikipedia articles and our library of freely licensed images on Wikimedia Commons document history and help to preserve legacies for future generations. The edit-a-thon at the Live Oak Library will be devoted to creating and improving articles about landmarks that were destroyed, and the people and organizations that stepped up to help during and after the wildfires.

Wikipedians living in the San Gabriel Valley and the Inland Empire, as well as other parts of Greater Los Angeles that are closer to Arcadia, are highly encouraged to attend this event.

Every Wikipedia article started with an idea and an editor; every photo was donated by someone who believed that an image should be available. Anyone can edit Wikipedia, and we’ll have experienced editors on site to help people learn the ropes.

Please join us. Bring your ideas and your photos and help us ensure that some of what was lost is not forgotten.

Event information

  • Date: TBD (postponed from Sunday, January 26, 2025)
  • Time: TBD
  • Location: Live Oak Library
  • Who should participate:
    • Everyone! No Wikipedia editing experience is necessary; there will be tutorials and experienced editors who will be happy to help. (If you are unfamiliar with Wikipedia, it's easy to get started with this guided tutorial.)
  • Cost: Free (please register below!)
  • Hosts: WikiLA, Live Oak Library

A special thank-you to the staff of the Live Oak Library for hosting us.

Parking

  • A small parking lot is located behind the library. Enter through the alley between the library and Indotech Auto Repair next door.
  • Free street parking is available along Live Oak Avenue, but not in front of the library.

Public Transport

  • Metro Local bus 287 and Foothill Transit bus 492 stop opposite the Live Oak Library at Santa Anita and Live Oak.
  • Metro Local bus 78 stops 0.2 miles (0.32 km) west of the library at Live Oak and McCulloch.

List of articles to edit/create

Articles to improve

Some sources for the above lists

Notability

Wikipedia has inclusion criteria, and not every building (or entity) impacted by the wildfires will meet it. To ensure publication, confirm that the subject of the article you plan to write will meet the notability requirements. See WP: Building Notability, WP:Notability_(events), WP:Businesses with a single location and WP:Notability for the specifics.

(Buildings on the National Register of Historic Places are considered notable by default. Check out the National Register of Historic Places listings in Los Angeles, National Register of Historic Places listings in Pasadena, California, and/or the National Register of Historic Places listings in Los Angeles County, California.)

Commons

A picture's worth a thousand words. By uploading images to Wikimedia Commons we can help preserve the memory of places that were lost. Most articles could use more or better images - why not check out what pictures you've already taken? A decade old picture you took could be how people remember something forever.

Guide to commons uploads
  • Pictures/video/audio can all be uploaded
  • Media MUST be freely licensed. If the photo was from after 1928, you didn't take it, or the rights aren't clearly stated, don't put it on commons.
  • Media should be intended for an educational purpose.

See Commons:Project scope for more information.

Resources for editing

Editing resources

References

  1. ^ https://www.laconservancy.org/save-places/issues/disaster-relief-for-l-a-county-fires/
  2. ^ https://www.usatoday.com/story/graphics/2025/01/14/maps-la-fires-landmarks-destroyed-eaton-palisades/77597127007/
  3. ^ https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/are-landmarks-damaged-california-fires-rcna186996
  4. ^ https://laist.com/news/climate-environment/los-angeles-fire-palisades-eaton-hurst-historic-places-burned
  5. ^ https://www.usatoday.com/story/graphics/2025/01/14/maps-la-fires-landmarks-destroyed-eaton-palisades/77597127007/

Sign up

Anyone with an interest is welcome. RSVP below and bring a laptop if you have one. Please create an account using the “log in” button at the top if the page if you don’t have one already.

Please be aware that by attending this event, you agree to abide by the Wikimedia friendly space policy.

To sign up for this event: Log in or create an account.

Regrets

Maybe

Likely

Definitely