A little positivity a year after the LA fires

It’s been a year since wildfires wiped out 16,000 structures in Southern California. One of the houses destroyed belonged to Pauline Gray, a former NICU nurse. She lost everything in the blaze. Her rental property, less than a mile away from her home, also requires some repairs.

“Marketplace Morning Report” host David Brancaccio spoke with Gray about how she plans on moving forward — and why she’s feeling positive about 2026. The following is an edited transcript of their conversation.

David Brancaccio: It's late fall of our fire year, people from our block gather in a park on a Sunday for lemonade, iced tea, and burritos donated by Home State, a local eatery. Pauline Gray owns the property about five addresses from ours, same side of the street.

Pauline Gray: The carport burnt down and the fence. But the house is still standing. My neighbor across the street was instrumental in helping to save my house, and I just put on a new roof. So, with the ventilation system, no smoke went in the house.

Brancaccio: So, what do you have to do there to make it habitable for somebody?

Gray: Well, we're in the process of testing, you know, check the dust inside, and the house is going to be 100 years old next year. So, I have two windows that I need to upgrade.

Brancaccio: And that was what, a rental property? Or do you have family in it?

Gray: A rental property.

Brancaccio: So, where do you live then?

Gray: Point eight miles from my rental property.

Brancaccio: So 0.8 — not even a mile. Did that house stand?

Gray: No. Everything is gone. All my paintings, my Swarovski crystal, my jewelry. I've been having this from the ‘60s. Everything is gone. Not even a pair of shoes.

Brancaccio: What are you thinking of doing?

Gray: Rebuilding. Yes, I have the architect and the builder, and the plans were submitted.

Brancaccio: Oh, maybe you’ll get them back soon then!

Gray: Oh, I always say, “I will.” I don't like “maybe,” and I don't like “if.” “If” is not a word — and “but” — those I try to keep out of my vocabulary. I'm very positive.

Brancaccio: Do you have a contractor yet?

Gray: Yes. Yeah, I'm ready to go.

Brancaccio: So, I mean, how? Insurance, or what?

Gray: Insurance, and if I need to contribute. Yeah, I'm a planner.

Brancaccio: Yeah, so maybe you saved?

Gray: I did. Yeah.

Brancaccio: All right. Well, we're always doing on my program “the importance of savings,” because you just don't know what life will throw your way.

Gray: Pay yourself first. I pay myself 20% of every check I earned.

Brancaccio: Oh, what type of work do you do?

Gray: I'm a neonatal intensive care nurse.

Brancaccio: Oh, where? Still?

Gray: Huntington Hospital. No, I'm retired.

Brancaccio: How long ago did you retire?

Gray: Twelve years. I wanted to do this when I was 5 years old. When I was 35, I went back to school, went to LACC, then I went to USC, and I only wanted to take care of children. So, I did peds general, then I did peds ICU, and then I transferred in 1990 to NICU.

Brancaccio: So then what does 2026 look like?

Gray: 2026 is going to be a beautiful year, because 2025 was not. ‘26 is gonna be a good year.