Visitors to Louisianna might fear an alligator encounter, but if you steer clear of a swamp tour, you may miss the story of survival that keeps the region’s most feared predators alive.

The two fires sparked on Jan. 7 during a historic wind event and swept through the Pacific Palisades and Altadena, killing at least 29, burning over 37,000 acres, or 57.8 square miles, and leaving ...