Angelenos Start Recovery Journey Six Months After January's Fires

A Community in Grief and Resilience

Standing on the scorched earth where his sister once lived, Zaire Calvin addressed a gathering of neighbors, loved ones, and community organizers. “My sister Evelyn McClendon was the first victim found in the fire,” he said. “Me and my cousin came up here the next day and found her.”

For miles around, empty lots remain where homes once stood in West Altadena. Monday, July 7, marked six months since the most destructive fires in Los Angeles County history erupted, killing at least 30 people and destroying more than 16,000 structures in Altadena and the Pacific Palisades.

Altadena residents observed the anniversary with a vigil to honor the 18 lives lost in the Eaton Fire. Through prayers, songs, and shared stories about the deceased, the community sought healing as they entered the next phase of recovery.

“The diversity of my community and the love they show is unlike anywhere else in the world,” said Calvin. “We have to stay united. We have to fight to make sure we come back.”

The Road to Recovery

As summer heat approaches and the threat of fires looms again over the Southland, recovery is just beginning for many affected by January’s infernos. Some survivors have started rebuilding, while others remain displaced or have chosen to start anew elsewhere. Residents are navigating the complex process of debris removal, insurance claims, and rebuilding permits.

Local, state, and federal governments have been working to clear debris from the area. Nearly 10,000 homes have been cleared—months ahead of schedule. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has cleared debris from more than 9,000 lots, covering 97% of properties in the Eaton Fire zone and 87% in the Palisades Fire zone. However, nearly 1,000 properties that opted out of the government debris removal program still need cleanup.

Around a quarter of the nearly 400 rebuild permits applied for by Pacific Palisades property owners have been approved, while only about 5% of the over 900 rebuild permits submitted by Altadena residents have been approved. Governor Gavin Newsom emphasized the urgency of the recovery efforts, outlining plans to lower construction costs, reduce property taxes, and expedite rebuilding.

Newsom signed an executive order to speed up rebuilding by expanding exemptions under the Coastal Act and California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) in LA, suspending local permitting laws and building codes for fire-affected homes. LA County Supervisor Board Chair Kathryn Barger announced the county’s new “Forward: Blueprint for Rebuilding” plan, which includes waiving requirements and lowering rebuilding costs, expediting property tax relief, accelerating permitting, and undergrounding more than 150 miles of overhead utilities.

Community Calls for Action

Fire victims question whether the proposed recovery plans will be enough. Led by the Eaton Fire Survivors Network (EFSN), hundreds of survivors gathered to demand urgent action from state and local officials to hold insurance companies accountable. Joy Chen, founder of EFSN, highlighted how insurance companies are blocking recovery through delays and denials.

California’s Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara has initiated an investigation into State Farm Insurance, but he also approved an emergency rate hike for the company, which is estimated to owe LA fire survivors $3.5 billion. Many residents face a significant gap between insurance payouts and the actual cost of rebuilding.

Zaire Calvin estimated the gap between his insurance and the cost to rebuild to be around $1.2 million. He noted that most victims’ Additional Living Expenses (ALE) provided by insurance companies will soon run out, leaving families without a place to stay.

Organizers of the Altadena vigil presented their list of demands, including grants or no-interest loans, removal of red tape, comprehensive testing for toxic contamination, remediation for all, moratoriums on selling to developers, and safety for all, especially Latino day laborers.

Fire and ICE

At the vigil, Brandon Lamar, president of the Pasadena NAACP, spoke about the role of day laborers during the fire. “They were the first to come and clean our lots before any city personnel,” he said. However, these same workers are now being targeted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Sen. Alex Padilla acknowledged the vital role of immigrant labor in the reconstruction of Altadena and the Palisades. “This is the time to respect and honor the contributions of so many immigrants in our communities,” he said. Mayor Karen Bass responded to ICE activity at MacArthur Park, where armed federal officers and National Guard troops descended upon the mostly immigrant neighborhood.

Governor Newsom criticized the actions of the Trump administration, calling it a disgraceful “spectacle.” He emphasized that the National Guard deployed for fire recovery should not be used for political purposes. “Let them get back to work,” he said.