After 2025 fires, Los Angeles County and local partners join forces to rebuild

Key Takeaways

In the weeks following the Palisades and Eaton fires, which burned more than 38,000 acres and destroyed about 13,000 homes across Los Angeles County, Calif., there was an outpouring of support. 

American Red Cross mobilized nearly 1,900 volunteers and helped provide shelter, food and financial assistance to those affected by the fires. Lady Gaga, Green Day and other big-name acts came together for the FireAid benefit concert, which raised more than $100 million for relief and rebuilding efforts. Individuals cleared debris, fostered pets of families who were forced to evacuate, served hot meals and volunteered to help in every way imaginable. 

Nearly 16 months later, Los Angeles County continues to rebuild, and the community is still showing up for each other, according to Los Angeles County Chair Kathryn Barger. 

“The strength that I’ve seen coming out of this community, neighbor helping neighbor, has been incredible,” Barger said. “And then, I look at the compassion and the resilience that still remains for each survivor … We’ve got a community that is really uplifting each other, recognizing that we are far from done, but we’ve definitely turned that corner.”

The county is working to best support affected residents in a number of ways, including fast-tracking permitting to rebuild and providing financial assistance to workers, nonprofits, small businesses and displaced homeowners and renters. As of April 23, more than 3,100 rebuild applications have been submitted, more than 2,200 permits have been issued and roughly 1,500 homes are in the process of being rebuilt, according to Barger. 

For recovery efforts to be successful, it can’t just be local governments working to repair and rebuild, Barger said. Nonprofit and faith-based organizations have played a critical role in Los Angeles County’s recovery process, and counties should be highlighting their work, she noted. Following the fires, Barger formed a nonprofit, the Altadena Recovery and Rebuild Corporation, to connect government, nonprofits and religious organizations and ensure that any gaps in recovery work are filled.

“With all these disasters, the assumption is government is going to come in and take care of everything, and that’s just not realistic,” Barger said. “I think it’s important for us as government officials to highlight the importance of the nonprofits and the faith-based [partners] … because government advocates for government really well, but we have to advocate for our partners, in good times and in bad. 

“In this case, I’ve seen it firsthand with the impact it’s had on survivors, having a strong relationship that bridges nonprofits with the government.”

Habitat for Humanity has pledged to build 22 homes for families who lost their homes in the fire, which is made possible through Altadena Builds Back Foundation grant funding. The first home rebuilt through the initiative was for Ken and Carol Wood, a couple in their 80s who have lived in the same Altadena neighborhood for over 40 years. The Woods had insurance, but the cost to rebuild was still too high, and they weren’t sure if it was feasible for them until they got connected to Habitat for Humanity. 

“At my age, I never thought I’d be starting over,” Ken Wood said at a press conference last year. “But today, standing on this land I’ve known for decades, I feel something I didn’t expect — hope.”

Ken and Carol’s son, Ken Jr., and his wife, Lara, lived in an Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) on their property, which was also destroyed in the fire. 

“It was such an overwhelming and desperate time,” Lara Wood told San Gabriel Valley Habitat for Humanity. “And you don’t know where to start, so when we heard about Habitat and what they were offering to do, what could potentially happen, it felt like ‘OK, well at least we can start with this. Let’s see what this can do.’ 

“And hearing the hammers and seeing everybody here has filled us with so much hope and makes us feel really joyful that we can move forward through this.”

The Woods were able to move into their new home in March. 

“They’re just an amazing family, inspirational, as are their kids,” Barger said. “Through devastation, they see the brightness that’s coming through, and it amazes me that they can still see the glasses half full.”

Barger and her team volunteered in the rebuilding process. She also has a newsletter, “Keeping up with Kathryn,” that highlights rebuilding efforts and initiatives in need of volunteers. 

“What keeps me going is the fact that I’m here to make sure that the role that government plays is fulfilled,” Barger said. “And in a time when people have such little trust in government, I think that it is vital for me to continue to be that presence in the community.”

In the wake of so much destruction, it’s been inspiring to see the community’s resilience and willingness to show up for each other, Barger said. She shared a story of a member of the Altadena Rotary, Mark Mariscal, who has consistently showed up for survivors over the past year, even though he himself was affected by the fires. 

“I said to Mark, ‘You’ve lost everything, and yet you are advocating for everyone when you also need [support],’” Barger said. “And he said, ‘It’s not about me.’ So, I’ve seen in people like Mark the best, in terms of spirit and giving people hope.

“… During the worst times, you see the best in not only people, but in the organizations that we have in Los Angeles County, to come together to really recognize the need to uplift.”