LOS ANGELES — Following one of Southern California’s most devastating natural disasters, Los Angeles County faces the immense challenge of rebuilding. Thousands of residents, business owners, and officials are grappling with the monumental task of recovery and planning for the future.
The scale of the devastation is immense – the burned area is three times the size of Manhattan.
Alex Rosewood and most of her family in Altadena lost their homes, including her father, aunt, uncle, and cousin.
Irreplaceable keepsakes were lost: her grandmother’s playing cards and unfinished quilt, wedding photos, and family heirlooms. These were lost during their hasty escape as smoke filled the sky and fire engulfed her cousin’s house.
Yet, Altadena remains their home.
“We all plan to rebuild,” she confirmed.
While firefighters continue battling the two fires, which have claimed 25 lives and destroyed over 12,000 structures, government officials are initiating a long-term project: clearing toxic ash and debris from Altadena, Pacific Palisades, and other affected areas. This will be followed by the reconstruction of homes, businesses, and public buildings, along with securing the necessary funding.
Due to ongoing firefighting and hazardous debris, officials announced Thursday that residents eager to assess their properties must wait at least a week. Losses range from luxury oceanfront homes to modest dwellings.
To address health concerns, the county prohibited any debris cleanup until government-led hazardous materials inspections are complete. Meanwhile, hillside instability poses a risk, with a recent landslide in Pacific Palisades illustrating the dangers.
While the prospect of rebuilding offers solace, many uncertainties remain.
What will the rebuilt neighborhoods look like? Will fire-resistant materials and designs be implemented? Is improved infrastructure, including wider roads, necessary for quicker evacuations and emergency vehicle access?
In the desirable coastal areas, rebuilding after fires is common. However, questions arise regarding the wisdom of rebuilding in high-risk zones, particularly in the context of climate change.
“It’s going to be a while before we can get in there and build anything,” stated Michael Hricak, an adjunct architecture professor at USC, citing hazardous chemicals and debris.
Regarding new construction, he emphasized, “It’s not being tougher than Mother Nature. It’s being somewhat respectful of Mother Nature and knowing what the challenges are.”
“Are we just inviting another problem down the road?” Hricak questioned.
The fires struck during a challenging time for Los Angeles, amid a post-pandemic transition affecting work patterns and leaving many downtown buildings vacant.
Simultaneously, preparations are underway for the 2028 Olympics, while the region grapples with a significant homelessness crisis, which was Mayor Karen Bass’s top priority before the fires.
While official damage estimates are pending, private firms anticipate losses in the tens of billions of dollars, potentially making it the costliest fire disaster in U.S. history.
Paradise, California, where a deadly wildfire in 2018 claimed 85 lives, provides insight into the arduous recovery process. That fire destroyed approximately 11,000 homes – about 90% of the town’s structures. Six years later, only around 3,000 homes and apartments had been rebuilt.
Paradise, once home to 26,000 residents, faces challenges including high construction costs, expensive insurance, and uncertainties regarding compensation from Pacific Gas & Electric, held liable for starting the blaze.
In Los Angeles, known for bureaucratic complexities, Mayor Bass issued an executive order to expedite rebuilding efforts.
“As we prepare to make it through the rest of this emergency, we also have to start putting in place what we need to do to rebuild,” the mayor stated Wednesday.
The federal government has approved $100 million to remove hazardous materials from the rubble before debris removal begins. Robert Fenton Jr., a FEMA regional administrator, called this a crucial first step in returning people to their homes.
FEMA is also providing short-term housing assistance.
Peter Dolan, a Santa Monica resident, and his friend both lost their apartments. They visited a disaster recovery center to plan their next steps.
“This is what I got,” the 55-year-old said, showing his remaining possessions: a leather jacket, shorts, and sneakers – the clothes he wore when the fire struck.
Lacking renter’s insurance, Dolan applied for FEMA assistance, expecting $750 and potential hotel coverage for a few months.
Michele Baron and her daughter visited a West Los Angeles recovery center to obtain replacement birth certificates and Social Security cards.
Baron lost nearly everything in her 21-year Pacific Palisades apartment. Her daughter salvaged a ring and childhood pottery.
Despite the devastation, they plan to remain.
“Now that I can go anywhere, I kind of don’t want to,” Baron said.