U.S. News
LA Wildfire Survivors Face Delays and Uncertainty
Clear Facts
- Wildfires in Los Angeles County a year ago destroyed more than 16,000 buildings and killed 31 people.
- Many survivors, especially in Pacific Palisades and Altadena, are still waiting for rebuilding permits.
- Fewer than 14 percent of destroyed homes in the Palisades have received permits to rebuild, and just 10 homes have been rebuilt in Altadena.
One year after devastating wildfires hit Los Angeles County, thousands of families continue struggling to recover as rebuilding efforts move slowly.
Residents in neighborhoods like Pacific Palisades and Altadena are frustrated by delays in permits and ongoing displacement.
“I’ve seen silver linings all day long,” said Nicole Gyarmathy, who returned to her former community to help restore what was lost.
She explained, “Anything that I can do to help bring back health and what used to be here; If it’s planting flowers and trees and cleaning up the trash.”
For Gyarmathy, these efforts help process loss and inspire hope for others still facing uncertainty.
“People are coming up here to visit their lots that are empty,” she said. “They see that, and it just brings them hope that, ‘Oh yeah, no, we’re not being left behind.'”
Uneven recovery has led to public displays of anger, including protests and calls for accountability from city leaders.
Ken Ehrlich, who lost his home in the fire, remembered seeing the devastation firsthand.
“We pulled up right on Sunset… hysterically crying and screaming at the site of our still smoldering property with only the chimney standing,” Ehrlich said. “I literally screamed that we need to get out of here right now.”
Now, construction equipment on his property signals slow progress after months of waiting.
“The threat is real… it’s a big problem,” Ehrlich said. “I mean, people are dealing with it all over the place.”
He added, “I’m really excited to move forward and build. I want to come back to the neighborhood. It’s who we are, and I don’t want to go anywhere else.”
“My hope is standing here,” Ehrlich noted. “My hope is wanting to come back to my home, wanting my family to come back, looking to the future, and really wanting the Palisades to come back better and stronger than it was before.”
In Altadena, extreme winds and stretched resources made the Eaton Fire particularly destructive, leaving many properties empty.
Brian Childs described watching his home disappear as the fire approached.
“It’s all you see, it’s black smoke going about 100 miles an hour and flames all around you,” Childs said.
He recounted, “I sat right down across the street for about 15 minutes, called my wife and said, it’s gone. And she was devastated.”
Only a handful of homes have been rebuilt in Altadena; some rebuilding plans are just now moving ahead.
“This is part of my family’s legacy,” Childs explained. “I want to be able to leave this to my kids, and hopefully their kids.”
Not all residents have the option to rebuild, especially renters who still lack stable housing after a year.
“The housing need remains deeply, deeply urgent,” said Palin Ngaotheppitak. “We still see applications every day, from folks who are living in their cars a year after the fire.”
Ngaotheppitak helps coordinate long-term housing for low-income survivors, highlighting the importance of community support.
“I think it’s even more important for a place like Altadena where the community ties are so strong,” she said. “We’re really looking out for our neighbors here. We are in this together.”
Wildfire survivors across Los Angeles County continue to face uncertainty, but many hold out hope for restoration and a return to their homes.
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