Pacific Palisades, Calif. – One year after two massive wildfires ignited just hours apart and tore through opposite sides of Los Angeles County, thousands of families are still struggling to rebuild their lives. The blazes burned for nearly a month, killed 31 people, and destroyed more than 16,000 buildings, leaving long-lasting scars across multiple communities.
According to reporting and analysis cited by the Los Angeles Times, recovery efforts remain stalled for many homeowners due to permitting delays, environmental contamination, and prolonged displacement.
Fires Burned for Weeks, Destroying Entire Neighborhoods
In the Pacific Palisades and nearby Malibu, flames burned for 31 days, scorching roughly 37 square miles and destroying more than 6,000 structures, most of them homes. On the other side of the county, the Eaton Fire devastated Altadena, destroying more than 9,000 buildings.
The fires started within hours of each other, stretching emergency crews thin as they battled extreme conditions across multiple fronts.
Survivors Face Delays, Contamination, and Displacement
Today, many survivors are still waiting for permits to rebuild, while others cannot return because their properties remain contaminated with smoke residue, ash, and asbestos. Even homes that are still standing are, in some cases, unsafe to occupy.
“I’ve seen silver linings all day long,” said Nicole Gyarmathy, who returned to the area near her former apartment to replant flowers one year after the fire.
“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,” she said.
For Gyarmathy, small acts of restoration help process the loss and give hope to others returning to empty lots.
“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.’”
Frustration and Anger Mark the Anniversary
Across the Palisades, recovery has been uneven. On the one-year anniversary, residents marked the moment with protests and memorials, reflecting both grief and frustration over the slow pace of rebuilding.
Ken Ehrlich, an environmental lawyer who lost his home, recalled the moment he first returned after the fire.
“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.”
According to a December analysis, fewer than 14 percent of destroyed homes in the Palisades have received permits to rebuild. Ehrlich said lingering contamination remains a serious concern.
“The threat is real… it’s a big problem,” he said. “People are dealing with it all over the place.”
Signs of Progress, Despite the Long Road Ahead
After months of uncertainty, Ehrlich’s property is finally nearing construction. Heavy machinery now sits on the lot, a visible sign that rebuilding is beginning.
“I’m really excited to move forward and build,” he said. “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 added. “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.”
Altadena Residents Recall the Night the Eaton Fire Exploded
In Altadena, the Eaton Fire unfolded under extreme conditions. Fire crews were already stretched thin when 90-mile-per-hour winds grounded aircraft and caused the blaze to spread rapidly.
Brian Childs stood this week on his cleared property, where no house and no debris remain.
“It’s all you see, it’s black smoke going about 100 miles an hour and flames all around you,” Childs said, recalling the night the fire began.
His home stood for most of the evening before it suddenly disappeared.
“I sat right down across the street for about 15 minutes, called my wife and said, it’s gone,” Childs said. “And she was devastated.”
Recovery Continues, One Year Later
Across Los Angeles County, the path to recovery remains long and uncertain. While some residents are finally seeing progress, many others continue to wait, navigating bureaucratic delays and environmental hazards as they try to rebuild homes, neighborhoods, and a sense of normal life.
