LOS ANGELES—In the wake of devastating wildfires that struck the Los Angeles area nearly four months ago, reducing thousands of homes to charred remnants, some resilient residents are beginning the long journey to rebuild.
In Pacific Palisades, construction activity has resumed with workers setting wooden beams on a site where only a soot-stained chimney stood as a reminder of the past. Similarly, in Malibu and Altadena, lots that once held homes are now being cleared of debris, making way for renewed beginnings.
Many homeowners have submitted plans for new home designs along with requests for necessary permits to reconstruct or repair damages. However, only a few have moved beyond the planning stage to break ground.
Earlier this year on January 7, flames engulfed around 17,000 homes, businesses, and other structures. It remains uncertain how many of these will rise from the ashes again.
Financial constraints loom over many homeowners, even those with insurance coverage, as rebuilding costs surge. Concerns about safety add to the uncertainty—limited data exists on the levels of potentially hazardous materials like lead and asbestos that the fires may have left in their wake. Consequently, about 400 land parcels affected by the fires are currently up for sale.
For those determined to rebuild, the path is often fraught with difficulties. The process of securing permits and clearing regulatory hurdles is notoriously complex and drawn out. Completing the rebuilding process may take several years for most.
Los Angeles issued its first building permit nearly two months following the fires, a speedier pace compared to the bureaucratic delays experienced after the Woolsey Fire in 2018, which took over seven months for a permit to be issued.
Rebuilding in Altadena, Kathryn Frazier wrestled with the shock of disaster. A music publicist and life coach, Frazier had raised her children in their four-bedroom, three-bath home before the wildfire consumed it. Although she initially doubted her return, community discussions strengthened her resolve to stay and rebuild.
Currently, she is advancing through the permitting process, her property cleared of debris. To expedite approval, Frazier’s new design closely mirrors her original home. The coming phases include evaluations of electrical, plumbing, and further architectural aspects.
Frazier, at 55, anticipates commencing construction by mid-year, targeting a completion sometime in early 2026. Meanwhile, she is proactively securing material quotes to mitigate potential cost increases due to increased demand and external economic factors.
In the Palisades, DeAnn Heline looks to recreate her lost home—a five-bedroom, eight-bath property with sweeping ocean views, which she painstakingly built over two years before it succumbed to flames. Despite the trauma, Heline and her family remain committed to rebuilding an identical house, incorporating upgrades like fire-resistant materials and exterior sprinklers.
Clearing debris posed a significant challenge due to their home’s basement structure, which complicated the cleanup. While uncertain of the construction timeline, Heline speculates a two to three-year wait before seeing her home again.
The family is concerned about what their neighborhood might look like in the future: a deserted landscape or a noisy construction zone.
In Altadena, support networks have emerged among the displaced community. As the Eaton wildfire obliterated many historic Janes Cottages, including the home of Tim Vordtriede and his family, collaborative efforts such as the Altadena Collective arose. Vordtriede, utilizing his construction expertise, co-founded the collective to assist with logistical challenges inherent in rebuilding. Offering services at a reduced cost, the group aids individuals navigating the complex permit process, aiming to expedite the path from devastation to rehabilitation.
However, even after permits are secured, homeowners may face additional delays before they can return to their rebuilt homes.
“This process is not about crafting dream homes,” Vordtriede emphasized. “This is about extracting ourselves from a nightmare—and doing so with resolve and urgency.”