One year after 2025 wildfires, Los Angeles begins rebuilding amid ongoing probes

One year after wildfires swept through Pacific Palisades and Altadena on Jan. 7, 2025, residents and officials in Los Angeles are beginning to rebuild: schools in the Palisades burn scar have reopened, debris has been removed, and construction crews and new frames are visible in both communities.

The fires killed at least 31 people, destroyed more than 16,000 buildings and scorched nearly 80 square miles. City and county officials have issued more than 2,600 building permits, and local data showed hundreds of rebuilds under construction and thousands more in planning stages.

Researchers at UCLA estimated property and capital losses as high as $131 billion, and philanthropy and crowdfunding have generated close to $1 billion for recovery efforts. Survivors continue to face financial and health challenges. More than 70 percent of displaced residents remain displaced, about four in 10 have taken on debt and nearly half have depleted savings, according to a survey by the Department of Angels.

Many homeowners remain entangled with insurers; insurers have paid out substantial sums, with one company saying it had paid more than $1.2 billion to customers affected by the fires. Questions about causes and responsibility persist. Federal investigators have linked the Palisades fire to embers after a Jan.

Key Topics

Politics, Los Angeles Wildfires, Pacific Palisades, Altadena, Southern California Edison, Karen Bass