Eaton fire

Los Angeles County is seeking a contractor to water 1,100 newly planted trees in unincorporated communities as part of its Community Forest Management Plan, which aims to advance climate resilience and equitable investment in historically underserved areas like fire-devastated Altadena.

Los Angeles County Public Works will start hauling fire-related sediment from Eaton Wash Reservoir in late July, with operations ending Nov. 15. The project addresses debris washed into the reservoir after the Eaton Fire burned the surrounding watershed.

Los Angeles County will host a free webinar on July 10 explaining tax relief options for survivors of last year’s wildfires. The session will be led by Deanna S. Newton, managing attorney of the Low Income Taxpayer Clinic at the Koreatown Youth and Community Center.

FEMA extended the deadline for housing aid to Eaton Fire survivors until July 9, 2027, following requests from Gov. Gavin Newsom, California’s congressional delegation, and local officials. The extension was approved June 24 to address ongoing obstacles faced by displaced homeowners.

Altadena residents who exhausted their federal disaster aid from the Eaton Fire may qualify for a state grant of up to $10,000 through California’s State Supplemental Grant Program. The program, administered by the California Department of Social Services, assists survivors with unmet disaster-related losses after maxing out FEMA aid.

Pasadena City Councilmember Rick Cole is hosting a webinar on July 7 to discuss community mental health, citing international conflict, national unrest, the Eaton Fire's effects, and economic inequality as contributing factors. The event aims to explore approaches to strengthening mental health support and encourage public participation.

Sheriff’s Deputies and Pasadena Police are enforcing a zero-tolerance policy for fireworks during the Fourth of July weekend, citing the destructive Eaton Fire as a key reason. The Altadena Sheriff’s Station emphasized that all fireworks are illegal and will be strictly enforced, with warnings shared on social media.

A state bill (SB 1090) aimed at protecting fire-damaged Altadena neighborhoods from real estate speculation advanced through the Assembly Housing and Community Development Committee. The legislation, authored by Sen. Sasha Renée Pérez, seeks to pause housing-density laws for five years to prevent community reshaping by out-of-town investors.

Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger urged residents and small business owners affected by the Eaton Fire to apply for federal disaster loans. The U.S. Small Business Administration extended the timeline for SBA Home and Business Physical Disaster Loans, allowing approved borrowers 24 months to draw down funds.

Fire survivors and community representatives from Altadena are traveling to Sacramento to testify at hearings for Senate Bill 1090, which aims to pause fast-track housing development on lots burned in the Eaton Fire. The bill, known as the Keep Altadena Land in Altadena Hands Act, is scheduled before two Assembly committees chaired by Assemblymember Matt Haney.

A new wellness initiative by Jericho Road Pasadena aims to support nonprofit workers who have been helping Altadena recover from the Eaton Fire for 1.5 years. The program focuses on the well-being of those who staffed aid centers and coordinated volunteer efforts post-fire.

The federal government approved $3.4 billion in disaster loans for survivors of the January 2025 Eaton and Palisades wildfires, but only $1 billion has been disbursed. June 30, 2026, is the final deadline for survivors in Los Angeles County to accept funds through the SBA’s routine process, after which remaining assistance will require case-by-case approval.

Southern California Edison reported extending over $700 million in offers to more than 5,000 people affected by the January 2025 Eaton Fire. The utility will address questions about its voluntary payout program at a community meeting in Pasadena on June 30.

Three Maranatha High School juniors are hosting a free Basketball and Wellness Camp for children affected by the Eaton Fire. The camp, named Healing Hoops Altadena, will run from July 13 to 17 at the Pasadena Tabernacle Corps Community Center.

New 3D video analysis and enhanced surveillance footage are fueling allegations that Southern California Edison's equipment caused the Eaton Fire. Victims and attorneys cite the video as evidence of the blaze's origin.

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors is directing county agencies to create a plan to clear vegetation from lots affected by the Eaton and Palisades fires, which are overgrown and pose a fire risk in Altadena and Palisades.

Los Angeles County launched the Altadena Commercial Concierge Program to assist businesses and commercial property owners in rebuilding after the Eaton Fire. The program offers expedited permitting, technical assistance, and connections to recovery resources through dedicated representatives.

California Secretary of State Shirley Weber will deliver a keynote at a free dinner for Eaton Fire survivors in Pasadena on June 25. The event, hosted by LA Fire Justice, includes a 3D video analysis of the January 2025 fire's origin.

Altadena's recovery from the Eaton Fire is progressing faster than Pacific Palisades on several measures, per a Los Angeles County report. However, fewer than 1% of destroyed homes have been rebuilt, and displacement assistance is ending for thousands of survivors.

Federal disaster aid for survivors of the Eaton Fire will continue through extended deadlines approved by FEMA, allowing eligible homeowners assistance until July 9, 2027, and renters until October 9, 2026. The extension applies to areas like Altadena and Pasadena, where the 2025 Los Angeles wildfires caused destruction.

The Rubio Cañon Land and Water Association, a nonprofit mutual water company in Altadena, is rebuilding the Maiden Lane Reservoir damaged by the Eaton Fire 18 months ago. The $2 million restoration project, funded in part by insurance, marks a key step in recovering from the blaze that disrupted the community.

Altadena small businesses have until June 24 to enroll in the free 'Shop Local Marketing Lab+' program, designed to help businesses affected by the Eaton Fire rebuild visibility and customer bases. The initiative is led by the Los Angeles County Department of Economic Opportunity in partnership with Google and SoCal Grantmakers.

The Pasadena Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on June 24 to consider recommending the repeal of two interim ordinances blocking Senate Bill 9 housing applications in high fire-risk areas affected by the Eaton Fire. The ordinances, adopted in fall 2025, temporarily prohibited denser SB 9 development in those zones.

Watch Duty, a fire tracking app, is expanding to monitor floods after successfully helping over 2.5 million users track wildfires in Los Angeles County. The app was developed by John Mills following his experience with inadequate alerts during a fire near his home and now aims to improve flood communication, especially after deadly Texas floods in July 2024.

Pasadena Unified School District plans to remove 193 mature trees from eleven campuses as part of soil remediation following the Eaton fire. Removals began on June 11, with 16 trees already cut down. Michelle Matthews, a parent whose son attended four schools in the district, argues that the trees are being wrongly treated as the problem.

Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD) board voted to attempt saving 57 of 193 trees slated for removal due to soil contamination from the Eaton Fire, following public outcry. The decision directs staff to explore alternative soil remediation methods near mature trees instead of excavation, though success is not guaranteed.

Survivors of the Eaton Fire credited E-Central Credit Union with providing financial assistance during their rebuilding efforts after losing homes. The credit union waived fees for financial transactions and offered guidance to members affected by the fire.

AB 1847, a bill to extend mortgage forbearance for Eaton and Palisades fire survivors from 12 to 36 months, passed the California Senate Banking and Financial Institutions Committee. The legislation was authored by Assemblymember John Harabedian, whose district was affected by the Eaton Fire.

A California bill to allow homeowners to pause mortgage payments after declared disasters advanced through the Senate Banking and Financial Institutions Committee with a 7-0 vote. The bill, AB 1842 (California Emergency Mortgage Relief Act), was authored by an Assemblymember whose district was impacted by the Eaton Fire and now moves to the Senate Judiciary Committee. The legislation is not yet law.

A Texas woman was sentenced to 21 months in prison for fraudulently obtaining over $28,000 in federal wildfire relief and $54,000 in pandemic jobless benefits by falsely claiming residency in Pasadena. She was ordered to pay $82,555 in restitution.

Joyce Turner defrauded the government of over $82,000 through a scheme targeting FEMA funds for Eaton Fire victims and COVID unemployment benefits. She pleaded guilty in September 2025 to fraud charges related to major disaster benefits and mail fraud.

Altadena residents expressed anger and anxiety at a town hall meeting over proposals to transform single-family neighborhoods destroyed by the Eaton Fire. Nearly 450 people attended, learning that 49% of properties sold in the burn zone since the wildfire have been purchased by developers.

Residents of Altadena expressed outrage at a city council meeting over proposed plans to replace single-family homes destroyed in the Eaton Fire with multi-unit residences.

A resolution authored by John Harabedian urging federal disaster aid for victims of the Eaton Fire advanced through a key California Senate committee. The measure, Assembly Joint Resolution 27, passed unanimously on June 16, marking progress toward a state-level push for federal assistance.

Bill Ukropina, a commercial real estate broker with over 40 years in Pasadena, is set to become the city's Chamber chair in 2026. He describes the city as undergoing a 'rebirth' post-Eaton Fire, measured through housing starts, construction, and job growth.

Five defendants charged in two Eaton Fire looting cases are set to appear in Pasadena Court for pretrial hearings over 17 months after the wildfire. They are accused of entering evacuated Altadena homes on Jan. 8, 2025, during the fire and stealing property, with all pleading not guilty.

Pasadena Unified School District plans to remove 193 trees across 11 campuses to address soil contamination from the Eaton Fire, sparking resident anger over lack of notification and concerns about losing mature trees. Residents and arborists argue for alternative soil remediation methods, while officials claim tree removal is necessary for safety and reopening schools.

The Pasadena Unified School District and California Department of Toxic Substances Control defended removing trees for soil cleanup after the Eaton Fire, while tree advocates and some city council members questioned if permits are required. The dispute centers on jurisdiction over tree removal on school campuses.

Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies and firefighters are collaborating with San Gabriel Valley Habitat for Humanity volunteers to build a home and accessory dwelling unit for a family impacted by the Eaton Fire in Altadena. The effort is part of a rebuilding initiative in West Altadena.

A Los Angeles Superior Court judge will hold a motions hearing Tuesday in the consolidated Eaton Fire litigation against Southern California Edison. The case includes the Pasadena Jewish Temple and Center, the Pasadena Unified School District, and nearly 1,000 other plaintiffs. The hearing advances pre-trial proceedings in a mass tort case.