As the Los Angeles region Wednesday marks the first anniversary of last year’s deadly wildfires, city and county officials are reviewing building applications and issuing permits, while insurers have paid more than $22.4 billion to reconstruct fire-impacted areas in Pacific Palisades, Malibu, Altadena and Pasadena.
That’s just one of the many statistics that help quantify the historic disaster that began one year ago Wednesday.
On Jan. 7, 2025, fires erupted in the Los Angeles region, fueled by dry conditions and extreme Santa Ana winds. The two largest fires displaced thousands of people in Pacific Palisades and Altadena.
The Palisades Fire killed 12 people in the Pacific Palisades, Malibu and Topanga areas, while the Eaton Fire, in Altadena, killed 19. Firefighters fully contained the dual blazes on Jan. 31, 2025.
The Palisades Fire razed a majority of the coastal neighborhood of Pacific Palisades. Similarly, homes, schools, places of worship, restaurants and community focal points were lost in Altadena.
The fires caused total property and capital losses ranging between $11 billion and $76 billion, with insured losses at about $45 billion, according to the UCLA Anderson Forecast, which was last updated in March.
Despite efforts at the local, county and state levels to expedite the issuance of permits, rebuilding efforts are being delayed due to rising costs, as well as other challenges fire survivors face with their insurers, among other issues. Fire survivors have criticized the city and county for failing to do more to streamline permit processes and expedite construction.
As the region marks one year since then, data as of Tuesday show the following:
— Pasadena officials have received 66 completed applications, are currently reviewing 41 applications, have approved one plan review, issued 23 permits and finalized one rebuild of a residential building.
— Malibu officials issued 490 building permits for damages, repairs, debris removal and structures such as garages or outbuildings, and approved 184 planning approvals for all application types. A total of 142 applications have been approved by planning officials with another 64 under review, as well as 42 building plans submitted for review. A total of 22 building permits have been issued. Zero certificates of occupancy have been issued by the city, according to Malibu’s online rebuild dashboard.
— Los Angeles officials have received 3,072 applications for rebuilding with 1,399 unique addresses in and around Pacific Palisades. Currently, 1,288 plans are in review and another 1,784 building plans have been approved. City officials have issued 1,446 permits for rebuilding, of which 688 are unique addresses, according to the city’s online dashboard. The city has issued two certificates of occupancy.
— Los Angeles County received 2,899 rebuild applications and cleared 2,473 zoning reviews as of Tuesday, encompassing efforts to rebuild in Altadena and the unincorporated areas near Pacific Palisades. County officials also reported 1,871 parcels with full building plans. A total of 1,460 building plans have been finalized and approved, with 1,191 building permits issued. There are 545 construction projects for new residential projects. The county has reported seven completed construction projects. The county issued one certificate of occupancy in December to 67-year-old Ted Koerner, who rebuilt his home in Altadena.
Matt Myerhoff, a spokesman for Malibu, told City News Service in an email that in total the city lost 720 structures, of which 600 were homes. Twenty-two permits issued mark the completion of the entire permitting process, which means those 22 projects can begin construction.
Malibu has not yet issued any certificates of occupancy because no rebuild projects have completed construction. At least 20 of the 22 properties that have received permits have started construction, only very recently, according to Myerhoff. The certificates, once issued, indicate that construction is complete, inspections are complete and the owners can occupy, or move, into the home.
“Rebuilding activity is visible across Malibu, including foundations, framing and completed homes. Progress varies by parcel due to insurance, terrain complexity and required safety review,” according to a statement from Malibu. “Malibu is rebuilding, steadily, responsibly and transparently. This recovery reflects resilience, thoughtful planning and a commitment to protecting residents now and for decades to come.”
Los Angeles Housing Department officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment regarding their rebuilding data and other questions.
There are several factors that determine whether a fire survivor will rebuild or not, or sell their property. Local cities, L.A. County, and the state have taken steps to streamline the permit process and cut through red tape.
Property owners face insurance shortfalls and dramatically higher construction costs. Cities have adopted disaster rebuild ordinances, have or attempted to waive planning and building fees for homeowners, implemented artificial-assisted plan review, and pooled resources to support residents.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and the City Council have paused such fees for residents in the Palisades, but completely waiving that cost for fire survivors is another story. Due to financial concerns, city officials are contemplating waiving fees for single-family homeowners owners only. The proposal will be further discussed in the future.
Other factors such as geography, environmental and coastal regulations must be calculated as well into the length of time for rebuilding.
Meanwhile, the California Department of Insurance released data Dec. 31 showing that insurance companies paid more than $22.4 billion to Southern California fire survivors. Insurance payments account for nearly 80% of recovery funds committed to the overall recovery efforts.
“Our experience over many past disasters shows recovery is multifaceted and requires a coordinated effort,” Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara said in a statement. “Insurance is the first to pay, but more money from federal, state, and local governments, plus private charities, is needed for a speedy and successful recovery. Our dedicated department experts are enforcing laws to ensure that claims are processed fairly, quickly, and responsively, allowing homeowners to recover on their own terms.”
Approximately, 42,121 insurance claims have been filed for home, business, living expenses and other disaster-related needs, according to the Department of Insurance. About 39,677 claims were partially paid under laws requiring advance payments to speed recovery. A total of $22.4 billion in claims have been paid out as of Dec. 31 to policy holders.
On Wednesday, members of the Eaton Fire Survivors Network conducted a news conference in Altadena to commemorate the one-year anniversary. Fire survivors honored the lives lost in the disaster, they also shared a message that local and state leaders should do more to hold insurers accountable.
The group has advocated for insurance reform, an investigation into State Farm, the largest insurer in California, for what they say are delays and denials to claims, and financial relief for temporary housing from SoCal Edison.
“Insurance was supposed to be the safety net that helped families get home after a disaster,” Joy Chen, executive director of the Eaton Fire Survivors Network and a smoke damage survivor, said. “Instead, for too many of us, delays and underpayments have become a wrecking ball.”
About 70% of insured Eaton and Palisades fire survivors report that insurance issues are actively blocking their recovery, according to Chen. The group has been documenting claim denials and delays from the beginning, and lobbied county and state leaders to investigate State Farm for its practices.
County officials formally launched an investigation into State Farm in November. Chen noted that days after the investigation, checks began to “suddenly come through.”
L.A. County Supervisor Kathryn Barger, who represents Altadena, said the insurance system has been broken for a long time. She thanked fire survivors for their advocacy and resilience to take on insurers.
“This information was instrumental in our ability to launch an investigation into State Farm practices, and we’re not going away. Just because some checks were cut doesn’t mean we are going away. While, the regulation of insurance companies and marketplace falls to the state, I have promised to use the county’s power and authority whenever possible to help our survivors,” Barger added.
State Farm spokesman Sevag Sarkissian told City News Service in an email that the company’s privacy policy did not allow her to speak on specifics of any individual customer claim. The company remains committed to being a partner with customers throughout their recovery effort, she added.
“We know there isn’t a `quick fix’ after a loss like this. Families need time to make decisions and plan their next steps,” Sarkissian wrote. “We constantly monitor and measure the claims process and make improvements as we go. And if a customer has questions at any point, our claims teams and local agents are ready to help.”
State Farm received more than 13,500 claims and issued more than $5 billion in payments to families whose homes, cars or property were damaged or destroyed. The company expects total payments could reach $7 billion.
SoCal Edison has been accused of igniting the Eaton Fire as a result of faulty equipment. The company has maintained it has committed no wrongdoing, but multiple lawsuits have been filed against the utility.
The Eaton Fire began in Eaton Canyon in the San Gabriel Mountains, underneath SCE’s power lines, according to video and reports on the disaster. An investigation is underway to identify the official cause of the Eaton Fire. SoCal Edison has cooperated with the investigation and launched its Wildfire Recovery Compensation Program to help fire survivors.
“I first want to say we understand this community has been through so much heartbreak in this year following the fire,” Gabriela Ornelas, spokeswoman for SoCal Edison, told CNS in a telephone interview. “Southern California Edison is fully committed to helping the Altadena community not only recover but move forward.”
The company’s compensation program is voluntary, but requires fire survivors to waive future lawsuits against SCE. More information is available at energized.edison.com/wildfire-recovery-compensation-program.