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Free USC Soil Testing Available for Residents Impacted by West L.A. Wildfires
USC’s CLEAN project is offering complimentary soil testing to help residents impacted by the recent Palisades and Sunset wildfires check for potential lead contamination in their communities.
The shocking case of LA’s ‘zombie’ fire – and the young man at the center of it
Jan. 10, 2026. The Guardian. A high-profile report outlined emerging details in the case against the man accused of starting the Palisades Fire. This legal and investigative update underscores ongoing accountability and public scrutiny around what caused the most destructive wildfire in Los Angeles history.
‘From the Moment We Knew It Was Gone, We Wanted to Build It Back’
Jan. 8, 2026. Eater. A feature shared reflections from restaurant owners and locals in Malibu and surrounding fire-impacted communities, highlighting the emotional toll of loss and the determined efforts to rebuild businesses and lives after the wildfires.
Photos show the Pacific Palisades one year after the Los Angeles wildfires, from empty lots to rebuilt storefronts
Jan. 8, 2026. Business Insider. California state officials reaffirm efforts to accelerate rebuilding and support wildfire survivors in communities affected by the Palisades and Eaton fires. The initiative emphasizes collaboration with local partners to meet housing, economic, and recovery needs one year after the disasters.
Eaton and Palisades fires 1-year anniversary to be commemorated at events across SoCal
Jan. 7, 2026. ABC7 Los Angeles. Local events to commemorate the first anniversary of the Eaton and Palisades fires were scheduled recently, with gatherings to honor those affected and to reinforce community solidarity as recovery continues.
How LA Fashion Is Rebuilding Post-Fires
Jan. 7, 2026. Vogue. This report describes how LA’s fashion sector — which includes businesses in Pacific Palisades and Malibu — is rebuilding after the wildfires. The industry has seen fundraising efforts and community support, but recovery continues to face challenges from permits and zoning delays.
Then-and-now images show the Palisades and Altadena 1 year after wildfires
Jan. 6, 2026. NBC Los Angeles. Photos released this week highlight contrasts between recovered and still-devastated areas in the Pacific Palisades, showing empty lots, some rebuilt structures, and landscapes scarred by last year’s wildfires.
The Palisades are still a wasteland wrapped in red tape — a year after Los Angeles promised to help rebuild
Jan 7, 2026. New York Post. Today’s coverage highlights that Pacific Palisades remains largely undeveloped with few completed rebuilds, and many residents blame bureaucratic delays and unfulfilled government promises for the stalled recovery. Local protests and community frustration are growing as neighborhoods remain desolate.
A year after LA-area wildfires destroyed thousands of homes, fewer than a dozen have been rebuilt
Jan. 7, 2026. APNews. A new Associated Press report shows that less than a dozen homes have been fully rebuilt a year after the Palisades and Eaton wildfires destroyed thousands of structures. Many residents struggle with inadequate insurance, financial hardship, and stalled reconstruction progress even though hundreds of homes are under construction.
Newsom Waives a Fire-Rebuilding Hurdle for Businesses in State Park
Jan. 6, 2026. WSJ.com. California’s governor is planning an executive order that would let Topanga State Park sign 30-year leases with businesses without competitive bidding
‘Firestorm’ review: Inside one of the deadliest fires in California history
Jan. 2, 2026. SFChronicle. A recent review highlights Firestorm: The Great Los Angeles Fires and America’s New Age of Disaster, a book that offers an in-depth look at the January 2025 wildfires, including the Palisades Fire’s human and community impacts.
Vacant Lots for Sale Are Piling Up After the L.A. Fires; Investors Are Buying 40% of Those That Sell
Dec. 30, 2025 / BusinessWire. Redfin reports investors purchase roughly 2 in 5 lots that sell in the Pacific Palisades, Altadena and Malibu areas; many of these lots once held homes destroyed in the January fires
1 year after deadly Calif. wildfires, agencies confront hard lessons
Dec. 27, 2025 / FireRescue1. A recent analysis of fire agency reports one year after the Palisades Fire and Eaton Fire points out gaps in staffing, evacuation coordination, and communication, along with recommendations for improving future wildfire response.
2025 began with a generational disaster
Dec. 2, 2025 / SMDP. A recent retrospective piece recounts how the year started with the Palisades Fire and how residents returned to fire-ravaged zones to reclaim belongings and begin rebuilding, illustrating long-term recovery efforts and community impact.
California storm: Severe weather subsides but 40,000 PG&E customers remain without power
Dec. 26, 2025 / SFChronicle.com. A major winter storm report shows how intense rainfall and flooding downstream of fire burn scars — including in areas that experienced wildfires — have increased mudslide and evacuation risks. While not exclusively about the Palisades/Malibu fires, it is highly relevant because post-fire landscapes are especially vulnerable to such weather.
Evacuation Warning Issued for Pacific Palisades Ahead of Storm
Dec. 23, 2025 / ABC7. An evacuation warning was issued recently for Pacific Palisades due to heavy rain and potential mudslide risk on wildfire burn scars from the Palisades Fire. This reflects how post-fire landscapes remain vulnerable during storms.
Heart Attacks, Lung Conditions Jumped After Los Angeles Wildfires
Dec. 17, 2025 / The Wall Street Journal.Mysterious illnesses also rose after the fires, according to a study that reviewed emergency-department visits
The hydrants will run dry: Trump’s LA fire claims missed the mark, study shows
Dec. 16, 2025 / LAist. As firefighters battled catastrophic fires in Los Angeles last January, one question reverberated across the country: Where was the water?
It feels endless’: despite misplaced fanfare about a model home, LA struggles to rebuild
Dec. 14, 2025 / The Guardian. As LA’s mayor touted a developer’s model home, residents of Altadena and Pacific Palisades wrangle for insurance payouts
Newsom wouldn’t budge on his duplex ban for the Los Angeles wildfire rebuild. So, a YIMBY group is suing him.
Dec. 10, 2025 / Politico. Gov. Gavin Newsom shrugged off a lawsuit by a YIMBY group over his executive order to ban duplexes in Pacific Palisades.
Homes Adopting ‘Zone Zero’ Policy Fared Better in L.A. Fires
Dec. 10, 2025 / GovTech. A study found that homes built with fire-resistant materials and that had cleared vegetation within 5 feet of walls, in line with California's proposed "zone zero" regulations, were more likely to survive the January wildfires.
YIMBY group threatens suit over Newsom's duplex ban in LA wildfire recovery
Dec 9 2025 / YIMBY group threatens suit over Newsom's duplex ban in LA wildfire recovery
YIMBY Law says unless Gov. Gavin Newsom reverses course it will sue this week over his executive order allowing cities to ban duplex projects in neighborhoods rebuilding after January's Los Angeles wildfires.
Gov. Gavin Newsom quelled a rebellion among Pacific Palisades homeowners over the summer when he blocked the building of duplexes in the wildfire-scarred community.
Now, he’s facing the squeeze from pro-development forces. By Liam Dillon
12/09/2025 09:00 AM EST
YIMBY Law says unless Gov. Gavin Newsom reverses course it will sue this week over his executive order allowing cities to ban duplex projects in neighborhoods rebuilding after January's Los Angeles wildfires.
Gov. Gavin Newsom quelled a rebellion among Pacific Palisades homeowners over the summer when he blocked the building of duplexes in the wildfire-scarred community.
Now, he’s facing the squeeze from pro-development forces. By Liam Dillon
12/09/2025 09:00 AM EST
Pacific Palisades residents preserve community with block party
Dec 7, 2025 / Pacific Palisades residents gathered Saturday for a block party in Duende Lane, seeking to rebuild community fractured by the January wildfire that destroyed numerous homes.
Residents receiving less than 10% of insurance payouts for partial losses, coupled with lengthy rebuilds, are selling to developers and leaving the neighborhood.
Residents fear the departures will lead to gentrification, but remain committed to preserving what many call the neighborhood’s close-knit, middle-class character.
Dec. 7, 2025 3 AM PT
Los Angeles Times 2024 summer intern Jasmine "Jaz" Mendez
By Jasmine Mendez
Staff Writer
Residents receiving less than 10% of insurance payouts for partial losses, coupled with lengthy rebuilds, are selling to developers and leaving the neighborhood.
Residents fear the departures will lead to gentrification, but remain committed to preserving what many call the neighborhood’s close-knit, middle-class character.
Dec. 7, 2025 3 AM PT
Los Angeles Times 2024 summer intern Jasmine "Jaz" Mendez
By Jasmine Mendez
Staff Writer
White House slams Newsom after gov claims Trump admin turned down LA wildfire aid meeting: ‘No idea what he’s talking about’
Dec 6, 2025 / The White House tore into Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Friday after he claimed the Trump administration refused to meet with him Friday during a visit to Washington aimed at securing more wildfire recovery aid.
More than $7 billion in federal funds have been issued to California since January, when the Palisades and Eaton fires torched thousands of acres of land and high-priced homes, but the Golden State governor wants a lot more.
Newsom formally requested an additional $34 billion from Congress earlier this week – down from his initial $40 billion ask in February – and met with lawmakers on Capitol Hill to push for the additional funds.
President Donald Trump followed by First Lady Melania Trump, shakes hands with California Governor Gavin Newsom upon arrival at Los Angeles International Airport in Los Angeles, California, on January 24, 2025.
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President Donald Trump followed by First Lady Melania Trump, shakes hands with California Governor Gavin Newsom upon arrival at Los Angeles International Airport in Los Angeles, California, on January 24, 2025.
AFP via Getty Images
By Victor Nava
Published Dec. 6, 2025, 12:14 a.m. ET
More than $7 billion in federal funds have been issued to California since January, when the Palisades and Eaton fires torched thousands of acres of land and high-priced homes, but the Golden State governor wants a lot more.
Newsom formally requested an additional $34 billion from Congress earlier this week – down from his initial $40 billion ask in February – and met with lawmakers on Capitol Hill to push for the additional funds.
President Donald Trump followed by First Lady Melania Trump, shakes hands with California Governor Gavin Newsom upon arrival at Los Angeles International Airport in Los Angeles, California, on January 24, 2025.
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President Donald Trump followed by First Lady Melania Trump, shakes hands with California Governor Gavin Newsom upon arrival at Los Angeles International Airport in Los Angeles, California, on January 24, 2025.
AFP via Getty Images
By Victor Nava
Published Dec. 6, 2025, 12:14 a.m. ET
Council Delays Vote on Fee Waivers for Palisades Wildfire Rebuilds
Dec. 3, 2025 / Palisades News. Los Angeles City Council delayed a vote on Pacific Palisades reconstruction fee waivers, weighing a targeted single-family waiver against a broader, multi-property proposal amid budget pressures.
Santa Monica Celebrates Restoration of New Deal Art and Architecture at Samohi
Dec. 1, 2025 / Palisades News. An upcoming program will feature the first public gallery installation of paintings created under the Works Progress Administration’s Federal Arts Project
Articles/Guides for Homeowners
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