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A Year After L.A. Wildfires, Rebuilding Crawls as Calls for Accountability Grow

Insurance disputes, contamination, permitting delays are stalling returns.

Overview

  • Fewer than a dozen homes have been completed across Los Angeles County, with roughly 900 rebuilds reported under construction a year after the fires.
  • In Pacific Palisades, fewer than 14% of destroyed homes have received rebuilding permits, while Altadena has just 10 homes rebuilt to date.
  • Federal crews removed hazardous materials and 2.6 million tons of debris, yet some surviving houses still test above safety thresholds for lead, asbestos and volatile compounds.
  • Many survivors report insufficient or unresolved insurance claims; Los Angeles County’s civil probe into State Farm continues as the insurer says it has addressed 13,500 claims and paid more than $5 billion.
  • New satellite images show hillsides greening and some structures rising, even as residents press for accountability; the fire response is now a live issue in the mayoral race after the fire chief acknowledged a watered-down after-action report.