More than a week since wildfires raged in the Los Angeles area fueled by hurricane-force Santa Ana winds, officials are hoping a change in weather will soon allow the long recovery process to begin.
For now, federal, state and local emergency response teams remain focused on controlling the flames that continue to threaten the region. As of January 15, approximately 40,600 hectares have burned and more than 12,300 structures have been destroyed. Twenty-four fatalities have been confirmed. Two of the largest fires that started on January 7 are still burning.
The Palisades fire has consumed 23,700 hectares and is only 19% contained. The Eaton fire has burned 14,100 acres and is 45 percent contained, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
“California has been here before; we know what it takes to recover effectively from wildfires, and we’re using that experience to move faster than ever to support those affected by these devastating wildfires,” said California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) in a statement. week “The road ahead is difficult, but California is doing everything it can to help Los Angeles rebuild and move forward.”
For Mark Pestrella, director of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works, the effort to fight wildfires is the culmination of years of cooperation between a number of regional agencies.
“The agencies know each other and so they trust each other, because we’ve been building these relationships over the last 10 years that we can call on each other to collaborate,” Pestrella told ENR. “We’re learning a lot as we go along, but we’re also testing our current standards of practice, and we’re testing that a lot.”
As additional resources continue to be deployed to affected areas, deployment is being prioritized by vulnerability, he said. Officials aim to protect the areas most likely to be affected by the ongoing evolution of fires and changing weather conditions.
In anticipation of this phase of the recovery, a battery of debris removal equipment is now on standby to move into affected areas as soon as officials deem it safe.
Among the first to be dispatched will be a 500-member team from the US Environmental Protection Agency to safely remove and dispose of hazardous waste from homes and structures affected by the fires. The Federal Emergency Management Agency has allocated $100 million for the initial cleanup effort.
“This is the first, and most complex, phase of debris removal, paving the way for the next phase focused on remaining structural debris, clearing trees at risk of falling and testing the soil for contaminants,” he said. the governor’s office said in a statement.

Newsom issued an executive order on Jan. 13 requiring swift action on debris removal work as well as efforts to mitigate the danger of landslides and flooding in areas damaged by the fire. Southern California typically sees most of its rainfall between October and April, and the destruction of ground cover has increased runoff hazards.
While attention continues to fight the ongoing fires, work has begun to prepare for the formidable task of recovery, Pestrella said.
“What I’m driving right now, and I’m on the recovery side, is that we do some master planning together and think about bringing resilience into rebuilding this,” he explained. “So right now, we’re looking at an upgrade to the sewer, water and electrical systems.”
LA Public Works is in charge of the primary debris removal effort that will begin as affected regions are declared free of hazardous materials. As the fires continue to rage, the full extent of cleanup that will be required is unknown.
Reconstruction of resources
President Joe Biden signed a major disaster declaration for the state on Jan. 7, freeing up federal funds to support residents and businesses affected by the fires. Emergency aid has already begun to reach those affected by the fires. According to FEMA Region 9 Administrator Robert Fenton Jr., more than 53,000 residents have registered for assistance and $12 million has already been dispersed.
In an effort to jump-start rebuilding efforts, the governor issued an executive order last week waiving certain state building permits for homeowners and businesses, the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the Coastal California The change is aimed at reducing the time before the works start.
In addition, the California Department of Tax Administration and Commissions (CDTFA) has automatically extended the tax filing deadline by three months for Los Angeles County taxpayers.
Another critical issue that will affect the effort to rebuild the devastated areas is the beleaguered state of insurance.
In the past two years, several major insurance companies, including Allstate and State Farm, have stopped issuing new policies or renewing old policies for California homeowners and businesses, citing wildfire risks and high rebuilding costs. The companies say the costs of underwriting policies have risen dramatically while the state has blocked any premium increases.
Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara implemented a mandatory one-year moratorium on non-renewals for specific zip codes in Los Angeles County on January 10. The commissioner also issued a notice asking insurers to stop any pending non-renewals or cancellations of any properties located nearby. forest fires
“I’m working on all fronts to make sure bushfire victims get the benefits they’re entitled to and get them as quickly as possible,” Lara said.
A state insurance program known as the California FAIR Plan, created to be a semi-private insurance provider of last resort, has seen increased demand due to the exit of major private insurers. One in five homes in the affected neighborhood of Pacific Palisades is covered by the FAIR Plan.