One Year Later – LA Fires

On January 7th, 2025, the Los Angeles area was ravaged by wildfires that burned about 16,000+ structures, including 13,000+ homes. The areas heavily impacted were Pacific Palisades & Malibu (Palisades Fire) and Altadena & Pasadena (Eaton Fire). 31 lives were lost along with $275 billion worth of economic loss.

The Greater LA rental market was immediately flooded with many victims seeking housing while dealing with the tragic loss of their homes. Additionally, victims began dealing with insurance companies, with many reporting roadblocks to receiving financial assistance. Many victims began listing their lots for sale either due to lack of insurance coverage or cost and time to rebuild their homes.

Many new laws were implemented as a result of these wildfires. Here’s a few:

• Anti-price gouging executive order implemented in LA County for rentals.
• Executive order regarding non-solicitation of burned lots in certain zip codes.
• AB 299 (Gabriel): allowing people displaced by disasters to stay in hotels, motels, or short-term rentals for up to 270 consecutive days without being considered tenants, helping survivors remain housed while making it easier for operators to extend stays.
• AB 238 (Harabedian): Requires mortgage servicers to offer up to 12 months of forbearance to borrowers facing financial hardship.
• AB 338 (Solache): Provides funding to support wildfire recovery in Los Angeles and Ventura Counties by investing in workforce development, education, high-road training partnerships, and supportive services for underemployed and unemployed residents.

Despite the many laws implemented post fires, LA has much work ahead to rebuild. My heart continues to go out to the countless victims of the wildfires. Below are some helpful resources for those who were affected by the wildfires. We will continue to rebuild and assist those in need. Know that you’re not alone.

Article regarding 2025 fires: https://www.vox.com/climate/474478/la-fires-los-angeles-eaton-palisades-rebuild-anniversary

Resource list for fire victims: https://www.lahsa.org/newsArticle/resources-to-support-those-during-the-la-fires