Related Articles
-Editorial
One hundred days after the Eaton and Palisades fires ignited, California continues to mourn the lives lost and communities forever changed, while honoring the efforts of first responders and ongoing work to rebuild affected areas.
Governor Gavin Newsom acknowledged the milestone with a message of hope and unity.
“My job is to make sure Californians who felt helpless after the fires can have hope again. Our work is far from over — but 100 days since the fires first broke out in early January, California remains united and together will rebuild, recover and rise,” Newsom said.
From the earliest hours of the firestorms, Governor Newsom led a coordinated state response, deploying over 16,000 personnel at the peak of firefighting and recovery operations. The Governor also secured federal support through a major disaster declaration in coordination with then-President Joseph Biden and the incoming Trump Administration.
The pace of recovery has been notable. According to state officials, the ongoing cleanup is on track to become the fastest major disaster debris removal in U.S. history. Crews have cleared hazardous waste from over 9,000 properties within 30 days. More than 2,300 parcels have already been cleared of debris and approved by the county.
Currently, 500 specialized teams from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers continue to work around the clock to remove fire debris and mitigate environmental hazards.
In the 100 days since the Eaton and Palisades fires, California’s recovery efforts have achieved significant milestones. Approximately 16,000 first responders and recovery personnel were deployed, while federal and state aid included $2.5 billion in Small Business Administration assistance and $100 million in direct individual support. The state’s LA Rises initiative contributed an additional $100 million to support community partnerships. Over 40,000 individuals visited disaster recovery centers for assistance, and hazardous waste was cleared from 9,000 properties. Debris removal has been completed on 2,300 homes, and 12,500 right-of-entry forms have been submitted. All eight impacted schools have resumed in-person instruction, and eight of nine water systems have been reactivated.
In response to the fires, Governor Newsom issued several executive orders aimed at expediting recovery. These included suspending environmental review processes under CEQA and the California Coastal Act to speed up rebuilding, as well as cutting red tape on permitting and land use regulations.
The state has also offered financial relief, postponing the tax filing deadline for Los Angeles County residents and extending property tax and sales tax deadlines. Additionally, mortgage relief efforts were coordinated with both state- and federally-chartered banks.
Temporary housing solutions were fast-tracked through executive orders enabling more accessory dwelling units, waiving mobile home park fees, and protecting tenants from eviction for housing fire victims.
To prevent secondary disasters, such as mudslides and flooding, the Governor authorized accelerated debris removal and hillside stabilization measures. Federal hazmat teams have also been deployed to safely clear hazardous materials.
The state launched CA.gov/LAfires, a centralized hub for fire recovery resources, and the LA Rises initiative, a public-private partnership supporting long-term rebuilding.
As part of the state’s response to the Eaton and Palisades fires, legislation was signed allocating more than $2.5 billion to support emergency response and long-term recovery efforts. In addition to this funding, the Governor enacted several executive actions to assist affected communities. These include providing Disaster CalFresh food benefits to fire-impacted families, supporting displaced students and schools, protecting survivors from predatory real estate speculators, and offering relief to small businesses through deferred licensing fees and the suspension of certain regulatory requirements.
Price gouging protections were also expanded to prevent illegal increases in rent, lodging, and construction materials. Violations are being monitored by the Office of the Attorney General.