Nearly four months after a wave of devastating wildfires scorched parts of Los Angeles County, tens of thousands of residents are still stuck in limbo, waiting to rebuild while navigating a maze of red tape. Among them is actress Mandy Moore, whose Altadena home was damaged by the Eaton Fire.
Mandy Moore says LA County is making rebuild efforts hard
Although her house wasn’t completely destroyed, her frustration is clear. Moore took to Instagram during the week of May 5, accusing Los Angeles County of making it “nearly impossible” for homeowners to rebuild and move forward.
As Moore’s neighborhood burned, the Palisades Fire ripped through homes just miles away. The destruction pushed city and state leaders to act.
What are state, city officials doing?
Mayor Karen Bass signed an executive order on March 21, aimed at speeding up the permitting process and ensuring new structures meet stronger safety standards.
“We are taking action to help residents harden their homes and businesses against wildfires, ensure our city’s infrastructure can better withstand future disasters, and protect communities for generations to come, all while ensuring the pace of rebuilding continues ahead of expectations,” Bass said during the signing event.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom issued a similar statewide order to support wildfire recovery and boost resilience. In February, he signed an executive order aimed at the state and local level, saying he is suspending state laws and “regulations impeding the construction and reconstruction of housing and facilities as part of recovery efforts.”
LA County Recovers launched for rebuilding efforts
In response, LA County launched a centralized rebuilding website and permitting dashboard, promising to fast-track like-for-like projects and pre-approved plans. Regional Planning, Public Works and the Los Angeles Fire Department committed to strict review timelines.
Despite the executive action and promises, progress has proven to be slow. As of March, only four rebuilding permits had been issued, according to a Straight Arrow News report. As of May, that number has barely climbed to seven and not a single home had started construction, according to the county’s website.
LA City Council wants agency to streamline rebuilding process
To address the gridlock, the LA City Council in April approved a new agency to oversee and accelerate building permit approvals. According to the motion, “the County entered into the recovery transition phase, with a focus on debris removal. To date, the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) has moved at an unprecedented pace and is well ahead of schedule to complete their debris removal mission, with more than 1,000 lots cleared.”
The measure further stated that in order to speed up recovery, LA County needs a single empowered authority to make final permitting decisions across all departments. By creating a Unified Permitting Authority with some emergency powers, they can cut through red tape, eliminate bottlenecks and ensure a coordinated rebuild process.
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Soil testing near the Eaton Fire found elevated lead levels. Wildfires can release heavy metals like lead and arsenic from burned materials, which can settle in the soil and linger long after cleanup.
Testing shows lead levels found in soil
Meanwhile, another concern has surfaced: soil safety. Recent testing near the Eaton Fire revealed elevated lead levels and other heavy metals associated with wildfires, prompting public health warnings according to the LA Department of Public Health. LA County is now offering free soil testing for residents within a one-mile radius of the fire zone, considered a necessary step before rebuilding can safely begin.
