When the Palisades-Malibu YMCA burned to the ground during the January wildfires, Executive Director Jim Kirtley didn’t just lose a building—he lost a second home.
Kirtley, who has worked at the Y for 19 years—nine of them as executive director—misses the daily interactions with more than 600 members, 25 staffers, and even the familiar faces passing by on the street. On workdays, he often took “brain breaks” on the wrought iron benches in front of the vintage building on Via de la Paz, chatting with neighbors and explaining the Y’s programs, including a food distribution effort that served 120 local families each week.
“I didn’t lose my house, but I lost my home as far as where I work,” Kirtley said. “I had years of dreaming of things, creating programs, meeting people. It’s been hard.”
The Palisades-Malibu YMCA had long been a cornerstone of the community—its gym frequented by Palisades High School students, and its pool shared with the school. The building itself had begun life as a playhouse in 1949.
Immediately after the fire, the YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles sprang into action. A broad relief campaign was launched, supporting not only Palisades-Malibu members but also those affected by the Eaton Fire and other displaced residents. Emergency childcare was provided for first responders and families, along with essential goods including hygiene kits, clothing, laptops, and furniture. Over a million pounds of food and 750,000 pounds of clothing were distributed.
More than 3,000 emergency YMCA access passes were granted, allowing displaced members to use facilities across the region. Youth from affected families were offered free enrollment at the Palisades day camp at Simon Meadow and sleepaway camps in Big Bear, regardless of Y membership status.
Recognizing the Y’s strong teen community, the organization also provided 715 scholarships for students to attend the California YMCA Youth & Government program—70 of which went to students from the Palisades-Malibu Y.
A month after the fire, about 200 members gathered at the Collins & Katz Family Y in Brentwood for a reunion filled with hugs, tears, and smiles. They received gift cards, clothes, toiletries, and access to additional support services.
Support has continued with mental health resources, art therapy, food delivery, and wellness programs at area Y locations. Plans are underway for a citywide Community Healing Dinner, aimed at fostering unity and resilience.
“Our goal is to make sure affected families feel supported,” said Christina Bragg, senior director of marketing and communications for the YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles. She credited philanthropic partners like the California Community Foundation for enabling a swift and comprehensive response.
In just six months, the YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles has provided relief and recovery assistance to more than 90,000 individuals and families. Looking ahead, the Y plans to convert existing facilities into permanent resilience hubs—spaces for disaster preparedness, wellness activities, and community services.
As for rebuilding the Palisades-Malibu Y, plans are already underway. The 4.4-acre Simon Meadow site—only lightly damaged in the fires—will be home to a new, next-generation facility following a capital campaign. The original Via de la Paz site may also be rebuilt, pending community input and funding from insurance and FEMA.
Staff from the Palisades location who wished to remain with the Y were placed in new positions across the network. Even part-time employees found new roles. Among them is 18-year-old Hamish Milne, a Palisades High School senior who lost his home, school, and the Y where he worked and worked out.
“The Y gym in the Palisades was our home,” Milne said. “I was there every day for two years. It was like a second home.” Now working at the Westchester Family YMCA, he said, “Everything good ended up coming back to me. It was the exact same vibe.”
As Milne and other students adapted—finishing their senior year in a repurposed Sears building in Santa Monica—Palisades Y teens spread out across the region, many landing at the Westchester, Collins & Katz, or Culver-Palms YMCAs.
To help them feel at home, Kirtley brought flags with the Pacific Palisades dolphin logo and the words “Don’t Quit” to those locations.
“The idea is when Palisades Y members come in, they have a little sense of home,” he said.
While the fire destroyed the physical building, the heart of the Palisades-Malibu Y—its people, programs, and community spirit—continues to thrive.
