Nearly 2,000 properties impacted by the Palisades Fire have been cleared of all debris by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and received final approval from L.A. County — a key milestone required for rebuilding to begin. The update was shared by Mayor Karen Bass at a home currently under reconstruction in the Palisades.
According to officials, close to 900,000 tons of debris have been removed from the affected area. So far, 54 permits for 40 addresses have been issued for rebuilding, and hundreds more are under review. The first permit was issued just 57 days after the fire began, more than twice as fast as permitting timelines following the Camp and Woolsey fires.
The recovery process is on track to be the fastest in modern California history, with key milestones including:
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Hazardous materials cleared in record time: Phase 1 of debris removal, led by the EPA, finished in 28 days, removing more than 300 tons of hazardous materials including exploded lithium-ion batteries.
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Accelerated debris removal: Phase 2 began only 35 days after the fire started — roughly half the time compared to the Woolsey Fire.
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Rapid restoration of utilities: Water and power were restored to standing homes in just two months. In contrast, Paradise, CA, did not have safe drinking water for 18 months after the Camp Fire.
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Rebuilding underway: Permits are being issued weekly for reconstruction, and active building projects are ongoing across the Palisades.
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Burn area reinforcement: To prepare for winter weather, the City installed over 13,500 feet of concrete barriers and placed more than 7,500 sandbags in slide-prone areas.
Emergency measures enacted by the City include:
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Tax relief for small businesses affected by the fires
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Suspension of rebuilding fees
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Executive orders to expedite permitting, including a Self-Certification and AI Pilot Program
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Protections against eviction for residents sheltering displaced people or pets
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A ban on price gouging for essential goods and services during the emergency
Support for fire survivors has included the opening of multiple centralized resource hubs:
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A Disaster Recovery Center, serving over 9,600 households
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A One-Stop Rebuilding Center to streamline reconstruction
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Four Impacted Worker and Family Recovery Centers offering job placement, financial aid, and youth programs
According to Colonel Jeff Palazzini of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 75% of opt-in properties in Los Angeles have now been cleared. Officials credit the speed of the recovery to coordination across city, county, state, and federal agencies — and the active involvement of local communities.
