Wednesday, March 12, 2025

Deadline Wednesday to Apply for County Fire Relief

CITY NEWS SERVICE

Residents, small business owners and workers impacted by the January wildfires have until 5 p.m. Wednesday to apply for financial relief possible through the Los Angeles County Department of Economic Opportunity.

Brick-and-mortar businesses and nonprofit organizations that were fully destroyed may qualify for $25,000 grants. Businesses partially destroyed can receive $20,000. Businesses reporting loss of revenue can apply for $15,000. Home-based businesses and independent contractors are eligible for $5,000 grants for equipment loss and $2,000 for revenue loss.

Grants ranging from $6,000 to $18,000 are available for homeowners and tenants whose residences were damaged or destroyed, or who experienced a death in their household. Grant amounts are determined by household size.

Workers who lost their homes or jobs due to fire zone impacts may qualify for $2,000 in assistance.

Applications are available at laregionfund.lacounty.gov to apply promptly.

Wednesday, March 12, 2025

Vector Control Team Launches Mosquito Treatment Campaign In Eaton Fire Burn Area

Effort aims to prevent disease spread from unmaintained pools and standing water

The San Gabriel Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District will begin direct treatments on March 17 to combat potential mosquito breeding sites in areas affected by the Eaton Fire, the District announced Tuesday.

The initiative targets unmaintained swimming pools and large sources of standing water that could become breeding grounds for disease-carrying mosquitoes.

“Unmaintained pools pose a high public health risk. A single pool can produce up to 3 million mosquitoes in just one month,” District officials stated. “These mosquitoes can spread quickly throughout the community, putting residents at risk.”

Vector control technicians will apply temporary mosquito control measures at identified locations, including larvicides, other mosquito control products, and mosquitofish where appropriate. The treatments aim to prevent the spread of diseases like West Nile virus and St. Louis encephalitis.

District personnel are already active at the Altadena Disaster Resource Center, providing guidance to affected property owners and assessing water sources within the burn area.

Tuesday, March 11, 2025

Attorneys Partner with Altadena and Pasadena NAACP Branches to Provide Resources and Litigation Updates

STAFF REPORT

Singleton Schreiber, a prominent law firm representing over 2,600 individuals and 900 families affected by the Eaton Fire, will host a virtual town hall on March 12 at 6:00 p.m. The event aims to connect fire victims with resources and provide updates on ongoing litigation against Edison, which the firm believes is responsible for the blaze.

“We’ve done a number of town halls where we invite people to either go in person or virtual through Zoom, and can be very helpful for people. And these will be a number of different topics. We’ll always have some portion where we explain not just what’s happening with the litigation, but also how to proceed,” said Gerald Singleton, the Firm’s Managing Partner.

The upcoming town hall will feature representatives from the Altadena and Pasadena NAACP branches, who are partnering with Singleton Schreiber in representing Eaton fire victims. Attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions about pending litigation, disaster loans, rebuilding programs, and grant opportunities.

Tuesday, March 11, 2025

OcTech’s ‘Phoenix’ Concert Lifts Voices for Wildfire Recovery

STAFF REPORT

Caltech’s choral octet presents a benefit performance dedicated to those affected by the January wildfires

On Sunday, March 16, 2025, OcTech, Caltech’s choral octet, will present Phoenix, a benefit concert in response to the devastating January wildfires that struck Altadena and Pacific Palisades. This free concert will explore themes of renewal and rebirth through choral works that evoke reflection and resilience. The program includes John Tavener’s Funeral Ikos, Arvo Pärt’s Berliner Messe: Credo, and Edward Elgar’s Lux Aeterna.

Founded in 2022, OcTech has distinguished itself within Caltech’s musical community with its repertoire spanning Renaissance choral works, contemporary compositions, and folk arrangements. Known for its technical precision and artistic versatility, the ensemble has performed at various campus and local venues.

The concert aims to support those affected by the fires, which displaced residents and caused significant damage in Southern California. Donations collected during the event will benefit the California Community Foundation’s Wildfire Recovery Fund, which channels aid to local organizations engaged in fire recovery efforts.

Tuesday, March 11, 2025

AC/DC To Rock Rose Bowl On 2025 Power Up Tour, First U.S. Shows In Nine Years

Legendary rock band returns to North American stadiums with special guest The Pretty Reckless

The iconic rock band AC/DC will bring their Power Up Tour to the Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena on April 18, marking their first U.S. performances in nine years. The Grammy Award-winning and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame-inducted group will be joined by special guest The Pretty Reckless for the highly anticipated concert.

The Pasadena show is part of a larger North American stadium tour spanning 13 venues across the United States. The tour got its name from their 2020 album “Power Up,” which debuted at No. 1 in 21 countries and earned Grammy Award nominations in three categories: “Best Rock Album,” “Best Rock Performance,” and “Best Music Video” for the single “Shot In The Dark.”

AC/DC recently completed the European leg of the Power Up Tour in 2024, filling the continent’s largest stadiums with enthusiastic fans.

The legendary group began their musical journey with their first performance on December 31,

Tuesday, March 11, 2025

City Cautions Residents, Urges Preparation for Rain and Mudslides Especially in Eaton Fire Burn Areas

Officials urge residents to get ready for week of rain, offering sandbag locations and safety guidelines for potential hazards

Pasadena is urging residents to take immediate precautions as rain is expected all this week, with particular concern for homes near the recent Eaton Fire burn area. The City’s announcement said preparation is essential for protecting both lives and property in the face of potential mudslides and flooding.

Of greatest concern, are residents living closest to the burn area from the Eaton Fire.

The city is providing free pre-filled sandbags and self-serve sand and sandbags at multiple locations throughout Pasadena while supplies last:

Robinson Park south parking lot at 1081 North Fair Oaks and Victory Park parking lot along Altadena Drive at 2575 Paloma Street are offering these resources from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Additionally, self-serve sand and sandbags ONLY are available at Fire Station 37 3430 E. Foothill Boulevard and Fire Station 38 1150 Linda Vista Avenue.

Tuesday, March 11, 2025

Insurance Companies Under Fire Over Smoke Damage Claims

Altadena homeowners report denials despite official guidance

Altadena homeowners whose structures survived the Eaton fire but suffered interior smoke damage are facing challenges with insurance claim denials. During a Special Altadena Community Meeting on Monday, March 10, officials addressed growing frustration over these disputes.

Deputy Commissioner of the Consumer Services and Market for the California Department of Insurance Anthony “Tony” Cignarale noted that some insurance companies have been denying claims, citing recent court decisions. Cignarale said that the court decisions do not justify blanket denials.

The Department of Insurance issued a bulletin to insurers, reminding them of their obligations to inspect damage and process claims properly, regardless of external assessments like damage survey reports, Cignarale said.

LA County Board Supervisors Chair Kathryn Barger also spoke about the issue of insurance coverage being denied due to improper use of damage assessment reports. These reports are limited to external walkarounds and were never intended to qualify or disqualify residents for aid. Insurers are required to conduct their own inspections and reports.

Tuesday, March 11, 2025

California Lawmakers Propose Fixes for ‘Insurance Industry in Shambles’

By Levi Sumagaysay, CALMATTERS

The fires that reduced Altadena, Pacific Palisades and other Los Angeles-area neighborhoods to rubble have also shined a harsh light on California’s raging insurance crisis.

Lawmakers have proposed a variety of bills to address the issues illuminated by the disaster, plus others that predate it. Some of the legislation would be the first of its kind in the nation.

One measure would put the state’s top two lawmakers on the governing committee of the FAIR Plan, the association of insurance companies that’s required by law to provide fire insurance to property owners who can’t find it anywhere else.

The FAIR Plan said last month that it was at risk of running out of money due to claims from the LA fires and asked for a $1 billion lifeline. Its member insurance companies were on the hook for that amount, and could try to pass along up to half of the cost to their customers.

Tuesday, March 11, 2025

Three Congregations Return to Shared Church Building After Devastating Eaton Fire

STAFF REPORT

Amid piles of ash and lingering toxic smoke, a sense of unity has risen in California’s San Gabriel Valley where the Eaton Fire devastated communities in January 2025, according to a story published by Mennonite Disaster Services.

“Snowdrifts of ash, an acrid smell, a lung-burning toxic cocktail hanging in the air,” left the interior of the Pasadena Mennonite Church building unrecognizable following the fire, writer Susan Kim reports, quoting church member Dan Sharp who described “piles and piles of ash—ash on every horizontal surface.”

The Jan. 7 Eaton fire killed at least 17 people and destroyed 9,414 structures, leaving three congregations and their 270 members without a place to worship until their shared building could be professionally cleaned, Kim writes.

Less than two weeks after the disaster, Mennonite Disaster Service leaders reached out to the Church to offer assistance. According to Kim, the Mennonite Disaster Service California Unit funded half the cost of professionally cleaning the building,

Tuesday, March 11, 2025

Army Corps Ramps Up Eaton Fire Debris Removal Operations

Work crews double in number

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has nearly doubled its debris removal workforce in the Eaton Fire zone over the past week and plans further expansion as recovery efforts intensify, officials announced at a special community meeting Monday, March 10.

Colonel Sonny Avichal told Altadena residents that crews conducting debris removal have increased from 35 to 65 in just one week, with projections to deploy between 80 and 100 crews in the coming weeks.

“We are ramping up operations significantly,” Avichal said during the virtual meeting organized for homeowners and renters whose structures survived the wildfire by Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Chair Kathryn Barger.

The Army Corps is moving forward with preparation of the Altadena Golf Course to serve as a temporary debris storage and reduction site, though Avichal noted, “It is not an operation right now, it is only being prepared.”

The facility is “essential for us meeting our goal of debris removal by January,