Saturday, January 25, 2025

At Altadena Town Hall, Residents Hear Details of 18-Month Cleanup Process

Local and federal officials outlined recovery plans for up to 10,000 destroyed structures and announced over $40 million in distributed aid at a packed Altadena town hall meeting Friday, two weeks after devastating fires killed at least 17 residents in the unincorporated community.

Sheriff Robert Luna reported 15 people remain missing in the Eaton fire area, highlighting early rescue efforts that saved 30 disabled adults and 250 residents from facilities that later burned. Officials announced heightened security measures, including mounted patrols and drone surveillance, after documenting 31 burglaries and making arrests for various crimes in the fire zone.

Col. Eric Swenson of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers detailed an 18-month cleanup process, beginning with EPA removal of hazardous materials followed by comprehensive debris removal from private properties. Property owners must sign right-of-entry forms to participate in the federal cleanup program, he said.

FEMA officials reported distributing over $40 million in aid, with maximum individual assistance of $43,600 for structure damage and another $43,600 for contents,

Saturday, January 25, 2025

Additional Disaster Recovery Center Opening Monday in Altadena

CITY NEWS SERVICE

A Disaster Recovery Center will open Monday in the Altadena area, the third such center to open in the wake of the Southland’s destructive and deadly wildfires.

The center will be located at 540 W. Woodbury Road. It will join the existing centers operating at the Pasadena City College Community Education Center, 3035 E. Foothill Blvd., and at the UCLA Research Park West, 10850 W. Pico Blvd., Los Angeles,

The centers are open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily.

County officials said the Pasadena and Altadena centers will both be open next week, however, beginning Feb. 1, the Pasadena center will close, with all of those services shifted to the new Altadena location.

The centers are designed to be one-stop-shop locations for people impacted by the fires to access a range of services and resources.

A host of county departments are represented at the centers, along with state agencies such as the Department of Motor Vehicles,

Saturday, January 25, 2025

Trump Visits Fire-Ravaged Pacific Palisades, But Not Altadena and Pasadena

CITY NEWS SERVICE

President Donald Trump toured the fire-ravaged Pacific Palisades Friday and vowed to “open the coffers” of the federal government and waive federal permits to expedite the rebuilding process.

“I don’t think you can realize how rough it is, how devastating it is until you see it,” Trump said of the fire damage. “I didn’t realize. I saw a lot of bad things on television, but the extent of it, the size of it. We flew over it … it is devastation. It’s incredible, it’s really an incineration. Even some of the chimneys came down. When you have chimneys come down you know that’s pretty hot stuff and a lot of them were down.

He did not tour Altadena, where more structures burned.

In a meeting with local, state and congressional leaders following the tour, Trump assured them “the federal government is standing behind you 100%.” He noted that the fires are “already the most expensive natural disaster,

Saturday, January 25, 2025

14,000-Acre Eaton Fire Winds Down as Recovery Begins

CITY NEWS SERVICE

The devastating Eaton Fire that claimed at least 17 lives and destroyed more than 9,400 structures reached 95% containment Saturday as officials push forward with recovery operations amid an approaching cold front and threat of rain.

The 14,021-acre blaze that began Jan. 7 in Altadena and Pasadena has also injured nine firefighters and left thousands without basic utilities. Cal Fire reports 1,837 personnel remain assigned to the incident.

Pasadena Water and Power lifted its do-not-drink order Friday, while Foothill Municipal Water District announced system pressurization this weekend, though testing could take two weeks before restrictions end.

Southern California Edison has restored power to 12,422 structures, with 6,961 still in the dark. SoCalGas resumed service to 6,094 customers after widespread shutoffs in Pasadena, Altadena and Sierra Madre communities.

The Pasadena Convention Center continues housing 571 evacuees across six shelters as recovery efforts progress.

Southern California Edison reported that service has been restored to 12,422 structures,

Saturday, January 25, 2025

Kaiser Permanente, in Collaboration with Community Agencies, to Transform its Pasadena Regional Headquarters Building

STAFF REPORT

Kaiser Permanente 393 E Walnut St Pasadena via Google maps

Into a Wildfire Resource Hub for Residents Impacted by the Devastating 2025 LA Wildfires

At a time when tens of thousands of residents have been displaced by devastating wildfires, Kaiser Permanente is opening its Pasadena regional headquarters for use as a Wildfire Resource Hub that will provide direct assistance and resources to those affected.

The Wildfire Resource Hub was made possible through the collaboration and contributions of many partners. They include California Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD), Emergency Network Los Angeles (ENLA), Los Angeles County Office of Emergency Management, Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, the City of Pasadena, FEMA, as well as numerous nonprofit service providers such as the Tzu Chi Foundation, the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank, the Salvation Army and the American Red Cross.

Kaiser Permanente’s Walnut Center building, located at 393 East Walnut St. in Pasadena, will support residents affected by the 2025 L.A.

Saturday, January 25, 2025

LA Metro to Resume Fare Collection Monday

CITY NEWS SERVICE

After waiving fees for more than two weeks as a result of fire emergencies, LA Metro announced it will resume collecting fares across its bus and rail systems after the weekend.

On social media platforms, the transit agency noted fare collection would begin with the start of service on Monday. Metro added, “We hope the free rides the past 2+ weeks helped you make essential trips during the fires.”

L.A. County Board Supervisor Janice Hahn, who is chair of Metro’s Board of Directors, implemented no-fare collection as a result of multiple fires that broke out Jan. 7. Thousands of residents in the Palisades, Altadena and areas around the city of Los Angeles had to evacuate and were displaced from their homes.

On Thursday, the Board of Directors approved a proposal to expand its LIFE program, an initiative to offer free and reduced-fare service for qualifying individuals.

The agency is expected to modify the eligibility of the program for at least six months.

Friday, January 24, 2025

December Unemployment Rate in LA County Holds Steady

CITY NEWS SERVICE

Los Angeles County’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate held steady at 6% in December, the same rate as November, according to figures released Friday by the state Employment Development Department.

The 6% rate was above the rate of 5.2% in December 2023.

Statewide, California’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 5.5% in December, up from 5.4% in November and up from 5.1% in December 2023. The comparable estimates for the nation were 4.1% in December, 4.2% in November and 3.8% in December 2023.

Total non-farm employment in Los Angeles County increased by 11,400 jobs between November and December to reach nearly 4.66 million.

The trade, transportation and utilities sector showed the largest month-over-month gain, adding 7,700 jobs.

Friday, January 24, 2025

LA Region to Receive over $8M in Federal Funding for Housing Assistance

CITY NEWS SERVICE

More than $8 million in federal funding will be coming to the Los Angeles region to bolster emergency shelter operations, provide rental assistance, and other services, officials announced Friday.

The funding is coming from the U.S. Department of Housing through its Rapid Unsheltered Survivor Housing program, according to California Sen. Adam Schiff and Sen. Alex Padilla. Funding can be used to support L.A. County residents displaced by the recent wildfires.

“This funding will provide much-needed relief for residents who are struggling to get back on their feet after the recent wildfires across Los Angeles, as well as those who have been experiencing homelessness,” Schiff said in a statement. “These resources will ensure our local governments can help families and individuals without housing move forward as our communities begin to rebuild.”

Of the $8 million, the state will receive $3 million. Los Angeles County and the cities of Los Angeles, Pasadena, Pomona and Long Beach will each receive $1 million.

Friday, January 24, 2025

Generosity Pours in from Near & Far

STAFF REPORT

In just two weeks, donors from near and far have helped Pasadena Community Foundation’s Eaton Fire Relief & Recovery Fund grow to $7 million. National and local foundations and corporations, along with more than 2,500 individuals, have amplified PCF’s ability to support our PasadenaAltadena-Sierra Madre communities in the face of unimaginable destruction and loss from the Eaton Fire.

This generosity has already helped PCF disburse $533,000 in grants to 20 Altadena and Pasadena nonprofits last week; we continue to work with nonprofit and civic leaders to direct additional funding in the weeks and months to come.

We extend grateful thanks to The Ballmer Group for its $1 million donation. Steve and Connie Ballmer have dedicated an initial $15 million in emergency funding for those impacted by the recent wildfires and noted that they were particularly interested in supporting “the historic, racially diverse community of Altadena.”

PCF also recognizes significant gifts from Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan;

Friday, January 24, 2025

Caltech Expert Tells City Council Air Quality Returning to Normal After Eaton Fire, City Eyes Enhanced Monitoring

STAFF REPORT

At a special Pasadena City Council meeting Thursday, a Caltech atmospheric chemistry expert assured members that local air quality has largely normalized following the Eaton Fire, even as local officials consider deploying additional monitoring equipment across affected neighborhoods.

“And so the good news is that the amounts of lead and other indicators of ash and dust in the air now this is in the particles smaller than 2.5 microns, suggest that the mobility of the ash and dust has not affected air quality terribly downwind of Altadena,” said Paul Wennberg, the R. Stanton Avery Professor of Atmospheric Chemistry and Environmental Science and Engineering at Caltech.

The Environmental Protection Agency regulates both fine particulate matter smaller than 2.5 microns (PM 2.5), which can be deposited deep in the lungs, and particles under 10 microns (PM 10) that tend to deposit higher in the respiratory system.

During the special meeting focused on environmental monitoring and testing, Pasadena Public Health Acting Director Manuel Carmona presented plans to potentially expand the city’s network of “Purple Air”