Friday, March 13, 2026

Turnkey Rebuild Summit Offers Eaton Fire Survivors One-Stop Path Home

A free event brings vetted builders and housing professionals to Altadena for residents still navigating the rebuilding process

Fourteen months after the Eaton Fire destroyed more than 9,400 structures across Altadena, a free summit on Sunday will give survivors a single destination to meet vetted turnkey builders and explore streamlined options for getting back into their homes.

The Altadena Turnkey Rebuild Summit, scheduled for March 15 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Loma Alta Park’s gym, is designed for fire survivors who are underfunded or overwhelmed by the complexity of rebuilding, according to a press release from Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger’s office. Attendees will be able to meet home builders and housing professionals, attend speaker presentations, and participate in workshops aimed at simplifying the decisions that come with rebuilding after a disaster.

“The road to recovery after a disaster can feel overwhelming,” Barger said in the statement. “Even though it’s been over a year since the wildfires, many survivors are still struggling. They’re experiencing decision fatigue and under a lot of stress.”

The summit’s focus on turnkey rebuilding — in which a single builder handles design, permitting, and construction so the homeowner receives a move-in-ready home — is one of several efforts in Altadena’s recovery aimed at reducing the burden on individual residents. Five organizations are partnering to stage the event: the Building Industry Association of Southern California, a century-old trade association representing more than 1,600 member companies; Builders Alliance, a nonprofit formed after the January 2025 fires that operates an online portal matching homeowners with builders; the Altadena Collective, a grassroots group of local professionals coordinating affordable rebuild options; the Foothill Catalog Foundation, which offers pre-approved home designs modeled on Altadena’s historic architectural styles; and the Altadena Recovery and Rebuild Corporation, the long-term recovery organization developed by Barger and community partners, according to the press release.

The Eaton Fire ignited on January 7, 2025, in Eaton Canyon and burned more than 14,000 acres before it was fully contained on January 31, 2025, according to Cal Fire. The blaze killed at least 19 people and became the second most destructive wildfire in California history.

The summit will be held at Loma Alta Park’s gym, 3330 N. Lincoln Ave., Altadena. Lunch will be provided. The event is free and open to all Eaton Fire-affected residents. Attendees can register via the QR code on the event flyer or by contacting (626) 344-7394 or info@arrcaltadena.org.

Barger called the summit “a valuable opportunity that provides easily accessible guidance, resources, and professional connections — all in one place, and in a single afternoon.”