Saturday, April 4, 2026

Altadena Mortgage Relief, Eaton Fire Emergency Renewals on County Board Agenda Tuesday

From left, 4th District Supervisor Janice Hahn, 1st District Supervisor Hilda L. Solis, 3rd District Supervisor Lindsey Horvath, 5th District Supervisor Kathryn Barger and 2nd District Supervisor Holly Mitchell. [David Franco / Board of Supervisors]

Supervisors to consider backing state bill extending forbearance for wildfire survivors to 36 months

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors will consider a motion Tuesday to support state legislation that would extend mortgage forbearance for Eaton Fire survivors from 12 months to 36 months, one of several Altadena-related items on an agenda that also includes continued emergency declarations, recovery contract oversight and a $19.5 million firefighting helicopter purchase.

The motion, submitted by Supervisor Kathryn Barger, would direct the County to support Assembly Bill 1847 by Assemblymember John Harabedian (D-Pasadena). The bill would triple the forbearance period established under AB 238, which Governor Gavin Newsom signed in September 2025, and push the deadline for homeowners to request relief from January 7, 2027, to January 7, 2029, according to the bill text.

Harabedian, whose Assembly District 41 includes Pasadena and unincorporated Altadena, introduced the legislation in February after his office received reports that mortgage servicers were not complying with the existing law.

“While some banks abided by the law in granting relief via the Mortgage Forbearance Act, many delayed and denied consumers the relief they are owed under the law,” Harabedian said in a statement released by his office. “That is why I have introduced AB 1847.”

More than 15 months after the Eaton Fire destroyed more than 6,000 homes in Altadena, roughly 1,025 homes are under construction, approximately 2,000 building permits have been issued and the County has received over 3,000 rebuild applications, according to Supervisor Barger’s office.

The Board will also vote to continue 12 proclaimed local emergencies, including the January 2025 Windstorm and Critical Fire Events emergency declared on January 7, 2025. The continuation keeps in place the emergency authorities that have allowed the County to deploy recovery resources and issue contracts without competitive bidding in the Eaton Fire burn area.

Two biweekly reports on emergency contracts related to the Eaton Fire are also on the agenda. The reports, from the Department of Internal Services and the Department of Public Works, detail emergency actions taken without competitive bidding to respond to and recover from the fires. Both require four votes for approval and a Board finding that the emergency conditions continue to require expedited contracting.

The Department of Public Health is asking the Board to continue the local health emergency declared on January 10, 2025, in response to the wildfires.

In a separate spending item, the Board will consider authorizing the sole source acquisition of mission equipment, outfitting and configuration of two Sikorsky S-70i Firehawk helicopters for the Consolidated Fire Protection District at a total cost not to exceed $19.5 million. The County announced the contract with Sikorsky in October 2025, according to a Lockheed Martin press release.

“The Firehawk helicopter has been the cornerstone of our aerial firefighting capability for more than two decades,” County Fire Chief Anthony C. Marrone said in the October announcement, according to the press release. “Adding two more proven platforms enhances our ability to respond to all types of emergency situations across the county.”

The consent calendar also includes proclamations of interest to Pasadena-area residents. Item 7 designates April 24 as Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day throughout Los Angeles County, submitted by Supervisors Barger and Solis. Item 8 proclaims April 2026 as Armenian History Month, submitted by Supervisors Barger and Hahn.

The Board will also consider a request from the Pasadena Glen Community Services District to consolidate a special parcel tax election with the statewide direct primary election on June 2.

A separate matter requiring four votes would authorize the issuance and sale of up to $300 million in tax-exempt revenue bonds to finance the San Gabriel Reservoir Post-Fire Emergency Restoration Project Part 2 and the San Gabriel Reservoir Restoration Project related to the Bridge Fire. The first bond series would not exceed $100 million.

The meeting begins at 9:30 a.m. in Board Hearing Room 381B at Kenneth Hahn Hall of Administration, 500 West Temple Street, Los Angeles. The public may participate remotely via Webex at www.bos.lacounty.gov or by phone at (213) 306-3065. Written comments may be submitted at publiccomment.bos.lacounty.gov. The agenda was posted on April 1.

AB 1847 is scheduled to be heard by the Assembly Banking and Finance Committee and the Judiciary Committee, where it was referred on February 23, according to Pasadena Now’s prior reporting, based on Harabedian’s office.