Monday, January 20, 2025

Beware of Insurance Scams, Officials Warn After Eaton Fire

STAFF REPORT

Authorities urge homeowners with disaster damage to verify adjuster credentials as fraudulent actors target vulnerable residents

City officials are warning homeowners whose properties have been damaged in the Eaton Fire that they may be targeted by scammers attempting to take advantage during this vulnerable time.

Local authorities report that scammers are approaching victims through various channels, including unsolicited door-to-door visits, telephone calls, and emails targeting affected homeowners.

The California Department of Insurance emphasizes that survivors should carefully review adjuster contracts and understand all associated fees, which are typically calculated as a percentage of the insurance claim.

Officials strongly recommend that survivors verify the legitimacy of any insurance adjuster by checking their license status through the California Department of Insurance’s official website.

Residents who encounter suspected insurance scams are urged to report suspicious activity by calling (626) 744-4241, according to the announcement issued on January 19.

Additional information about disaster-related insurance scams can be found at Bit.ly/CADisasterInsuranceScams,

Monday, January 20, 2025

High Winds, Fire Danger to Strike Pasadena Area Monday Through Tuesday

STAFF REPORT

National Weather Service forecasters are warning Pasadena residents of an approaching strong Santa Ana wind event beginning Monday morning, with potentially damaging wind gusts that could reach 60 to 80 miles per hour.

The NWS issued a High Wind Warning for the area from Monday morning through early Tuesday afternoon.

The powerful offshore winds will combine with extremely low humidity to create dangerous fire weather conditions that could persist through Thursday.

Monday morning starts with low clouds across the region, but conditions will change dramatically as strong northeast winds develop, NWS forecasters said.

Temperatures will remain below normal, with daytime highs struggling to reach the mid-60s under increasingly clear skies.

The next 24 to 48 hours will bring significant changes to Pasadena and surrounding areas. Forecasters expect wind speeds to increase sharply Monday afternoon, with the strongest gusts occurring between 4:00p.m. Monday and 1:00 a.m Tuesday.

The La Crescenta-Altadena corridor could see particularly strong ‘mountain wave’ wind activity during this period.

Saturday, January 18, 2025

Altadena Residents, Advocates Call for Just, Equitable Recovery

CITY NEWS SERVICE

A coalition of advocates Friday urged Los Angeles County elected officials for a just recovery for victims of the Eaton Fire, which burned down areas of Altadena — home to a diverse community that contains historically Black neighborhoods and is known for Black generational wealth.

Residents and advocates gathered at the First African Methodist Episcopal Church, one of the oldest Black congregations of this denomination in Pasadena, to join a rallying cry for equitable restoration. The Eaton Fire, which started Jan.7, has so far resulted in the deaths of 17 people and stood at 65% containment with more than 14,000 acres burned as of Jan. 17.

During the news conference organized by LA Voice, a multi-racial and multi-faith organization, Pastor Kerwin Manning of Pasadena Church said this is about their community, “our flock,” getting everything they need for restoration.

“At the beginning of this year, Jan. 1, the whole world’s eyes were on us. They were watching the beauty of the Rose Parade and the floats,

Friday, January 17, 2025

Ballmer Group Donates $1M To Aid PUSD Families Affected By Eaton Fire

STAFF REPORT

The Pasadena Educational Foundation has received a $1 million donation from the Ballmer Group to assist Pasadena Unified School District families and staff impacted by the Eaton Fire. The contribution is part of the Ballmers’ broader $15 million emergency relief initiative supporting wildfire recovery efforts across the region.

The Ballmer Group is a philanthropic organization founded in 2015 by Steve Ballmer, former CEO of Microsoft, and his wife Connie Ballmer.

“The Eaton Fire has devastated our PUSD community—families and staff have lost their homes, belongings, and sense of stability. Thanks to the Ballmer Group’s extraordinary generosity, we can provide much-needed relief,” said Patrick Conyers, Executive Director of PEF. “This is just the beginning of what will be a long recovery, and PEF is committed to standing with our PUSD community every step of the way.

The donation will be distributed through the PEF Response Fund, established specifically to provide relief to affected community members. PEF, whose board and staff are deeply connected to Altadena,

Friday, January 17, 2025

Calm Winds Lead to More Fire Containment; Residents Wait to Return Home

CITY NEWS SERVICE

Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna [LASD][/caption]Calm weather greeted firefighters for another day Friday on the lines of the Eaton and Palisades blazes that have killed more than two dozen people and flattened thousands of structures, allowing crews to extend containment lines and more residents to return to their homes.

Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said Thursday he understands the desire for people to return, especially if their homes are undamaged and habitable, but he expects it to be “at least another week, and that’s an estimate, but I believe it’s going to be longer than that” before most evacuations are lifted.

While much of the active fire has been doused, Luna and county Fire Chief Anthony Marrone noted that there is extensive work still going on in the fire zones, including securing utilities to ensure safety, removing hazardous wastes from the area and — most delicately — searching for human remains.

“Our search and rescue efforts continue,”

Friday, January 17, 2025

State Insurance Commissioner and LA District Attorney Launch Anti-Fraud Initiative to Protect Wildfire Survivors

STAFF REPORT

Partnership aims to prevent scams targeting disaster victims through education and enforcement

California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara and Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman have announced a joint effort to combat insurance fraud targeting wildfire survivors. The initiative, building on the Department’s record of fighting fraud, combines consumer education with enhanced prosecution to protect vulnerable disaster victims from fraudulent schemes.

“Scammers exploit vulnerable times, preying on survivors with false promises and fraudulent schemes,” said Commissioner Lara. “We’ve seen this in past wildfires. By partnering with the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, we’re amplifying protections for wildfire victims and empowering consumers to protect themselves. My Department is committed to guiding you with resources to make informed decisions and avoid scams.”

Hochman was similarly aggressive.

“Our Office’s fraud-fighting prosecutors have a message for scammers: You will not get away with impersonating insurance companies in order to steal from wildfire victims in Los Angeles County,”

Friday, January 17, 2025

Pasadena Community Foundation Distributes $533,000 in Fire Relief Grants

STAFF REPORT

Pasadena Community Foundation (PCF) announces its first round of Eaton Fire relief grants to 20 nonprofit partners in Altadena and Pasadena. The grants, totaling $533,000, are the first distribution from PCF’s Eaton Fire Relief & Recovery Fund, which was created last week and has raised more than $4 million to date thanks to the incredible outpouring from individuals, foundations, and corporations.

PCF’s first round of funding will help nonprofits swiftly provide cash assistance, food, shelter, emergency childcare, and medical care to the community. “The situation in Altadena and north Pasadena is dire, with thousands of residents impacted by the loss of homes, workplaces, and community,” says Jeannine Bogaard, PCF’s Director of Community Impact. “We also know that the capacity of many nonprofits has been deeply impacted as their facilities, their leadership, and their staff have suffered losses.”

Jennifer DeVoll, PCF’s President & CEO, is working with local leaders to assess additional needs like temporary housing and mental health services.

Friday, January 17, 2025

Planning a Resilient Future

Editor’s Note: Eleven days after the Eaton Fire, Pasadena Now is taking a closer look at the lives of some of those who lost everything in the disaster, and talking with them about their lives before the fire, their current circumstances and their hopes for the future.

As part of this continuing occasional series, we talked to Altadena Town Council Member Dorothy Wong.

First there was the matter of the Cheney Gates.

In the early hours of Tuesday morning, the Eaton Fire began to roar through swaths of Altadena and neighboring communities, in a historic life-changing 36 hours. For residents like Dorothy Wong, an Altadena Town Council member, the hours leading up to and following the fire’s outbreak were a harrowing mix of urgency, despair, and resolve.

“The story of Tuesday really started on Monday,” said Wong, sitting at a table near the FEMA Disaster Assistance Center at the PCC Community Education Center.

“We knew something significant was coming,” she recalled Wednesday,

Friday, January 17, 2025

Crews Forge Ahead With Complex Eaton Fire Recovery Operation; Death Roll Rises to 17

STAFF REPORT

Thursday afternoon fire officials reported significant progress containing the Eaton Fire while launching extensive recovery operations, with damage inspection teams documenting over 7,500 destroyed structures.

The fire, which has burned through steep terrain around Mount Wilson and Altadena, is now 65% contained with approximately 3,400 personnel working to control the 14,117-acre blaze.

The death toll rose to 17 and more evacuation orders lifted on the outskirts of the deadly burn area near Altadena and Pasadena.

There are 24 active missing-person cases from the Eaton Fire, Sheriff Robert Luna said.

“Crews continue to grow, direct and improve our hand line that’s all around this fire,” said Operation Section Chief Jed Gaines. “The total fire perimeter around this whole incident is just over 60 miles, so it’s taken some time, especially at the top of Mount Wilson, to get in some of these areas.”

Urban Search and Rescue teams have completed more than 8,800 home searches and over 1,100 miles of grid searches.

Friday, January 17, 2025

PUSD Mobilizes Major Mental Health Response for Students and Staff

STAFF REPORT

The Pasadena Unified School District is launching a comprehensive mental health support system as it prepares to reopen schools affected by the devastating Eaton Fire gradually. The District announced plans to deploy more than 50 licensed clinical social workers and counselors to assist traumatized students and staff members.

“The level of trauma is going to be really significant and there will be triggers,” said Dr. Julianne Reynoso, who oversees the District’s Student Wellness and Support Services.

“Making sure that we are trauma ready, not just in forms, we’ll make a difference in how we come back as a unified school District.”

The Los Angeles County Office of Education and teams from schools in Marin County will provide the additional mental health professionals, who will be stationed at campuses to work with both students and staff. The support team will arrive equipped with detailed scripts and resources to address the community’s needs.

The District is implementing a multi-tiered systems of support framework,