Wednesday, April 8, 2026

Altadena Workers Displaced by Eaton Fire Can Walk In Thursdays for Paid County Jobs

County workforce program offers on-the-spot screening for temporary positions starting at $20 per hour in fire recovery

Fifteen months after the Eaton Fire wiped out more than 9,000 structures and pushed an estimated 47,000 workers out of jobs across the burn zones, a county program in Altadena is hiring displaced residents into paid temporary positions — and enrollment happens every Thursday afternoon, no appointment needed.

The weekly pop-ups, called Fire Recovery Thursdays, run from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Altadena Job Center, 464 W. Woodbury Rd., Suite 210, where staff from the LA County Department of Economic Opportunity sit down one-on-one with job seekers and screen them on the spot for the Fire Recovery and Resilience Workforce Program, according to a statement from Supervisor Kathryn Barger’s office. The program places eligible workers in three-to-five-month temporary positions with county departments involved in rebuilding and recovery, at wages starting at $20 per hour, according to the county.

The positions include roles such as laborers, crew supervisors, case managers, and childcare workers, placed with county agencies and other participating organizations that support recovery, according to the Department of Economic Opportunity. The program also provides no-cost job training in industries hit hardest by the fires — construction, hospitality, healthcare, early care and education, and government — along with supportive services, according to the department.

The Altadena pop-ups are part of a countywide effort. Fire Recovery Thursdays take place at all 18 America’s Job Centers of California across Los Angeles County, according to Barger’s office. But the Altadena location, which the county opened in September 2025 specifically to serve Eaton Fire survivors, sits at the center of the affected area — co-located with the One-Stop Permit Center where residents are already navigating the rebuilding process.

The program is backed by $14.2 million in federal and state funding through National Dislocated Worker and Additional Assistance Grants from the U.S. Department of Labor, according to the Department of Economic Opportunity.

The need remains substantial. A county economic impact analysis released in September 2025, conducted jointly by the Department of Economic Opportunity and the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation, found that the Eaton and Palisades fires affected more than 6,800 businesses and 47,000 workers, according to the study. Employment in the Eaton fire area declined approximately 19 percent between the second quarter of 2024 and the second quarter of 2025, with job losses concentrated in food services, retail, administrative support, and recreation, the study found.

“Eaton Fire survivors are facing challenges that most of us can hardly imagine,” Barger said in a March statement promoting the program. “These Fire Recovery Thursday pop-ups can be a lifeline.”

Kelly LoBianco, director of the Department of Economic Opportunity, said when the Altadena Job Center opened that it reflected the county’s commitment to serving residents in the affected area. “We’re making sure people have all the necessary access to the County personnel and tools they need, whether they’re searching for a new job, rebuilding after the fire, or looking to grow their business,” LoBianco said, according to a county press release.

Beyond the Thursday pop-ups, the Altadena Job Center offers career counseling, resume preparation, job training, and placement services on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Walk-ins and scheduled appointments are both accepted. Services are free.

Attendees of Fire Recovery Thursdays should bring a valid photo ID and work authorization documents such as a Social Security card or birth certificate. A resume is helpful but not required. Job seekers can also create a profile in advance at caljobs.ca.gov. For more information, call (888) 226-6300 or visit opportunity.lacounty.gov.

The fire destroyed more than 9,000 structures and killed 19 people in Altadena beginning January 7, 2025. Total economic output losses across all affected zones are projected between $5.2 billion and $10.1 billion, according to the county analysis. The weekly pop-ups, now running for months, are among the most direct points of contact between those losses and a paycheck.

WEEKLY RECRUITMENT POP-UPS: EATON FIRE RECOVERY FOR WORKERS & JOB SEEKERS Date & Time: Thursday, April 16, 2026, 1:00–4:00 p.m. | Venue Address: The Creative Space, 409 Woodbury Rd., Altadena | Phone Number: (888) 226-6300 | Website: https://chamberorganizer.com/Calendar/moreinfo.php?eventid=559001