Thursday, January 22, 2026

First Free Modular Home for Eaton Fire Survivors Arrives in Altadena

[photo credit: Steadfast LA]

A year after the blaze destroyed 9,400 structures, a nonprofit partnership plans to deliver its initial factory-built house to a family that couldn’t afford to rebuild

One year after the Eaton Fire tore through this foothill community and destroyed more than 9,400 structures, a factory-built home is set to be craned onto a residential lot Thursday — the first from an initiative providing free modular houses to fire survivors who lack the resources to rebuild.

The Rodriguez Family’s 950-square-foot, two-bedroom home arrived fully assembled from a factory in Mexico. It is the first of the homes that Steadfast LA and Samara have announced, with five Altadena families selected so far and plans to install homes throughout 2026.

The initiative aims to deliver 80 to 100 free modular homes to underinsured or low-income homeowners in Altadena, Pacific Palisades, and other fire-affected areas, according to Steadfast LA.

The program targets longtime homeowners who were underinsured or uninsured and cannot afford traditional construction, which can take 18 to 24 months and cost several hundred thousand dollars. Samara’s homes are built in about five to six months at a factory in Mexicali, Mexico, then trucked to the site and lifted into place by crane, with installation taking only weeks.

“This initiative is about keeping communities intact,” Rick Caruso, chairman of Steadfast LA, said when announcing the partnership in February 2025. “Many of the people struggling the most right now are those who have lived in these neighborhoods for decades. They built their homes many years ago, they’re underinsured or lack insurance, and now they have lost everything.”

The Eaton Fire killed 19 people when it swept through Altadena beginning January 7, 2025. It became the second most destructive wildfire in California history. The fire was fully contained on January 31, 2025.

Steadfast LA, a nonprofit founded by real estate developer Caruso, partnered with Samara in February 2025 after Airbnb co-founder Joe Gebbia pledged $15 million to fund the homes. Gebbia co-founded Samara with Mike McNamara, the company’s CEO.

“We think the whole concept of a public-private partnership to get people back into their homes is the right way to go after it,” McNamara said.

Samara’s homes feature metal roofs, fire-resistant exterior walls, dual-pane glass windows, and HVAC systems capable of filtering particles as small as smoke. Samara is building the homes at cost, with no profit, according to the company.

HomeAid OCLA, loanDepot, and Armanino are supporting the initiative by managing the eligibility screening process. Candidates must demonstrate they lost their primary residence in the January 2025 fires, were underinsured or uninsured, and meet financial need criteria based on income and net worth. Steadfast LA Foundation provides grants covering the full cost of construction and installation, which the organization estimates at $450,000 to $500,000 per home.

Representatives from LA County Supervisor Kathryn Barger’s office attended Thursday’s installation. Barger, whose 5th District includes Altadena, has led county recovery efforts including securing more than $60 million for rebuilding parks destroyed in the fire.

Caruso announced in November 2025 that five Altadena families had been selected to receive homes.

“When you help a family rebuild their home, you help rebuild their hope,” he said at the time.

The installation marks a visible step in Altadena’s recovery, which county officials have described as ongoing. As of late 2025, hundreds of building permits had been issued for reconstruction in the burn area, though the vast majority of destroyed structures remained unbuilt.

“We’re giving these victims a realistic way to stay on their properties and quickly return to their lives at a time when the deck is stacked against them,” Caruso said.

For more information on the initiative visit:https://www.steadfastla.com or https://www.samara.com