Part 155: More Disaster Zone Politics – Direct and Indirect Relief and Recovery

Published February 9, 2025. Updated February 10, 2025.

Feb 09, 2025

The Eaton Fire rages on the night of January 7, 2025 above Altadena, California before making its way down into neighborhoods by author (iPhone 15 Pro).

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By Zachary Ellison, Independent Journalist

The videos were compelling. Together, they disprove the seemingly preposterous explanation given by Southern California Edison (SCE) that a distant homelessness encampment 300 yards away from their transmission towers started the disastrous Eaton Fire. On January 7, the mountains had gone ablaze before striking neighboring structures in less than an hour. Edison hadn’t fully deenergized it’s lines, offering an explanation that it had believed the winds were insufficient to compromise its equipment. Local hero Edgar McGregor, who the media had insistently referred to as an “amateur” meteorologist, had projected high winds warning of disaster along with the National Weather Service. McGregor proposes a new mountain windstorm scale, not unlike that used for hurricanes; fans were quite seriously already calling it the McGregor scale. I had taken his warnings seriously, and we had watched and listened as the fire had grown bigger; the result of negligence, bad luck, and climate change.

Four long hours elapsed between the start of the fire and when we decided to evacuate from the neighborhood just east of Lake Avenue, which bisects Altadena and leads down into Pasadena. Others had less time, and still many others went to sleep on the other side of Lake believing that flames wouldn’t reach them. This too is now the subject of investigation by CalFire. Like a rolling, roaring wave, the fire had essentially pivoted away from its source, driven by a predominant northeast-southwest axis and down into the heavily populated town. The evacuation was mostly orderly early that night; there was little panic in the now darkened neighborhood driving away from it. Sometimes since the night of January 7th, I’ve regretted not heading back towards the flames to document and observe what I feared was coming, an event so massive that an entire populated urbanized area could burn.

Weeks before, I had run into McGregor, who operates a hyperlocal news website for Eaton Canyon on an equally windy day going up Echo Mountain from the northern end of Lake Avenue at Cobb Estate. He was looking for wind despite an injured back. Along with other volunteers, we had cleaned out a shed next to the Eaton Canyon Nature Center just a few weeks later. There was a native woodrat hiding inside, soon discovered inside a plastic storage box amidst signs of fresh droppings. Eaton Canyon is already showing some signs of recovery, even as the creek, which leads to the popular waterfall destination, flows black. The San Gabriel Mountains have a long history of fire ecology; their scorching is not quite the same loss as the human history below. At least one resident bear took shelter underneath a home; we had seen it a few weeks before after pulling trash out of the canyon. Barry, or Victor, was soon captured and relocated.

Altadenans have been displaced in great numbers, joining those similarly burnt out of Pacific Palisades. Both will face long roads back to full reconstruction. Amidst a broadening public debate and litigation, perhaps my biggest fear is that the question of what these events mean and why will simply be lost from human imagination. Most alarmingly, the longer this goes on, the scarcer resources are seemingly becoming. The corporate offers of free housing are dwindling, and mostly we’re all learning to be more grateful for family and what it means to have a roof over our heads. Those who lack wealth are most vulnerable. Even those, as one source told me, who had not suffered a total loss are dealing with the aftermath of smoke, ash, and debris. His house, which was fire-hardened, had survived even as those all around were incinerated. There’s a tremendous degree of survivor's guilt to go around town these days.

This morning I woke up from a hotel bed and read a CNN describing us as “zombies” from all the moving around and dealing with the aftermath to the point of exhaustion. I didn’t quite disagree; it was moving day again for us too, “Displacement #4.” I was grateful that 211 had finally come through, and soon we’ll get to check into a Hampton Bay, which is operated by Hilton, that we could otherwise not afford. Some corporations had stepped up and put roofs over people’s heads, and others have just offered discounts. Still others have pledged philanthropy, both directly and indirectly, to survivors. Alarmingly, I had read of the so-called Department of Angels, the website of which proposes the following first step: “To kickstart this work, the California Community Foundation, Snap Inc., Evan Spiegel, and Bobby Murphy are committing seed funding ($10M+) to staff the Department of Angels.” I could only wonder if they would be employing fire-affected people; as of yet, my inquiry has received no response.

Billionaire real estate developer Rick Caruso has announced a new foundation called SteadfastLA, the goal of which seems to be expediting reconstruction. In the aftermath of the disaster, Caruso’s criticism of Mayor Karen Bass had been so vociferous that even the politically allied Los Angeles Police Protective League (LAPPL) had criticized him on X, formerly known as Twitter, writing, “Hey, @RickCarusoLA should stop politicizing these tragic fires and stop attacking @MayorOfLA Karen Bass.” The LAPPL added The Mayor has been leading and has been in continuous communication with local, state, and federal officials to support our first responders to save lives and property.” A spokesperson for the controversial union didn’t respond to a follow-up request for comment on whether this represented any broader political rift that would outlast the immediate response to the disaster. Whether all of these dollars predominantly make it to disaster victims, much less those in dire need, remains to be seen.

At least one organization seems to be making direct grants available. Better Angels LA, founded by Adam and Staci Miller in 2022 to address the crisis of homelessness, is making direct-grant funding available to those in need. Adam Miller is a previous chair of Team Rubicon, the well-regarded veterans-focused global disaster relief program, and earned his billions in the software industry. The organization, like so many others, is still finding its way in addressing homelessness, but at least in the face of a mass housing-loss event, it’s putting its money upfront and not at the back end. The organization recently partnered with the Mayors Fund to create an online resource navigator. More directly, Better Angels claims to have processed 300 applications for 100 families, totaling $60,000 in aid. These include particularly disabled and elderly individuals, as well as families. Much more philanthropy like this is desperately needed to prevent a greater loss. The organization's ongoing efforts to provide micro-lending to those facing housing insecurity were also notable, particularly given that it was privately funded.

Along with housing support, employment is also desperately needed, especially for those who lost work in Altadena and the Palisades. It’s unclear whether corporate America will continue to step it up or if the outpouring of support will start to dry up as the world keeps moving on. You can now drive through the disaster zone in Altadena freely, unlike the Palisades, where checkpoints remain. Caruso had Tweeted out, angrily, as word spread that the National Guard wouldn’t protect the Palisades: “Pulling the National Guard this soon is insane. Why did Mayor Bass order the Guard to be removed? The area is still full of hazards. The lucky few who still have homes are left unprotected. LAPD doesn’t have the resources. This is reckless.”

Maybe the LAPPL had forgiven him? Most Angelenos likely wouldn’t agree that the Los Angeles Police Department lacks resources. Caruso’s increasingly active social media spree has even drawn the attention of Los Angeles Times owner Patrick Soon-Shiong, who Retweeted a long missive from Caruso, commenting that the Times was similarly going private sector, writing, “Expertise has now been gathered and the LAT will provide weekly updates and a dedicated page and podcast to inform Angelenos of practical, safe solutions #rebuildla.” Ah, hashtags!

Maybe the billionaires will save us after all? President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly threatened to withhold federal support while simultaneously issuing orders to expedite debris removal and ostensibly free up water supplies, might take heed of LA’s billionaires. Caruso and Soon-Shiong had seemingly politically split over Trump, with Caruso having backed Joe Biden and Soon-Shiong going all in on Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to be Health and Human Services Secretary after creating a crisis at the paper of record over his refusal to endorse Kamala Harris. The former Vice President recently served meals in Altadena and toured the Palisades amidst widespread discussion she might enter the 2026 governor's race in California, which Caruso has also done polling on ambitiously. It’s unclear, though, if Californians actually want either of these candidates, much less whether disaster relief politics is a prudent strategy.

Someone’s got to do something, but does everyone need to do anything? Sitting more than a hundred miles away from the disaster zone in an affordability bubble of the Coachella Valley, I’ve really got to wonder where this is going. Personally, I’m kind of over Los Angeles, even having been born there; the amount of ego wafting around the city sometimes equals the unwillingness to engage with basic facts. Power is an elixir, and Los Angeles drinks from it freely even when both sides just about agree that what we’re doing isn’t working. Rebuilding at all costs is probably not a viable strategy, especially amidst a brewing trade war. In a place with a continually abundant homelessness crisis for over a decade, addressing the housing turmoil created by a disaster is going to take more than posturing and throwing some money around.

So will there be any assistance to relocate, and how will Altadenans, and especially those without insurance coverage to cover lodging, make it through years of reconstruction? What is the plan? Apparently not even the Pasadena Convention Center could be used indefinitely to shelter those displaced by the fire with television filming planned. A one-week extension has been granted while the Red Cross figures out what to do. Even those with relatives and friends will often find that an indefinite stay isn’t possible. Will the people of Altadena end up living in their cars? Major hotel chains outside of Hilton aren’t exactly stepping up to the plate to offer any free lodging, with moderate discounting being the most common response. Airbnb has stepped up to the plate to offer lodging, although questions have swirled about who’s actually getting the stays. FEMA offers an assistance program, but long-term federal support is in question in no small part due to the Trump administration's aggressive cost-cutting moves.

Most importantly, an atmospheric river storm is expected to reach Southern California from February 13 to 14 with the potential to bring several inches of rain that could help to end the fire season but also trigger mudslides and debris flows. This risk will only increase as we head into the month of March, which in some years has exceeded February rainfall totals. Will a prolonged drought occur, or will our increasingly oscillating climate produce more devastation? Edgar McGregor recently took to Facebook in the Altadena Climate and Weather group now famous to commemorate the one-month anniversary of the fire, writing, “We are now a statistic that other fire prone communities will look at for decades to come, just as we shook and bowed our heads at Lahaina.” McGregor added, “Those Santa Ana winds will strike fear in the minds of tens of thousands for decades to come whenever they strike.” The group provided early warning to many Altadenans that something was seriously amiss, and “Weather McGregor” has now created similar groups for other neighboring communities and continues picking up litter daily.

The Old Farmer’s Almanac issued the following spring weather forecast for Southern California: “A cool, wet spring after its extremely dry winter, punctuated by massive wildfires. Warm rain storms start before spring: The week of Feb. 24 to mid-March.” No matter how bad some people might want to begin construction, the reality of removing debris and pouring concrete is fundamentally weather driven. Construction is a weather-sensitive field. Sitting in the mineral pool a world away, the question comes, where are you from? Altadena. A fellow soaker didn’t want to talk about it in the desert night, relaxing, conveying that his mother had lost their childhood house in the wildfire and that painting in the Palm Springs boiling heat in the summer is impossible. There’s no simple snap-your-fingers-and-return-to-normal these days possible.

One person has decided that political hubris at least has its limits. California Attorney General Rob Bonta has bowed out from the potential list for the governor’s race with speculation that he will run for re-election in 2026. The next governor of California will face not only the harsh realities of climate change and mismanagement but also the political winds of Donald Trump should he last so long in office. At present, the legally elected president appears to be wandering dangerously off course yet again. Meanwhile, former President Joe Biden, who has maintained silence in lieu of the increasingly erratic behavior of his successor, at least has a new talent agency. Southern California has long been a place for newcomers, a land of dreamers, with, for example, infamously Hunter Biden relocating to the area and getting himself in trouble. Presidents typically yield governance to their successors, and so as Trump continues his vendetta-fest with Elon Musk at his side, current Governor Gavin Newsom is in a pinch. Last week, Newsom traveled to Washington D.C. to lobby Trump and others for funding.

Rebuilding will assuredly take longer than 2 years and most likely more than 4 years. Caruso has promised that Steadfast LA will use private sector ingenuity to fast-track reconstruction. According to Los Angeles Times journalist Matt Hamilton about his conflict with Mayor Bass, he said he wanted to resolve it, stating, “If we do a great job, which I think we’re going to — we’re going to work really hard — and it helps her do a good job, and she comes out as a great mayor of the city for moving this along, I’ll be thrilled.” Whether or not this spells the end of his electoral ambitions remains to be seen. Caruso spent more than $100 million trying to become mayor. He’s reportedly committed “millions” to the project already with plans to open offices at The Grove (and to Palisades likely at his shopping center)” and to the Americana Brand in Glendale. The foundation will be led by Najla Kayyem, a retail and marketing executive and former Caruso employee based in Scottsdale, Arizona. Will outside help be the difference-maker?

The City of Los Angeles has similarly contracted an Illinois-based consulting firm and is in process with multinational engineering firm AECOM to expedite its efforts in the Palisades. After much scrutiny, civic leader and real estate developer Steve Soboroff and his business partner Randy Johnson both have agreed to forgo salaries of $500,000 and $250,000 to serve as recovery czars for the Palisades. The duo also recently served as expert witnesses for a legal effort to create more housing on the West Los Angeles Veterans campus.

Meanwhile, Supervisor Kathryn Barger, who represents Altadena, announced that a Recovery Commission will be formed, including private citizens. It wasn’t immediately clear who would serve on this group to guide reconstruction. For some, it would be too late; already some were deciding that they simply couldn’t wait for the operation. Sitting many miles away in a Hilton-operated Hampton Bay eating a free breakfast, I was just grateful not to be watching the neighborhood burn down overnight. Count your blessings, because you never know when it could be you.

UPDATE: The Los Angeles Times is reporting that the amount raised for wildfire victims is in excess of $650 million including pledges. Journalist Harriet Ryan writes that this is a new record exceeding that raised in response to other recent disasters.

Link: Edison says encampment found near area where Eaton fire started; critics doubt it sparked fire

Link: Altadena winds weren’t strong enough to warrant Edison shutting off transmission lines, CEO asserts

Link: Altadena resident and climate scientist honored for "saving countless lives" during Eaton Fire

Link: They waited and waited for an evacuation order. The fire came first, and people died in Altadena

Link: My Eaton Canyon

Link: 525-pound bear found hiding underneath evacuated Altadena home

Link: Her family has slept in 5 places since LA fires ravaged her home. What it’s like for Altadena residents trying to recover

Link: Snapchat co-founder, foundation leader launch community-centered fire recovery program

Link: Department of Angels

Link: Rick Caruso launches foundation to help rebuild L.A. after wildfires

Link: Better Angels LA Wildfire Response

Link: LA Disaster Relief Navigator