By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief

Evacuation orders for specific addresses and warnings for several areas were announced on Wednesday afternoon, February 12, due to “high mudslide and debris flow risk,” according to an alert from Los Angeles Fire Department.

“Evacuation orders for specific addresses and evacuation warnings for several areas will be in effect from 7 a.m. Thursday, February 13, to 2 p.m. Friday, February 14, due to high mudslide and debris flow risk,” the alert read. “These areas are recently burned and especially susceptible to heavy rain.”

In the Palisades fire area, warnings included near Getty Villa, the Highlands near the burned areas, Bienveneda Avenue near Temescal Canyon Park, Reseda Boulevard area/Marinette Road near Will Rogers State Historic Park and Mandeville Canyon above Tanners Road.

Houses in the warning area with the highest risk will be visited by Los Angeles Police Department to issue specific evacuation orders.

“The National Weather Service has issued a high-risk alert for significant road flooding and burn scar debris flows in areas recently affected by fires,” read a statement from LA County Recovers. “During storms, there is increased potential for flash floods, falling rocks and mud and debris flows. Everyone should be aware of the weather forecasts and associated impacts where they live, work, and play and take steps to be prepared and stay safe.”

Evacuation orders remain in place in some parts of Pacific Palisades following the fire, but are open to residents and contractors/assessors with access passes.

“Please follow all instructions if you are contacted by law enforcement or receive an evacuation order flyer on your door,” LA County Recovers wrote.

By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief

Following a five-day mitigation process and environmental testing, American Legion Ronald Reagan-Palisades Post 283 is now open as a Palisades Wildfire Community Support Center.

“Post 283 is committed to supporting the Pacific Palisades community in the aftermath of the devastating Palisades fire,” read Post 283’s website. “As one of the few remaining community buildings in the area, our facilities will serve as a hub for relief efforts, offering access to utilities, meeting space, and communications for residents, first responders, and relief organizations. You can help by volunteering, donating or partnering with us to provide critical services to our neighbors in need.”

Services that will be available at the site include insurance and legal advice; FEMA, SBA and Red Cross stations; mental health counselors and clergy; distribution of PPE, food and water; and shovels and sifters for residents to go through their properties.

“Our pristine Legion Hall is filled with resources to help you recover,” read a post on the Malibu Pacific Palisades Chamber of Commerce Instagram. “We have a stage for official briefings and space for media. Veterans are stepping up to lead in this difficult time, and our team has been on the ground since day one.”

American Legion Ronald Reagan-Palisades Post 283 planned to plant flags to guide visitors to its site, which is located at 15247 La Cruz Drive.

“Please visit the building before going to sites with ash to prevent tracking it indoors,” read a statement. “PPE will be provided, and its use is strongly recommended.”

There will be wash stations available outside as well.

According to a post shared on social media, the center had a soft opening from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesday, February 11, followed by a full opening on Wednesday, February 12, with the same hours.

Clothes and supplies will also be distributed through the Culver City American Legion location.

For additional information, visit alpost283.com.

Property Owners Have Until March 31 to Opt In or Out of the County-Run Program Option

By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief

Phase 2 of debris removal in the Palisades fire impact zone was set to begin for residential properties this week, officials reported on February 10.

“This week, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, in coordination with the State of California and the Federal Emergency Management Agency, will begin Phase 2 debris removal for private residential properties in the Eaton and Palisades wildfire impact zones,” read a statement from the county on February 10. “The start of Phase 2 debris removal to private homes marks a major milestone in the wildfire recovery process for residents impacted by the wildfires.”

Property owners in Pacific Palisades are able to complete a form regarding the second phase of debris removal following the Palisades fire, with the form to opt in or out of the county-run program becoming available Tuesday, January 28.

During a Palisades Fire Debris Removal Town Hall, which took place in person at Santa Monica College and online on Sunday, January 26, several area officials spoke about the process, noting that it would take place in two phases.

The first phase—Hazardous Waste Removal—is being managed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency under executive orders and is now underway. It involves “assessing and safely removing hazardous materials,” including paints, cleaners, pesticides, fuel, propane tanks, batteries and more from impacted parcels.

Assessments began on January 16, with removal beginning the week of January 27. According to local officials, the first phase may be completed in the Palisades at the end of the month.

Residents can check the status of their homes and verify if the first phase is complete by visiting epa.gov/ca/2025-california-wildfires or calling 1-833-798-7372.

Phase two—Comprehensive Debris Removal Program—can begin at a parcel when phase one is complete. Residents have two options for phase two: opting-in to the county’s debris removal program, which is being led by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Colonel Eric Swenson at no cost, or opting-out of the county-run program and hiring a private contractor.

The second phase includes clearing remaining structural debris, foundations that are deemed unsafe to rebuild on (a decision made by the property owner, which is suggested to be made after a site visit with an assessor), hazardous trees, damaged or destroyed vehicles, and up to six inches of soil within the ash footprint.

To opt-in to the county-run program, residents need to verify ownership of the property and complete a right-of-entry application (which will be revoked at the completion of the project) that is available at recovery.lacounty.gov or by calling 844-347-3332. They can also be completed at a Disaster Recovery Center, with the Westside location open at UCLA Research Park West, 10850 West Pico Boulevard, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily.

Opting out of the second phase of the debris removal program can also be completed at recovery.lacounty.gov. Property owners have until March 31 to submit their decision.

Those who opt out will be required to hire a private contractor who must meet “strict certification guidelines for hazardous material removal,” according to the county. “Once a property owner opts out, they cannot later opt in. Private contractors will file one permit managed by the county to ensure safety.”

Phase one and two will be underway at the same time across fire-impacted areas, but for each parcel, phase one must be complete before phase two can begin.

Officials encouraged homeowners to opt in or out as soon as possible, as the work will be prioritized to be distributed and completed in areas that have multiple parcels signed up. It will not be first come, first serve, officials described, but rather, if several homes in a neighborhood are signed up, they will be able to complete the work, as it makes the most sense for ingress/egress along haul routes.

As of February 9, 7,038 opt-ins were received by the county, with 300 opt-outs.

By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief

Pacific Palisades Community Council and Councilmember Traci Park are jointly sponsoring a special meeting on Friday, February 7, beginning at 5 p.m. on Zoom.

“This meeting will be focused on issues pertaining to homes that are still standing/haven’t burned down in the fire,” according to PPCC. “We will hear from a number of officials.”

Slated to speak during the meeting are Los Angeles Police Department Captain Al Mendoza, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Colonel Eric Swenson, LA County Department of Public Health Dr. Nichole Quick, FEMA Representative Rebecca Kelly, Alfred Mata from City Bureau of Engineering, Alex Helou and Mike Scaduto from LA Sanitation, Mike Harriel from SoCalGas, an LADWP representative, Dominic Mezzatesta from Cal OES, and Rob Obedoza from the CA Department of Insurance.

“All are invited, whether or not your home burned,” PPCC wrote. “We are now using a new Zoom webinar format at our meetings, with increased attendance capacity, so that all interested Palisadians will be able to attend.”

A link to the Zoom is available here or at pacpalicc.org.

By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief

The parking lot at Will Rogers State Beach in Pacific Palisades will be used as a temporary site for household hazardous materials to be processed, multiple agencies announced in a statement on Wednesday, February 5.

Under executive orders, EPA has been tasked with conducting the first phase—Household Hazardous Waste Removal—of what is being described as a two-phase cleanup process. The first phase involves “assessing and safely removing hazardous materials,” including paints, cleaners, pesticides, fuel, propane tanks, batteries and more from impacted parcels.

“The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is working with the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, the California Environmental Protection Agency, the California Department of Toxic Substances Control, California State Parks, and the city and county of Los Angeles to assist in the safe removal of household hazardous materials from properties damaged by the Palisades fire,” according to the February 5 statement. “This necessary action helps speed up debris removal on properties destroyed by the wildfire and will enable residents to rebuild their homes faster.”

Household hazardous materials will be collected and transported from nearby properties to the parking lot at Will Rogers State Beach to be “consolidated, securely packaged and safely loaded” to be transported to either a permanent disposal or recycling facility. The parking lot was selected because it is “flat, open land close to the damaged properties that require debris removal.”

“All agencies are working closely to complete this critical recovery work safely and efficiently,” according to EPA. “The temporary processing site is closed to the public, and EPA is using best management practices to process any hazardous household material and keep it contained within the facility. Throughout this process, EPA will conduct air monitoring to ensure that operations in and around the site are health protective.”

The parking lot at Will Rogers State Beach is owned by California State Parks and operated by Los Angeles County for over five decades through an agreement.

Councilmember Traci Park—who represents Pacific Palisades—shared a statement following the announcement about the site.

“The EPA has decided to use Will Rogers State Park as a sorting, staging and storage site for hazardous materials from the Palisades burn area,” Park wrote. “While cleanup is crucial, we must protect our fragile coastal ecosystems. No beach or coastal waterway—Palisades, Topanga or anywhere else—should be used to sort, stage or store toxic debris. I have called on the EPA to hold an informational session so you can get answers about this decision and what safeguards are in place.”

The announcement about the parking lot being used as a staging area came two days after a special Malibu City Council meeting, during which residents and elected officials expressed concern after EPA was considering opening a site on a lot in Malibu, as reported by The Malibu Times.

“The City of Malibu is grateful to California State Parks and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for working together to accelerate wildfire recovery efforts,” Malibu Mayor Doug Stewart said in a statement. “The addition of a second temporary EPA processing site at Will Rogers State Beach parking lot is an important step in ensuring hazardous materials are removed safely and efficiently, helping impacted residents move forward in rebuilding their homes. As recovery efforts progress, we remain committed to advocating for safeguards that protect our coastal environment and the health of our residents. We will continue working with our federal, state and local partners to ensure this process is carried out with transparency, safety, and care for our community.”

The Will Rogers State Beach parking lot site joins a staging area located at the intersection of Pacific Coast Highway and Topanga Canyon Boulevard, which is also owned by California State Parks.

Assessments of parcels by EPA began on January 16, with removal beginning the week of January 27. Residents can check the status of their homes and verify if the first phase is complete by visiting epa.gov/ca/2025-california-wildfires or calling 1-833-798-7372.

Phase two—Comprehensive Debris Removal Program—can begin at a parcel when phase one is complete. Residents have two options for phase two: opting-in to the county’s debris removal program, which is being led by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Colonel Eric Swenson at no cost, or opting-out of the county-run program and hiring a private contractor.

By LILY TINOCO | Assistant Editor

The California Department of Insurance and Commissioner Ricardo Lara hosted a Los Angeles County Virtual Wildfire Insurance Town Hall on Thursday, January 30.

Lara told attendees his focus has been to ensure wildfire survivors get the insurance benefits they are entitled to as soon as possible.

“All eyes are on the insurance companies, and I want all claims to be paid fully, fairly and quickly,” Lara said.

Insurance companies have been ordered to provide advance payments on insurance claims to speed up the process, according to Lara. At the time of the meeting, Lara said over 14,000 claims had been partially paid—amounting to $4.2 billion paid to wildfire survivors.

Additional actions in place include a one-year non-renewal moratorium for residential policies within or adjacent to wildfire perimeters; a request to all insurers to forego any pending residential policy non-renewals/cancellations received by homeowners before the fires started; and a request to all insurers to exceed a current 60-day grace period law for all affected policyholders to pay their home insurance premiums.

Lara also explained that, effective January 7, State Farm suspended non-renewals for homeowners and commercial policies of all its LA County customers, with pending non-renewals or cancellations.

“This pause of non-renewals and cancellations, we know, is a temporary band-aid, but it gives breathing room to survivors while they work on rebuilding their lives and recover from these devastating fires,” Lara said. “It is also representing another step forward in helping address the insurance availability crisis currently facing our state.”

Deputy Commissioner of Consumer Services Tony Cignarale then discussed the different stages of the claims process, including where individuals should begin.

Individuals should review their insurance policies and understand what they cover. Cignarale advised individuals to make their claims—and quickly.

“The sooner you file your claim, the sooner you get put into the queue … and go down the path of getting all your benefits paid,” he said.

Cignarale also advised individuals to track all living expenses for the duration they are displaced.

“Make sure you save all your receipts for everything: extra transportation, extra food costs … hotels, Airbnbs, whatever it may be,” he said, “and turn them in to your insurance company.”

Additionally, individuals should be documenting all conversations with their insurance companies or adjusters—including calls, emails and letters. Doing so will help keep a timeline of the claim.

Individuals should be wary of fraud, and cautious of people or companies offering quick settlements.

“Some precautions you can take is to verify credentials, check licenses of anyone you consider hiring, including public adjusters and contractors,” Department of Insurance Regional Supervising Investigator Amy Madrigal said during the meeting. “Read contracts carefully, and take your time to understand any fees and services included. Try to take your time. This is a very stressful event.”

Lara said future workshops and more town halls will be planned as the rebuilding process continues.

For more information, visit insurance.ca.gov. A complete recording of the town hall is available here.

By SARAH SHMERLING and LILY TINOCO

The Palisades fire was declared fully contained on Friday, January 31, and damage inspection teams have completed inspections for all structures within the fire footprint, according to the CAL FIRE website.

The fire started on Tuesday morning, January 7, at 10:30 a.m. in the Highlands. It is now reported to have burned 23,707 acres.

A total of 6,831 residential and commercial structures have been destroyed as a result of the fire, and an additional 973 have been damaged, according to CAL FIRE.

The Palisades fire prompted evacuation orders the Palisades. Remaining evacuation orders were adjusted on Monday, January 27, so that all residents were able to return to the area.

“CAL FIRE Incident Management Team 2 has transitioned command of the incident back to the Los Angeles City Fire Department,” according to CAL FIRE. “Cal OES will be overseeing the recovery effort of affected communities and restoration of services.”

A disaster recovery center is open for residents affected by the wildfire from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. at UCLA Research Park West: 10850 West Pico Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90064.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief

A portion of Pacific Coast Highway will be closed beginning Tuesday, February 4, at 3 p.m. ahead of upcoming storms due to possible debris flow, Caltrans reported.

“Out of an abundance of caution, the highway must be closed due to soft soils on both the hill and ocean sides of the road,” Caltrans wrote in a statement. “Mud and debris flows may occur and canyons may overtop, blocking the road or causing further damage.”

The California Department of Transportation is coordinating with Los Angeles County Public Works Department on the closure, which extends from Chautauqua Boulevard in Pacific Palisades to Carbon Beach Terrace in Malibu.

Throughout the closure, the road will be accessible by essential workers, including first responders, recovery agencies and utilities companies. Residents with “appropriate passes” will be able to access the Palisades via Chautauqua, according to Caltrans.

There are two storm systems expected to come through the area. Assessments of the road and the potential to reopen will be made on Friday, February 7.

PCH had reopened on Monday, February 3, to the public for the first time since the Palisades fire began on Tuesday, January 7.

” … It’s necessary to close during these storms due to hills made bare from the recent fires and to protect motorists,” the agency wrote. “Caltrans aims to to allow people to return to their properties to continue their work on slope restoration and property repairs that allows for safe rebuilding.”