With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today .
Local sawmill is racing against the clock to save lumber from Altadena trees
Some trees in Altadena were too damaged by the Eaton Fire to recover. That's where Angel City Lumber comes in.
(
Julie Leopo
/
LAist
)
A local specialized sawmill is racing against the clock to save lumber from Altadena trees that had to be cut down after January’s Eaton Fire.
Angel City Lumber and a group of volunteers have been working for months to find a space where the wood from damaged Altadena trees can be stored, milled and later repurposed for non-structural rebuilding applications, such as flooring and molding.
They want to keep the wood in a new “community log bank” residents can pull from.
Listen
• 0:37
Local sawmill races against the clock to save lumber from Altadena trees
Support for LAist comes from
Jeff Perry, the sawmill’s founder, told LAist that, while there are some promising leads for places where the logs could be stored, they’re running up against a deadline from the Army Corps of Engineers and its subcontractors.
The warehouse of Angel City Lumber, a sawmill that specializes in products made from felled trees in L.A. County.
(
Courtesy Jeff Perry
)
The logs recovered from burnt lots are currently stored at a local golf course, but the Army Corps needs to clear out the site within weeks, which includes hauling any burnt wood away, according to Perry.
“They’re doing their best. The time clock certainly is ticking. They have started to mulch because they’ve had to,” Perry said.
He added that he’s talking with the Army Corps and subcontractors every day to give them updates.
“They’re pulling for it just as much as I am to make sure we find a spot,” Perry said.
Help wanted: Save the lumber
Perry said, ideally, he can find a space where the Altadena logs can be both stored for a period of roughly four years and milled on site.
Support for LAist comes from
He provided some other needs for the site:
- Industrial or light industrial zoning.
- A roughly four-acre, flat space.
- Nice to have water and power, but not necessary.
Honoring Altadena trees and their legacy
Over the last decade, Angel City Lumber has built a business around re-sourcing local trees for things like guest houses, outdoor benches and even conference tables at Santa Monica City Hall East.
“Milling trees that had fallen in Los Angeles County as a way to honor trees and their legacy and call attention to their lives is something we’ve been doing for 10 years,” Perry said.
A mature olive tree damaged by fire.
(
Julie Leopo
/
LAist
)
He said he wanted to step up for the Altadena community, and this was a clear way for his company to help better the lives of people who had lost their homes.
The plan is to try to mill the wood over a four year period, with the first batch of lumber becoming available after about a year.
Support for LAist comes from
Perry said he estimates that the Altadena trees, combined with wood from fallen Ponderosa pines in the Angeles National Forest, could furnish some 500 Altadena homes with lumber for use in flooring, molding, furniture and the like.
“By doing this, we’re hoping that those trees and their legacy will stay in the community. Their stories will live on, and it’ll maintain the spirit and vibe — essentially — of Altadena,” Perry said.
At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
The historic properties have been sitting vacant for decades and were put on the market as-is, with prices ranging from $750,000 to $1.75 million. -
Users of the century old Long Beach wooden boardwalk give these suggestions to safely enjoy it. -
The Newport Beach City Council approved a new artificial surf park that will replace part of an aging golf course. -
The utility, whose equipment is believed to have sparked the Eaton Fire, says payouts could come as quickly as four months after people submit a claim. But accepting the money means you'll have to forego any lawsuits. -
The City Council will vote Tuesday on a proposal to study raising the pay for construction workers on apartments with at least 10 units and up to 85 feet high. -
The study found recipients spent nearly all the money on basic needs like food and transportation, not drugs or alcohol.
Best of LAist