How a retired construction worker finished Altadena’s first home on a lot burned by the Eaton Fire

Jose Rodriguez wasn’t trying to be the first person in Altadena to finish a new home after suffering a loss in the Eaton Fire.

But thanks to his decades of construction experience — and fast work by his crew — Rodriguez has earned that distinction. Earlier this week, a county inspector congratulated him on receiving Los Angeles County’s first certificate of occupancy on a property impacted by the January fire.

Speaking with a reporter in Spanish, Rodriguez said he wasn’t expecting this kind of attention.

“It feels strange because I’m not used to this,” he said. “I feel good. I feel happy because everything is finished."

‘An important milestone’

The completed home is a backyard accessory dwelling unit for his adult son, David Rodriguez. (Disclosure: David works on LAist’s community engagement team). The younger Rodriguez previously lived in a unit attached to the family’s garage.

The property’s main home survived the fire, but the garage and the attached studio apartment burned down.

The office of L.A. County Supervisor Kathryn Barger, who represents Altadena, celebrated the completion of the Rodriguez family’s new ADU in a written statement to LAist.

“This is another tangible reminder that Altadena’s recovery is moving forward,” the statement read. “Knowing a fully permitted ADU has transformed what was once a garage into a safe, permanent place to call home feels good and is an important milestone. This is what steady, determined progress looks like."

A team effort

David Rodriguez said the two-bedroom ADU, with its brand new bathroom and kitchen (complete with dishwasher), is an upgrade from his previous space.

“Both of my parents have worked very hard to just move it along,” he said. “It also wouldn't be possible without the people who were working here as well … the plumber and the electricians and the workers who were putting up everything.”

Rodriguez said he has strong childhood memories of watching his father, a retired carpenter, getting ready for work before the sun came up.

“He would leave super early in the morning, like at 4 or 5 a.m.,” he said, adding that the experience was hard-earned but came in handy during the family’s fire recovery process.

“He has that knowledge,” the son said.

The scene immediately after David Rodriguez’s home was destroyed in the Eaton Fire.

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David Rodriguez

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LAist

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Getting ready to rebuild

Jose Rodriguez said the process moved quickly because he knew the building process inside and out. He knew how to get plans drawn up, how to apply for building permits, how to assemble a construction crew and how to pass county inspections.

Switching to English, he recalled the moment he got his building permits.

“I have everything ready. I have other people coming to help me,” he said. “I have my list. I have everything.”

Construction took a little over three months. His wife, Sandra, pitched in too. She cooked hot meals for the construction workers on site.

After living in a string of hotels and short-term rentals, the family moved back into their main house about a month ago. Sandra Rodriguez said she looks forward to seeing their son finally return to his own space.

She observed his reactions throughout the construction process.

“Every time when we came here to the back, I saw his face, smiling,” she said. “As a mom, I can feel he's very happy with this new place.”

The kitchen in David Rodriguez’s new accessory dwelling unit comes with a dishwasher and new cabinetry.

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David Wagner

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LAist

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Recovery is slow but visible

David Rodriguez said this feels like a hopeful moment, not just for his family but for an entire community slowly recovering from profound loss. He’s encouraged when he sees framing for other ADUs starting to go up on nearby lots.

“We all lost a lot,” he said. “I think we're all still very much grieving as a community. And I really hope that we can all just continue to rebuild.”

So far, L.A. County’s Department of Public Works has issued 829 building permits in unincorporated areas affected by the Eaton Fire. Nearly 6,750 housing units were destroyed in the fire.