How LA fire survivors are handling their personal recoveries

Since the January firestorm, the nonprofit Department of Angels has been conducting quarterly surveys of Palisades and Eaton fire survivors to better understand how those who’ve lost their homes are navigating post-fire recovery.

The survey, which examines survivors’ access to insurance, financial standing, and housing stability, among other details, is a snapshot of where survivors find themselves today — nearly one year out from the deadly fires.

On Monday, the co-founder of the Department of Angels, Miguel Santana, joined LAist 89.3’s AirTalk to talk about the organization’s latest survivors report as listeners called in to share their recovery stories.

Insurance is still top of mind

When sharing their stories of recovery, insurance was a major focal point for AirTalk listeners.

Brooke in Altadena emailed that her parents lost their home in the Eaton Fire. She said that while her parents are committed to rebuilding, their insurance has made it difficult to proceed.

“They want our parents to itemize every single possession they had in their home and back it up with photos,” Brooke wrote. “They aren’t from the selfie generation, they don’t have that information. I fear they’re going to leave hundreds of thousands of dollars on the table that they desperately need to rebuild.”

Santana echoed Brooke’s frustration. Survivors, he said, are, “being denied, they’re being delayed; they’re being dismissed by their carriers after paying responsibly for decades.”

The mental toll is still heavy

Though conversations have often focused on the immense devastation to homes and property, AirTalk listeners expressed the mental toll the fires have had on them and their loved ones.

Eric in Altadena said that since his family lost their home in the Eaton Fire, they’ve relocated to El Sereno.

“We’re all day to day from a mental health perspective,” he said. “The kids are both in therapy. My wife and I are in therapy.” He added that the thing that keeps him going is staying connected with his old neighbors and community.

The dream of rebuilding

While many survivors are eager to rebuild, AirTalk listeners explained how the prospect can feel long, tedious and distant.

Sandra in Altadena said she recently purchased a tiny home that she plans to live in during the rebuild. “I intend to go back up and be in my property so I can tend to what’s left of my garden,” she said, adding that her neighbors all plan to return.

Diane in west Los Angeles emailed that she lost her home in the Palisades Fire. She’s had to move seven times this year and is currently renting a bungalow that costs more than her former mortgage.

“We’d like to rebuild, but how do we know how we’ll pay for it?” she wrote. “And thanks to tariffs and ICE, the costs and stability to rebuild has been broken. The goalposts keep moving and the players are wearing out.”

The decision to leave

Despite dreams of returning, some AirTalk listeners said finances are influencing their ability to stay within their communities.

Frank in Altadena said his family feels stuck in limbo since losing their home in the Eaton Fire.

“Our big thing is figuring out how much money do we really have to rebuild,” he said. “And if we do have enough to rebuild, is it worth the risk of going back to Altadena?”

Courtney in Burbank emailed that their rental home in Altadena was destroyed in the fire. “We’ve run out of money. I haven’t been working due to PTSD from the fire,” she said. “We’ve made the incredibly difficult decision to move to the Midwest to be closer to family where it’s much cheaper.”

Santana emphasized that as the months and years go by, our collective memory of the fires will soften. However, he told listeners, “it is so important that the rest of us in Los Angeles pay attention to what’s happening to survivors and to not forget them.”

Listen to the full conversation: