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Mountain View News Saturday, February 1, 2025

L.A. COUNTY SUPERVISORS APPROVE IMPLEMENTATION 
OF COMPREHENSIVE PLAN FOR RECOVERY 
FROM DEVASTATING JANUARY 2025 FIRES

Friday, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors adopted a sweeping plan to accelerate recovery 
efforts and ensure equitable support for thousands of residents and small businesses affected by 
the unprecedented Eaton and Palisades Wildfires this month. 

Introduced through a motion authored by Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Chair Kathryn 
Barger and Supervisor Lindsey P. Horvath, the County’s wildfire recovery efforts are now anchored 
by a comprehensive framework for immediate response and long-term disaster preparedness.

"The devastation caused by the January 2025 wildfires has been catastrophic, but I am unwavering 
in my commitment to rebuild quickly and robustly," said Board Chair Kathryn Barger. "This 
motion is not simply about immediate recovery. It’s about creating a more resilient and equitable 
future for all of our communities. We are taking immediate, decisive action to help those impacted 
by these fires rebuild their lives and livelihoods. This plan will guide our way forward.”

"This motion aligns the extensive expertise of Los Angeles County departments to our mission: a 
safe, swift, and sustainable wildfire recovery,” said Supervisor Lindsey P. Horvath. “Chair Barger 
and I—with the support of our Board colleagues—will do everything we can to care for fire-impacted 
communities through every phase of the recovery and rebuilding journey. No one is alone, 
and every resource is on the table.” 

This plan includes several key principles and components.

Swift and Equitable Recovery

The County’s plan commits to quickly delivering crucial support and services to aid in the recovery 
and rebuilding of affected communities. It prioritizes vulnerable populations and employs innovative 
strategies to mitigate financial obstacles, such as mandating waivers and financial assistance to 
offset building code modifications.

Streamlined Processes

The plan significantly streamlines processes for response and recovery, including expediting permitting, 
reducing bureaucratic hurdles, and removing impediments to access funding.

Robust Funding Acquisition

The County will actively pursue and fully utilize available funding from federal, state, and local 
government sources, as well as engaging private entities to maximize recovery resources.

Targeted Community Support

The plan supports extensive community outreach and support initiatives to assist residents and 
businesses in navigating the complex recovery process. Los Angeles County will provide resources 
and information to ensure transparent and accessible assistance.

Enhanced Disaster Preparedness

The plan focuses on building greater resilience against future disasters by incorporating long-term 
disaster preparedness measures and plans.

The implementation of this comprehensive motion will also be closely monitored by the County’s 
Auditor-Controller with regular updates provided to ensure accountability and transparency.

ALTADENA'S AFRICAN AMERICAN POPULATION 

DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTED BY THE EATON FIRE'S 
DEVASTATION

Both in the concentration of households within the burn area and the percentage of homes 
that were destroyed or sustained major damage, according to a UCLA study released Friday. 

According to the report by the UCLA Ralph J. Bunche Center for African American Studies, 
the UCLA Center for Neighborhood Knowledge and the UCLA Latino Policy and Politics 
Institute, at least 2,800 Black households were forced to evacuate within a day of the Eaton 
Fire's outbreak on Jan. 7, and a disproportionate number of homes damaged or destroyed 
were located in neighborhoods historically occupied by Black residents.

 "Altadena's Black community has long served as a symbol of resilience and opportunity in 
the Los Angeles region, but the Eaton Fire exposes how decades of segregation and the legacy 
of redlining practices have left Black households more vulnerable,'' Lorrie Frasure, a professor 
of political science and African American studies who directs the Bunche Center, said in a

statement. "The recovery process must acknowledge this historic legacy and the isparities 
stemming from it to provide tailored support that ensures the restoration and future of this 
vibrant community.''

 The study found that 61% of Black households in Altadena were locatedin the fire perimeter, 
compared with 50% of non-Black households. Roughly 48% of Black households were 
destroyed or heavily damaged, compared to 37% of non-Black households.

 Authors of the report suggested that ``historical redlining practices'' led to a high concentration 
of Black families in the areas of Altadena that were most impacted by the fire. They 
also noted that more than half of Black homeowners in Altadena are over age 65, and many 
could face additional issues such as insufficient insurance and "risks of financial exploitation'' 
as they look to rebuild.

 "The Eaton Fire has the potential to accelerate the decline of Altadena's Black community, 
erasing generations of progress,'' Frasure said. "Policymakers and relief organizations must 
act swiftly to protect the legacy and future of this historic community.''

 Copyright 2025, City News Service, Inc.


MAYOR CAO OPPOSES LARIO PARK AS HAZARDOUS 
DEBRIS PROCESSING SITE

ARCADIA, CA – With little notice, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) determined that 
Lario Park, located in unincorporated Los Angeles County, would become the site for the cleanup 
of hazardous materials from the Eaton Fire. Numerous city officials and residents from impacted 
communities are urging the EPA to reconsider this decision, as transporting hazardous waste nearly 
15 miles from the fire sites to Lario Park displaces remediation efforts and spreads risk to thousands 
more.

“I was disappointed to learn that Lario Park was selected as the site for the Eaton Fire hazardous waste 
cleanup, with no advanced warning or opportunity for community input. The wildfires that have ravaged 
Los Angeles County must be cleaned up, but I cannot understand how trucking hazardous waste 
through so many vulnerable communities, and placing near homes and schools, is the best possible 
option,” said Mayor Michael Cao.

Earlier this month, wildfires across Los Angeles County destroyed thousands of homes, businesses, 
schools, and open space, causing numerous fatalities, displaced pets, and loss of wildlife habitats. The 
Eaton Fire devastated the cities of Altadena and Pasadena, with its impacts reaching most foothill 
communities along the San Gabriel Mountain range. In the wake of so much devastation, impacted 
communities are ready to focus on cleanup efforts, beginning the multi-year effort to restore and 
rebuild their former neighborhoods.

During the fires, many hazardous household items and materials were destroyed, creating concerns 
about air quality and environmental impacts. Lario Park is located between the cities of Duarte and 
Irwindale and is creating serious concerns for those communities, along with every other city in 
proximity or the path of travel, including Arcadia, Azusa and Baldwin Park.

“As Arcadia’s Mayor, I stand in solidarity with our neighbors who have suffered immensely from 
the devastating impacts of the wildfires. Cleanup is a critical next step in the recovery process from 
these fires, and as the region rebuilds, I ask our federal agencies to ensure the disaster is not further 
expanded to any other communities.”

 Those seeking more information on the length of the cleanup efforts, potential truck routes through 
Arcadia, and details on how the hazardous waste will be transported and mitigated, are encouraged 
to attend the Town Hall at Duarte Performing Arts Center (1401 Highland Ave, Duarte, CA) on 
Wednesday, January 29, beginning at 6 p.m. Senator Susan Rubio, State Officials, and representatives 
from the Environmental Protection Agency will be in attendance to answer questions 
and hear concerns from constituents.

When available, more information on the cleanup efforts can be found on the City’s website 
at: www.ArcadiaCA.gov/Windstorm-EatonFire.


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