Assessing The Extraordinary Attempt In Speedy Rebuilding of Los Angeles After Wildfires By Residential Contractors

by Admin | March 19, 2025 | Residential construction

The January 2025 wildfires that ravaged and wiped out a large community in Southern California, Los Angeles, are not a one-off event. If previous data regarding property-level damage caused by wildfires is taken into consideration, it would be quite astounding. Local residential contractors have been helping to rebuild the communities since then, but the focus has shifted this time to not only finding an effective and speedy rebuilding but also offering a sustainable solution that can withstand the wildfires.

Some Figures On Wildfires and the Damages

• 2018 July August – The Carr Fire in Northern California destroyed 1,300 homes.
• 2018 November – The Camp Fire in Butte County, California destroyed 14,000 homes.
• 2022 December – The Marshall Fire in Colorado destroyed and damaged 1,300 homes.
• 2023 August – The Maui Wildfires destroyed over 2,000 homes.
• 2025 January – Los Angeles Wildfires burned 57,000 acres of land and destroyed over 10,000 homes.

Why Are These Figures Important For Home General Contractors In Altadena and Pacific Palisades?

The magnitude of the destruction caused by fires in the above-mentioned places is quite significant. However, it is worth noting that the debris clearance for the Carr Fire was completed in May 2020, and even after over six years, only 49 percent of the homes have applied for building permits.
The Camp Fire is not much different, as it has been one of the most destructive fires in the U.S. The debris clearance was completed in 2019, yet only 29 percent received building permits, with just 23 percent allowed for occupancy. One of the challenges for residential contractors in this area has been the terrain and the need for skilled tradespeople and contractors.

On the other hand, the recovery from the Marshall Fires where 75 percent of houses that were affected got rebuilding permits and 63 percent received occupancy certificates. This demonstrates streamlining the building requirements and the advantages of having a robust general contractors association and industry in a metropolitan area.

It is, hence, expected that the general contractors in Pacific Palisades and Altadena will be able to provide a quick turnaround time for rebuilding the houses and obtaining the required permits and occupancy certificates. So, what is the response of the City and County of Los Angeles in response to the rebuilding of the community and the houses?

Executive Orders By Governor Newsom For Home Building Contractors in Pacific Palisades and Altadena

Mayor Karen Bass of Los Angeles City and California Governor Gavin Newsom have issued several executive orders that expedite the permit for rebuilding the infrastructure of the city after the wildfires. Both Bass and Newsom recognized that it would require coordinated efforts from federal, state, and local agencies, along with general contractors in Altadena and Pacific Palisades to make the place liveable.

Apart from general contractors, other actors need to be involved in having a speedy recovery in the area; they are waste management, state environment agencies, and natural resources agencies. A vital role is to be played by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
The removal of debris and cleanup have been expedited by Gov. Newsom. He also suspended the regulations, rules, and other requirements that were mandatory in buildings in California under the California Natural Resource Agency (CNRA) and California Environmental Protection Agency (CALEPA). This makes working and rebuilding houses for general contractors in the area easier. The home building contractors in Altadena and Pacific Palisades are allowed to take the necessary actions as residential contractors like:

• Address the properties and regions that are impacted by debris due to the fire.
• Immediate and quick removal of the debris
• Develop restoration plans as residential contractors that can mitigate the future effects of fire
• Conduct activities on fire recovery
• Los Angeles County will also get assistance with emergency protective measures and debris removal along with the Federal assistance of 100 percent eligibility of cost for the next 180 days from the time of disaster till nine months.
• There has also been a suspension on the California Coastal Act and California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), which now allow residential contractors to develop projects by demolishing, restoring, repairing, or replacing the properties by home building contractors in Pacific Palisades, Altadena, Hurst, Eton, Woodley Fires and Sunset.
• Mayor Bass has also issued an executive order of fast-tracking the permit reviews while waiving all ‘electric building codes for necessary projects.

What’s Next For Residential Contractors In Los Angeles?

As general contractors in Altadena and Pacific Palisades, the primary objective is not only to reconstruct the society with new buildings but to develop projects by residential contractors that can withstand future wildfire disasters. For details on how to achieve that contact us.