Debris Cleared From Nearly 99% of Properties Affected by Eaton Fire

Crews have removed nearly 99 percent of ash and debris from properties damaged in the deadly Eaton Fire, Los Angeles County officials announced this week, marking a major milestone in recovery efforts seven months after the blaze swept through Altadena and nearby areas.

As of this week, 5,527 properties—about 98.6 percent of those enrolled in the County-run debris removal program—have been cleared, according to officials. Of the 5,604 enrolled, just over 500 property owners declined to join. Officials also said 5,471 properties, or 97.1 percent, have had their rights-of-entry returned, allowing rebuilding to start.

The January fire killed 19 people, destroyed more than 9,000 structures and burned over 14,000 acres in the San Gabriel Mountains foothills, making it among the deadliest and most destructive wildfires in Los Angeles County history. Thousands of residents fled as flames swept into neighborhoods in Altadena and northeast Pasadena.

This week’s update, delivered July 28 by Col. Sonny Avichal—who has supervised debris operations—marked his final briefing as he prepares to hand over command to a successor. Twelve cleanup crews remain on the project, but work is tapering off at several major sites.

At the Altadena Golf Course, which the County used as a primary staging area, demobilization is underway and is expected to last two more weeks. Course restoration will begin immediately after and is set to take several months. Meanwhile, crews continue working at the Eliot Arts Magnet school property on Lake Avenue, considered one of the program’s most complex cleanup sites. That location is expected to stay active through mid to late September.

The debris program is part of a larger recovery effort led by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works, the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Once cleared, homeowners may begin rebuilding, supported by insurance, state disaster grants and federal aid.

The next phase will focus on restoring public facilities damaged by the fire, with County parks staff finalizing plans for the golf course reopening and repairs to other park sites in the affected area.

Southern California Edison, whose equipment has been blamed for starting the fire, recently launched a wildfire compensation fund, though some attorneys for victims called the program inadequate and recommend residents seek legal advice before accepting any offers. Edison is facing multiple lawsuits from survivors and local governments, including the City of Pasadena, over damages and recovery costs, with the city alleging Edison’s negligence contributed to the disaster.