Four Months After Eaton Fire Erupted, LA County Supervisor Reaffirms Support for Wildfire Survivors

Wednesday marked four months since the Eaton Fire erupted and began its massively destructive and deadly rampage through Altadena and surrounding foothill communities. Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Chair Kathryn Barger marked the occasion by announcing new initiatives to speed up recovery efforts and provide mental health support to survivors.

“Four months later, our residents are still facing tremendous pressure,” said Supervisor Barger. “The financial burdens of rebuilding, combined with the emotional toll of losing homes and memories, have created a stressful and uncertain environment. One of my top priorities is to make sure the County is doing everything possible to lift those burdens and walk alongside my constituents during their recovery.”

Barger recently introduced and passed a motion establishing a Unified Permitting Authority to streamline and centralize all permitting efforts related to fire recovery. The new framework aims to improve coordination, reduce delays and create accountability to one entity for all County Departments involved in the process.

The Supervisor also partnered with Gov. Gavin Newsom and the State of California to integrate artificial intelligence into the permitting process. The AI solution, provided at no cost to local governments and users through philanthropic organizations, will enable faster and more accurate plan reviews.

This week, Barger successfully introduced a motion directing County departments to implement a self-certification process for single-family rebuilding projects. The process will be implemented at the County’s One Stop Recovery Permit Center in Altadena in the coming days, allowing qualified professionals to expedite plan approvals, helping families begin construction more quickly.

The motion also directs the County’s Chief Executive Officer to significantly streamline processes and reduce staff time required for permits. A report back to the Board of Supervisors is due in 30 days with a plan to partially or fully offset permit fees for rebuilds.

“These actions are about removing red tape and giving people back control over their lives,” Supervisor Barger said. “Recovery should not be held hostage by processes that were not designed to handle the avalanche of permit approvals unleashed by Eaton Fire rebuilding needs.”

Beyond permitting, Barger emphasized the importance of addressing the mental health impacts of the disaster. The Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health continues to offer round-the-clock multilingual support and referrals for services including crisis intervention, grief counseling, and long-term mental health support through its Help Line at 1-800-854-7771.

The Disaster Distress Helpline, the first national hotline dedicated to providing year-round disaster crisis counseling, also provides toll-free multilingual help 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Anyone experiencing emotional distress as a result of the Eaton Fire can call or text 1-800-985-5990.

More information about these resources can be found on the Department of Mental Health’s disaster services website.

“Recovery is not just about rebuilding homes—it’s about rebuilding lives,” Supervisor Barger stated. “That includes offering emotional support and mental health care to anyone who needs it. I want survivors to know they are not alone, and they have the full support of my office and Los Angeles County behind them.”