Urgent Deadlines Approach for Eaton Fire Recovery Programs as County Announces Range of Resources

Los Angeles County officials are urging residents and businesses affected by the Eaton Fire to take immediate action as several critical assistance program deadlines arrive this week. The County has organized multiple support events to help fire victims navigate available resources before application windows close.

Today marks the final day to apply for Los Angeles County Household Relief Grants, Los Angeles Region Small Business Relief Fund, and Los Angeles Region Worker Relief Fund, according to the County’s disaster recovery calendar. These programs provide essential financial support for those who suffered losses in the fire.

An application clinic runs today from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Pacific Oaks College, at 45 W. Eureka Street in Pasadena. This in-person event offers hands-on assistance for completing applications before the March 12 deadline.

“Los Angeles County Department of Economic Opportunity, Small Business Administration, and other local and state partners will be onsite for an in-person application clinic to help fire-impacted businesses and workers apply for available grants and loans that are expiring soon,” County officials stated in the calendar announcement.

For property owners dealing with fire damage, additional resources are available. The Assessor’s Office is hosting an online disaster relief webinar tomorrow, March 13, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., featuring representatives from the Treasurer and Tax Collector, Auditor-Controller, and Regional Planning departments. The webinar will cover Misfortune and Calamity Property Tax Relief, decline-in-value assessments, and rebuilding clarification. Registration is available at assessor.lacounty.gov/events.

The California Department of Insurance will hold an in-person workshop on Saturday, March 15, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., offering confidential appointments with department experts for those impacted by the Eaton and Palisades fires. The workshop will be held at John Muir High School (1905 Lincoln Avenue, Pasadena). Appointments can be scheduled by calling 800-927-4357.

Ongoing weekly support includes Altadena Community Meetings every Monday from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m., hosted online by Supervisor Kathryn Barger. These meetings are available on Los Angeles County’s YouTube channel with live Spanish interpretation and ASL services also provided.

A free medical and mental health clinic operates at Pasadena Seventh-Day Adventist Church (1280 E. Washington Blvd, Pasadena) on Mondays and Wednesdays from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. Hosted by the Eaton Health Village in partnership with the Department of Mental Health, the clinic provides medical consultations, prescription refills, mental health services, case management, vision care, and dental care. For more information, residents can call 951-595-7032.

Residents have until March 31 to decide whether to opt in or out of the government-run debris removal program led by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. A new interactive graphic is now available online to help property owners visualize what they can expect if they opt in to Phase 2 of the program. The County’s website offers resources to guide those who choose to opt out and hire private contractors.

The March 31 deadline also applies for FEMA Financial Assistance and SBA Loans for Physical Damage applications.

For questions about debris removal, the Army Corps of Engineers has established a Debris Call Center at (213) 308-8305, with operators available daily from 6 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Residents can also access FAQs about different parts of the fire debris removal process, including Phase 2 general debris removal, on the County’s website.

Additional information and resources are available at recovery.lacounty.gov.