WATCH: Supervisor Kathryn Barger reflects on the Eaton Fire and recovery (Click here to view the video)
On the one-year anniversary of the Eaton Fire, Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger issued the following statement, reaffirming her commitment to Eaton Fire survivors and reflecting on the community’s ongoing recovery and the work still ahead.
“As we mark the one-year anniversary of the Eaton Fire, my message to survivors is clear: I see your pain, I respect your resilience, and I remain committed to walking with you on the long road ahead.
Anniversaries like this reopen wounds, especially for those still navigating insurance disputes, contamination cleanup, and the slow, exhausting process of rebuilding. It is my responsibility to ensure you are not facing those challenges alone.
Over the past year, Altadena’s recovery has been driven by persistence and partnership. Los Angeles County has delivered direct relief to thousands of Eaton Fire-impacted households, workers, and small businesses, including more than $21 million in household relief grants for Altadena families, nearly $8.5 million for Eaton Fire-impacted small businesses and nonprofits, and more than $2.2 million to workers who lost wages because of the fire. We have invested in job centers, workforce training, youth employment, and small business stabilization. True recovery means restoring livelihoods and community stability in addition to homes.
I acknowledge the continued deep frustration and anger concerning emergency communications on the night of January 7. Lives and trust are at stake when alerts fail. That is why I have pushed for a comprehensive review of emergency notification systems, stronger coordination between agencies, and clearer protocols to ensure residents receive timely, accurate information during fast-moving disasters. We owe the community accountability and we owe them change.
In the year ahead, my focus is accelerating safe rebuilding by continuing to advocate for fair treatment from insurance companies and urgently pursuing federal resources that are critically needed to prevent survivors from falling off a housing cliff when temporary assistance and personal savings are exhausted. We must ensure residents can draw down the resources they are entitled to, are able to secure stable housing, and can return to their community to resume a normal life without being buried in bureaucracy.
Altadena has shown extraordinary strength, but resilience should never be mistaken for acceptance of delays or dysfunction.
My commitment is to keep listening, keep fighting for resources, and keep pressing for reforms so this community not only recovers, but emerges better prepared for the future.”