California Construction News staff writer
Nearly 2,000 properties in the Palisades area have been fully cleared of fire debris and received final approval from Los Angeles County, marking a key milestone in the city’s post-fire recovery efforts. The sign-off is a required step before reconstruction can begin on homes destroyed in the recent Palisades Fire.
To date, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers crews have removed close to 900,000 tons of debris from the fire-ravaged region. The pace of recovery has been described as historic, with city officials touting multiple milestones achieved in record time.
“Rebuilding is underway — crews are working every day to remove debris in the Palisades and expedite the timeline to get families home,” said Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass in a statement. “Thanks to their work, the City is issuing new permits every week, rebuilding is underway across the Palisades, and our recovery effort is on track to be the fastest in modern California history.”
According to city data, 54 permits have been issued for 40 addresses as part of the rebuilding process, and hundreds more applications are currently under review. The first permit was issued just 57 days after the fire began — more than twice as fast as permit processing timelines following the devastating Camp and Woolsey fires.
Recovery highlights:
Phase 1 of debris removal, led by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, was completed in 28 days, removing over 300 tons of hazardous materials including exploded lithium-ion batteries. Officials say it’s the fastest hazardous material clearing in EPA history.
Phase 2 debris removal began just 35 days after the fire ignited, roughly half the time it took after the Woolsey Fire in 2018.
Utility restoration was completed in just two months for standing homes, a dramatic improvement over the 18-month timeline seen in Paradise, California, after the Camp Fire.
Emergency measures enacted by Mayor Bass include suspending rebuilding fees, providing tax relief for small businesses, and implementing AI and self-certification pilot programs to speed up the permitting process.
Preventive infrastructure has also been installed to stabilize burned areas ahead of the rainy season, including over 13,500 feet of concrete barriers and 7,500 sandbags.
The city’s accelerated recovery timeline is the result of coordination between local, state, and federal agencies, aiming to return displaced families to their homes as quickly and safely as possible.
