July 7, 2025 • 13 mins
It’s been six months since the wildfires changed everything for the communities of Altadena and the Palisades. In this special report, KFI's Heather Brooker takes a closer look at the first chaotic hours of the disaster—and where recovery efforts stand today. This first aired in two parts on July 7th on KFI's morning show, Wake Up Call.
You can follow all of Heather's reports on the Entertain Me podcast.
You can follow all of Heather's reports on the Entertain Me podcast.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
I don't see this house way.
Speaker 2 (00:03):
It started with a strong wind warning. The Santa Anna's
are nothing new for people who live in southern California,
but this this was different.
Speaker 3 (00:11):
That is a wall of flame, people, and we've got
some strong winds on the way. This is a particularly
dangerous situation. This is about as bad as it gets
in terms of fire weather.
Speaker 2 (00:26):
At ten twenty nine in the morning on Tuesday, January seventh,
the first nine to one to one call was made
to the LA Fire Department about a brush fire near
homes in the affluent Pacific Palisades community.
Speaker 4 (00:36):
This is Gary and Shannon and the Palisades right now.
They say this beast started at about ten acres. That
was the quickest estimate you could get already at ten acres,
but with the potential to spread to two hundred acres
within twenty minutes.
Speaker 2 (00:51):
According to dispatch reports, the first firefighters arrived within twenty
minutes on the ground and with aerial support, but by
then the flames, propelled by un relenting winds of more
than sixty to eighty miles per hour, had more than doubled.
Speaker 5 (01:05):
The first flames just near goat peak if you know
that is and it's headed down towards the Palisades thirty
to forty mile an hour sustained winds, and then gusts
could be higher than that.
Speaker 2 (01:15):
Over the next few hours, there would be a mad
scramble of people trying to gather what they could of
their belongings and get down the hill to safety. While
firefighters and other first responders tried to get closer to
the flames, they were quickly overwhelmed and surrounded with the
fast moving fire an intense smoke that blackened the sky.
Speaker 6 (01:34):
Bakers zero percent containment. Preliminary reports estimate the damage or
destroyed structures to be in the thousands.
Speaker 2 (01:44):
The devastation was almost immediate and widespread. More than ten
thousand homes or under evacuation orders. A man named Curtis
told reporters he lost everything.
Speaker 7 (01:54):
I mean everybody's not just this community, the community next door.
I'm sure all the people up there blust everything. Uh,
it's just pretty devastating. This is pretty devastating. I don't
think LA's seen anything like this before, not even the
earth quake.
Speaker 2 (02:13):
People tried to save what they could, but with the
rugged terrain and narrow streets in the Palisades, it was
nearly impossible to try to escape as the streets became gridlocked.
Some even abandoned their cars, fleeing on foot, which made
it difficult for firefighters to get trucks to the fire line.
The rest of Los Angeles and the world listened to
radio reports and watched video of local news and on
(02:34):
social media showing the chaos, confusion, and heartbreak unfold as
people fought for their lives and watched their homes burn.
Speaker 7 (02:43):
Don't know, I'm gonna go sit and watch news all day.
Speaker 2 (02:46):
And while the Palisades fire tore down the hillside and
into Malibu with no signs of slowing down, a new
threat emerged.
Speaker 5 (02:53):
We're talking about this fire in the Palisades, but you've
got news that there's something else going on.
Speaker 8 (02:57):
There's a charted out as ten acres that it's big
Eaton Canyon on the east end of Altadena and the
border of Pasadena. They got bulbrush response from Melle County
and Pasadena on it, and.
Speaker 2 (03:09):
James Brotherton from the National Weather Service in La told
kfi's Tim Conway Junior forty miles across town, near the
quiet community of Altadena, a new fire had sparked in
Eaton Canyon residents reported seeing flames at six', ten but
evacuations weren't ordered until more than an hour, later and
within the hour the fire had reached homes and many
(03:31):
people began to self.
Speaker 9 (03:32):
EVACUATE i WISH i could explain how The Santa ana
winds really are on any given, Day but they are
going eighty miles an, hour and despite the fires, themselves
it was just like an absolute. Windstorm we've heard about
fires in our area for. YEARS i, mean we live
in the. Mountains it's a very normal. Thing never have
we thought about something being as close as it was
(03:53):
until we received a text message with a photo that
showed the fire just a few miles from our home our.
Speaker 2 (04:00):
Church lauren then and her Daughter laurie recalled the terrifying
winds and heavy smoke that filled the air as they
left behind the home that had been in their family for, generations.
Speaker 9 (04:10):
And then we realized how serious the fires were and
that there might be a chance to. Evacuate that.
Speaker 10 (04:16):
Night the winds were at the ninety five miles per,
hours and even when we were packing the, cars the
hood kept falling on our heads because it was the
wind was so thrown small little tornados in the road
and then trees were, down wires were. Down it was
one of the most scary.
Speaker 11 (04:37):
Things kfi's continuing coverage of the fires.
Speaker 3 (04:40):
Plural not only The palisades, fire but also the Emerging
Eaten canyon fire were.
Speaker 2 (04:46):
Getting an entire nursing home was forced to evacuate before
first responders. Arrived the images of the elderly and infirms
surrounded by smoke and flames were hard to. Watch, reportedly
firefighters called for backup multiple times were told none were.
Available they said hydrants failed and the flames grew, stronger
overtaking historic homes and businesses within. Minutes one firefighter even
(05:09):
used a pool to fill a trash can with, water and.
Speaker 8 (05:12):
We have zero percent.
Speaker 12 (05:14):
Containment we have several reported injuries and over one thousand
structures damaged and.
Speaker 2 (05:22):
Destroyed FORMER La Fire Chief Kristan crowley AND La County
Fire Chief Anthony maroney told the public that the extreme
wind and drought created a rare and deadly combination that
made it nearly impossible to stop the wildfires in The
palisades And. Altadena On january, seventh it would be twenty
four days before the last flames of The palisades And
Eaton canyon were finally put out when the smoke cleared
(05:45):
and embers died. Down thirty people were, killed twelve in The,
palisades eighteen in The altadena. Area more than sixteen thousand
structures were, destroyed most of them. Homes The palisades And
eaten fires were among the most destructive In california, history
with an estimated ninety four billion dollars to one hundred
and sixty four billion in total capital and property. Loss
(06:11):
with so much devastation and, loss how do these communities
begin to? Recover? Now six months, later there is finally
a ray of. Hope as daylight broke On january, eighth
the full scope of the catastrophe was still coming into.
View fire was devouring everything in The palisades And, altadena
(06:35):
from schools and churches to mobile home parks and celebrity,
estates along with state parks and iconic. Restaurants thousands of
people left without, homes businesses were, gutted and many people
remained unaccounted, for and the flames were still. Raging it
would be twenty four days until the last ember was
extinguished on.
Speaker 11 (06:55):
Really the entire hill foothills above us was just completely.
Speaker 2 (06:59):
Inflamed Jose avenzuela is a long Time altadena resident an
owner Of, altadin a grocery, outlet a staple in the.
Community he, says thankfully his family and his employees were
safe from the, fires and, shockingly his grocery store was
spared from.
Speaker 11 (07:13):
Destruction we suffer very minor actual structural damage to our,
building which is just again can't really make sense of,
it but everything around, us, unfortunately AND i mean literally
everything around, us has burned to the.
Speaker 2 (07:30):
Ground in the months since the, fire he has felt
the real heat of.
Speaker 12 (07:34):
Loss when we, open we pretty much dropped fifty. Percent
we know it's going to come back and we will,
rebuild and we are looking forward and pushing, ahead but
the reality is going to be a little. While you,
know there's no people living in our community at this.
Speaker 2 (07:51):
Moment in, fact many of the businesses that remain in
the fire areas are struggling to keep their doors.
Speaker 13 (07:55):
Open websters has been here since nineteen twenty. Six we
are ninety nine years old In.
Speaker 2 (08:01):
Altadena Meredith, miller who owns the Historic Webster's Community, pharmacy
says she and her husband scrambled the night of the
fire to find another pharmacy that could temporarily handle their
customer's prescriptions and ensure patients had access to their. Medications you, know.
Speaker 13 (08:16):
There's A bank Of america that shares basically shares the
parking lot, here and they burned. Down so at that,
point you, know we kind of figured it was over for.
Us when we got back in here in Mid, february
we had to literally destroy, Everything so that was. Tough every,
pill every item on the shelf had to. Go and
(08:39):
so when we got back in, here we were basically
empty and starting all over.
Speaker 2 (08:43):
Again what were those first few weeks like after you
reopened your.
Speaker 1 (08:47):
Business so the first couple of weeks of being here
were frankly very difficult for. Everybody there were a lot of,
tears a lot of, trauma a lot of.
Speaker 13 (08:57):
Shock people kind of just in the days coming in
they needed to get a, prescription and all we did
was hug and, feel you, know and just be grateful
that we were all alive and that we were going
to overcome this.
Speaker 2 (09:12):
Somehow there's still a long way to go for residents
to recover and. Rebuild Altadena Town Council Chair Victoria nap
says there is no set timeline for full, restoration but
progress is steadily being.
Speaker 14 (09:24):
Made rebuilding is just getting. Underway there are homes the
first that were the first permits that were issued that are.
Speaker 2 (09:33):
Underway nap lost her, home as did many of her
friends and, neighbors.
Speaker 14 (09:38):
But we were the first neighborhood or among the first
neighborhoods to be. Evacuated she.
Speaker 2 (09:44):
Says the biggest need in the community right now is.
Speaker 14 (09:47):
Financial what folks are facing now is the real financial
reality of rebuilding a home from the foundation. Up we
are battling with the insurance. Commissioner we are battling with.
Insurers anyone who is paid of premium into their policy
(10:08):
to protect them in situations like this is deserving of
having their full payout as quickly as, possible and that isn't.
Speaker 2 (10:17):
Happening according to The La County Permitting Progress, dashboard they've
received over one thousand applications to rebuild in fire zone
areas and eighty five building permits have been issued so.
Far forty three of those are for single family, homes
and only one of those homes is in The. Palisades
despite the average wait time of fifty one. Days The
Army corps Of engineer, says debris cleanup is months ahead of.
Speaker 15 (10:39):
Schedule we were thinking it would take about a, year
and now we ARE i think WHEN i look at
both fires were about ninety three to ninety four percent.
Speaker 2 (10:50):
Complete Colonel Jose avishaal with The Army corps Of engineers
says they removed, debris, fire, ash, asbestos and the foundation if,
necessary then hand over the land back to the own.
Owner he, says making sure the soil is stable is
an essential part of their. Job what has been the
biggest challenge then in clearing these wildfire, zones especially in
the more hillside areas like The, Palisades.
Speaker 15 (11:12):
So you hit it right, there you, Know logistics is
it drives the entire operation right and so you know
the hillside, properties especially in The palisade and the cliff side,
properties they have been really.
Speaker 2 (11:30):
Challenging and how does the speed of this wildfire recovery
differ from other wildfire recovery?
Speaker 15 (11:35):
Efforts you, know this one has been unique from a
lot of different. Aspects we also have a really huge
industrial base to rely. On you, know we have lots
of potential contractors In, california that can come and searge.
Assets so that has been a huge benefit. Here another
huge benefit has been just a partnership so between the,
(11:57):
county the, state federal government all working In.
Speaker 2 (12:03):
Unison across town places like The Real inn And moonshadows
Along pch And. Malibu we're completely. Destroyed now six months,
later one sign of hope that things are moving, forward
the iconic Restaurant gladstone's has opened its ocean side deck for.
Speaker 16 (12:19):
Business we stall this public deck where everyone can come
and hang. Out and this is opening the public all the.
Time you don't have to buy stuff from. Us you
can come. Visit if you're visiting your property that's here
and just don't have a place to hang.
Speaker 10 (12:29):
Out this is the.
Speaker 2 (12:30):
Spot both communities face a long road. Ahead recovery will take,
months even. Years The californians are no stranger to. Resilience
as the physical reconstruction moves slowly, forward the emotional scars.
Remain residents of The palisades In Alta dina are determined
to keep their communities in the, spotlight not just for
the next six, months but for years and generations to.
Speaker 14 (12:53):
Come this devastation has bonded us for, sure but it's
it's been hard.
Speaker 12 (13:00):
And we're a strong. Community we we know we're gonna
we're gonna overcome. This but BUT i think it's important
for us to continue to share the.
Speaker 11 (13:06):
Story h h
I don't see this house way.
Speaker 2 (00:03):
It started with a strong wind warning. The Santa Anna's
are nothing new for people who live in southern California,
but this this was different.
Speaker 3 (00:11):
That is a wall of flame, people, and we've got
some strong winds on the way. This is a particularly
dangerous situation. This is about as bad as it gets
in terms of fire weather.
Speaker 2 (00:26):
At ten twenty nine in the morning on Tuesday, January seventh,
the first nine to one to one call was made
to the LA Fire Department about a brush fire near
homes in the affluent Pacific Palisades community.
Speaker 4 (00:36):
This is Gary and Shannon and the Palisades right now.
They say this beast started at about ten acres. That
was the quickest estimate you could get already at ten acres,
but with the potential to spread to two hundred acres
within twenty minutes.
Speaker 2 (00:51):
According to dispatch reports, the first firefighters arrived within twenty
minutes on the ground and with aerial support, but by
then the flames, propelled by un relenting winds of more
than sixty to eighty miles per hour, had more than doubled.
Speaker 5 (01:05):
The first flames just near goat peak if you know
that is and it's headed down towards the Palisades thirty
to forty mile an hour sustained winds, and then gusts
could be higher than that.
Speaker 2 (01:15):
Over the next few hours, there would be a mad
scramble of people trying to gather what they could of
their belongings and get down the hill to safety. While
firefighters and other first responders tried to get closer to
the flames, they were quickly overwhelmed and surrounded with the
fast moving fire an intense smoke that blackened the sky.
Speaker 6 (01:34):
Bakers zero percent containment. Preliminary reports estimate the damage or
destroyed structures to be in the thousands.
Speaker 2 (01:44):
The devastation was almost immediate and widespread. More than ten
thousand homes or under evacuation orders. A man named Curtis
told reporters he lost everything.
Speaker 7 (01:54):
I mean everybody's not just this community, the community next door.
I'm sure all the people up there blust everything. Uh,
it's just pretty devastating. This is pretty devastating. I don't
think LA's seen anything like this before, not even the
earth quake.
Speaker 2 (02:13):
People tried to save what they could, but with the
rugged terrain and narrow streets in the Palisades, it was
nearly impossible to try to escape as the streets became gridlocked.
Some even abandoned their cars, fleeing on foot, which made
it difficult for firefighters to get trucks to the fire line.
The rest of Los Angeles and the world listened to
radio reports and watched video of local news and on
(02:34):
social media showing the chaos, confusion, and heartbreak unfold as
people fought for their lives and watched their homes burn.
Speaker 7 (02:43):
Don't know, I'm gonna go sit and watch news all day.
Speaker 2 (02:46):
And while the Palisades fire tore down the hillside and
into Malibu with no signs of slowing down, a new
threat emerged.
Speaker 5 (02:53):
We're talking about this fire in the Palisades, but you've
got news that there's something else going on.
Speaker 8 (02:57):
There's a charted out as ten acres that it's big
Eaton Canyon on the east end of Altadena and the
border of Pasadena. They got bulbrush response from Melle County
and Pasadena on it, and.
Speaker 2 (03:09):
James Brotherton from the National Weather Service in La told
kfi's Tim Conway Junior forty miles across town, near the
quiet community of Altadena, a new fire had sparked in
Eaton Canyon residents reported seeing flames at six', ten but
evacuations weren't ordered until more than an hour, later and
within the hour the fire had reached homes and many
(03:31):
people began to self.
Speaker 9 (03:32):
EVACUATE i WISH i could explain how The Santa ana
winds really are on any given, Day but they are
going eighty miles an, hour and despite the fires, themselves
it was just like an absolute. Windstorm we've heard about
fires in our area for. YEARS i, mean we live
in the. Mountains it's a very normal. Thing never have
we thought about something being as close as it was
(03:53):
until we received a text message with a photo that
showed the fire just a few miles from our home our.
Speaker 2 (04:00):
Church lauren then and her Daughter laurie recalled the terrifying
winds and heavy smoke that filled the air as they
left behind the home that had been in their family for, generations.
Speaker 9 (04:10):
And then we realized how serious the fires were and
that there might be a chance to. Evacuate that.
Speaker 10 (04:16):
Night the winds were at the ninety five miles per,
hours and even when we were packing the, cars the
hood kept falling on our heads because it was the
wind was so thrown small little tornados in the road
and then trees were, down wires were. Down it was
one of the most scary.
Speaker 11 (04:37):
Things kfi's continuing coverage of the fires.
Speaker 3 (04:40):
Plural not only The palisades, fire but also the Emerging
Eaten canyon fire were.
Speaker 2 (04:46):
Getting an entire nursing home was forced to evacuate before
first responders. Arrived the images of the elderly and infirms
surrounded by smoke and flames were hard to. Watch, reportedly
firefighters called for backup multiple times were told none were.
Available they said hydrants failed and the flames grew, stronger
overtaking historic homes and businesses within. Minutes one firefighter even
(05:09):
used a pool to fill a trash can with, water and.
Speaker 8 (05:12):
We have zero percent.
Speaker 12 (05:14):
Containment we have several reported injuries and over one thousand
structures damaged and.
Speaker 2 (05:22):
Destroyed FORMER La Fire Chief Kristan crowley AND La County
Fire Chief Anthony maroney told the public that the extreme
wind and drought created a rare and deadly combination that
made it nearly impossible to stop the wildfires in The
palisades And. Altadena On january, seventh it would be twenty
four days before the last flames of The palisades And
Eaton canyon were finally put out when the smoke cleared
(05:45):
and embers died. Down thirty people were, killed twelve in The,
palisades eighteen in The altadena. Area more than sixteen thousand
structures were, destroyed most of them. Homes The palisades And
eaten fires were among the most destructive In california, history
with an estimated ninety four billion dollars to one hundred
and sixty four billion in total capital and property. Loss
(06:11):
with so much devastation and, loss how do these communities
begin to? Recover? Now six months, later there is finally
a ray of. Hope as daylight broke On january, eighth
the full scope of the catastrophe was still coming into.
View fire was devouring everything in The palisades And, altadena
(06:35):
from schools and churches to mobile home parks and celebrity,
estates along with state parks and iconic. Restaurants thousands of
people left without, homes businesses were, gutted and many people
remained unaccounted, for and the flames were still. Raging it
would be twenty four days until the last ember was
extinguished on.
Speaker 11 (06:55):
Really the entire hill foothills above us was just completely.
Speaker 2 (06:59):
Inflamed Jose avenzuela is a long Time altadena resident an
owner Of, altadin a grocery, outlet a staple in the.
Community he, says thankfully his family and his employees were
safe from the, fires and, shockingly his grocery store was
spared from.
Speaker 11 (07:13):
Destruction we suffer very minor actual structural damage to our,
building which is just again can't really make sense of,
it but everything around, us, unfortunately AND i mean literally
everything around, us has burned to the.
Speaker 2 (07:30):
Ground in the months since the, fire he has felt
the real heat of.
Speaker 12 (07:34):
Loss when we, open we pretty much dropped fifty. Percent
we know it's going to come back and we will,
rebuild and we are looking forward and pushing, ahead but
the reality is going to be a little. While you,
know there's no people living in our community at this.
Speaker 2 (07:51):
Moment in, fact many of the businesses that remain in
the fire areas are struggling to keep their doors.
Speaker 13 (07:55):
Open websters has been here since nineteen twenty. Six we
are ninety nine years old In.
Speaker 2 (08:01):
Altadena Meredith, miller who owns the Historic Webster's Community, pharmacy
says she and her husband scrambled the night of the
fire to find another pharmacy that could temporarily handle their
customer's prescriptions and ensure patients had access to their. Medications you, know.
Speaker 13 (08:16):
There's A bank Of america that shares basically shares the
parking lot, here and they burned. Down so at that,
point you, know we kind of figured it was over for.
Us when we got back in here in Mid, february
we had to literally destroy, Everything so that was. Tough every,
pill every item on the shelf had to. Go and
(08:39):
so when we got back in, here we were basically
empty and starting all over.
Speaker 2 (08:43):
Again what were those first few weeks like after you
reopened your.
Speaker 1 (08:47):
Business so the first couple of weeks of being here
were frankly very difficult for. Everybody there were a lot of,
tears a lot of, trauma a lot of.
Speaker 13 (08:57):
Shock people kind of just in the days coming in
they needed to get a, prescription and all we did
was hug and, feel you, know and just be grateful
that we were all alive and that we were going
to overcome this.
Speaker 2 (09:12):
Somehow there's still a long way to go for residents
to recover and. Rebuild Altadena Town Council Chair Victoria nap
says there is no set timeline for full, restoration but
progress is steadily being.
Speaker 14 (09:24):
Made rebuilding is just getting. Underway there are homes the
first that were the first permits that were issued that are.
Speaker 2 (09:33):
Underway nap lost her, home as did many of her
friends and, neighbors.
Speaker 14 (09:38):
But we were the first neighborhood or among the first
neighborhoods to be. Evacuated she.
Speaker 2 (09:44):
Says the biggest need in the community right now is.
Speaker 14 (09:47):
Financial what folks are facing now is the real financial
reality of rebuilding a home from the foundation. Up we
are battling with the insurance. Commissioner we are battling with.
Insurers anyone who is paid of premium into their policy
(10:08):
to protect them in situations like this is deserving of
having their full payout as quickly as, possible and that isn't.
Speaker 2 (10:17):
Happening according to The La County Permitting Progress, dashboard they've
received over one thousand applications to rebuild in fire zone
areas and eighty five building permits have been issued so.
Far forty three of those are for single family, homes
and only one of those homes is in The. Palisades
despite the average wait time of fifty one. Days The
Army corps Of engineer, says debris cleanup is months ahead of.
Speaker 15 (10:39):
Schedule we were thinking it would take about a, year
and now we ARE i think WHEN i look at
both fires were about ninety three to ninety four percent.
Speaker 2 (10:50):
Complete Colonel Jose avishaal with The Army corps Of engineers
says they removed, debris, fire, ash, asbestos and the foundation if,
necessary then hand over the land back to the own.
Owner he, says making sure the soil is stable is
an essential part of their. Job what has been the
biggest challenge then in clearing these wildfire, zones especially in
the more hillside areas like The, Palisades.
Speaker 15 (11:12):
So you hit it right, there you, Know logistics is
it drives the entire operation right and so you know
the hillside, properties especially in The palisade and the cliff side,
properties they have been really.
Speaker 2 (11:30):
Challenging and how does the speed of this wildfire recovery
differ from other wildfire recovery?
Speaker 15 (11:35):
Efforts you, know this one has been unique from a
lot of different. Aspects we also have a really huge
industrial base to rely. On you, know we have lots
of potential contractors In, california that can come and searge.
Assets so that has been a huge benefit. Here another
huge benefit has been just a partnership so between the,
(11:57):
county the, state federal government all working In.
Speaker 2 (12:03):
Unison across town places like The Real inn And moonshadows
Along pch And. Malibu we're completely. Destroyed now six months,
later one sign of hope that things are moving, forward
the iconic Restaurant gladstone's has opened its ocean side deck for.
Speaker 16 (12:19):
Business we stall this public deck where everyone can come
and hang. Out and this is opening the public all the.
Time you don't have to buy stuff from. Us you
can come. Visit if you're visiting your property that's here
and just don't have a place to hang.
Speaker 10 (12:29):
Out this is the.
Speaker 2 (12:30):
Spot both communities face a long road. Ahead recovery will take,
months even. Years The californians are no stranger to. Resilience
as the physical reconstruction moves slowly, forward the emotional scars.
Remain residents of The palisades In Alta dina are determined
to keep their communities in the, spotlight not just for
the next six, months but for years and generations to.
Speaker 14 (12:53):
Come this devastation has bonded us for, sure but it's
it's been hard.
Speaker 12 (13:00):
And we're a strong. Community we we know we're gonna
we're gonna overcome. This but BUT i think it's important
for us to continue to share the.
Speaker 11 (13:06):
Story h h
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