Here are the morning’s top stories on Tuesday, February 25, 2025…
- You might think people whose homes survived the recent Los Angeles area fires might feel fortunate. But those homeowners are wrestling with their own problems, like how to make their homes livable again in largely destroyed neighborhoods.
- Governor Newsom on Monday announced hundreds of millions of dollars in new homelessness spending, along with a new website meant to let Californians track whether it’s making a difference.
- Cal Fire has released a new set of updated fire maps covering 125 cities around the Bay Area and wide swaths of Northern California.
Uncertainty And Frustration Hover Over Those Whose Homes Survived LA Fires
On a sunny day in late January, Tamara Carroll returned to her home on Navarro Avenue in west Altadena for the first time. It survived the Eaton Fire, and she was coming back with an insurance inspector to assess the damage. “ I don’t know how I feel,” Carroll said. “I’m grateful I have a house to come back to, but it’s a long journey ahead.”
Her group of girlfriends were there to support her — close friends she’s known for some 35 years. ”We come together in happiness and sadness … all the events of life,” said friend Barri Brown. “This is one of those times where we come together and put our arms around each other.”
More than a month after L.A.’s devastating fires, the recovery is just beginning. Even for residents whose homes survived, the road ahead is complicated. Some are staying in their homes, worried about the health effects as they wait for their insurance to cover smoke and ash cleanup, and watch as debris removal continues around them. Others are staying elsewhere, and still not sure they’ll ever return for good.
An insurance adjuster working with Carroll tallied the physical damage at her home. He marked charred shingles on her roof with white chalk. Her outdoor furniture is burned. The wall between her and her neighbor’s house blew over in the wind. Inside, the house smells like smoke. The adjuster swiped the walls with tissues — a thin coat of ash covered them. The adjuster recommended a smoke and ash cleaning. Her homeowners insurance covers only the structure itself — the adjuster told Carroll she’ll need to have another adjuster with her personal property insurance to assess her furniture, rugs and the like. By mid-February, Carroll just got the check for exterior repairs, but still awaits the insurance payment for smoke and ash remediation inside. She’s negotiating with her adjuster for additional coverage.
Governor Newsom Launches Homeless Accountability Website
On Monday, Governor Gavin Newsom announced hundreds of millions of dollars in new homelessness spending, along with a new website meant to let Californians track whether it’s making a difference.