Eaton Fire Recovery & Resources

The January 2025 Eaton Fire tore through Altadena, Pasadena, and the surrounding foothill communities of Los Angeles County, destroying thousands of structures and forcing tens of thousands of residents to evacuate. If you were affected, this page gathers recovery resources specific to the Eaton Fire and explains, in plain terms, what survivors should know.

Recovery resources for Eaton Fire survivors

The general systems for wildfire recovery apply to the Eaton Fire, and several were activated specifically for affected communities. Start here:

For the full directory of emergency, financial, insurance, and rebuilding help, see our California wildfire resource hub.

Steps to take if you were affected

1. Register as affectedSign up with FEMA and notify your insurance company, even if you don't yet know the full extent of your losses.
2. Document everythingPhotograph your property and belongings, make a written inventory, and save all displacement-related receipts before any cleanup begins.
3. Look into debris removalCheck whether the state's coordinated debris-removal program covers your area before arranging private removal.
4. Understand your optionsLearn how insurance, aid programs, and — where a utility was responsible — a claim against that utility may fit together.

What's known about the Eaton Fire's cause

The cause of the Eaton Fire has been the subject of investigation and litigation, with attention focused on electrical infrastructure in the area. When a wildfire is linked to a utility company's equipment, survivors in the affected area may have rights beyond insurance — including the ability to recover losses that insurance doesn't fully cover. Because the legal situation around a specific fire can evolve, the most reliable way to understand how it applies to you is to speak with someone directly.

Talking to a wildfire attorney

If you'd like to understand what the Eaton Fire situation means for you specifically, The Wagner Law Group — which has represented more than 650 families in California wildfire litigation — offers free, no-obligation consultations. For representation specifically, you can also visit the firm's California wildfire page.