One year ago today, the Palisades and Eaton wildfires erupted in Los Angeles County. Together they burned more than 58 square miles of land — destroying over 16,000 structures, displacing thousands of households and claiming at least 31 lives. As one of the costliest wildfires in history, the estimated economic losses caused by the blazes range from $65 billion to as much as $275 billion.
Most residents are still struggling to put their lives together: A survey by the nonprofit group Department of Angels found that about 90% of Pacific Palisades residents and 80% of Altadena residents remain displaced as of October.
Survivors also continue to face frustrations with insurance companies — including delayed or denied claims — underscoring how California’s property insurance market remains rife with problems, writes CalMatters’ Levi Sumagaysay.
Premiums are likely to rise for policyholders across the state, and customers of California’s two largest insurers, State Farm and the last-resort FAIR Plan, were the most dissatisfied with their insurers’ response, according to the Department of Angels.
- Angela Giacchetti, a spokesperson for the nonprofit whose Altadena home was damaged by the Eaton Fire: “We’ve paid almost $200,000 out of pocket to repair our home because of the FAIR Plan’s blanket denials of our remediation.”
But there have been some wins. California passed a law last year requiring insurers to pay claims without first seeing detailed inventories from policyholders. On Tuesday Gov. Gavin Newsom also issued an executive order expanding price gouging protections for people recovering from the fires.
Permits for new homes in the affected regions have also been issued at a relatively fast clip compared to historic state standards, reports CalMatters’ Ben Christopher. As of this week, more than 2,600 residential permits have been distributed — a rate that’s “three times faster” than the five years leading up to the fires, Newsom’s administration noted.
Read more about the insurance setbacks and rebuilding process in the Palisades and Altadena a year following the fires.
Focus on Inland Empire: Each Wednesday, CalMatters Inland Empire reporter Aidan McGloin surveys the big stories from that part of California. Read his newsletter and sign up here to receive it.
Other Stories You Should Know
GOP member of Congress passes away
After being rushed to a Chico hospital the night before, U.S. Rep. Doug LaMalfa died on Tuesday at the age of 65. For more than a decade the Republican represented California’s 1st Congressional District, which stretches from the Oregon-California border through Shasta and Sutter counties, writes CalMatters’ Maya C. Miller.
LaMalfa died in emergency surgery after experiencing a “medical emergency” in his home, according to the Butte County Sheriff’s Office. Lamalfa was known as a pragmatic congressmember who was committed to issues affecting his rural Northern California district, including water access and forestry management.
His death narrows the GOP’s slim majority in the House, which now stands at 218. By state law, Gov. Newsom has 14 days to call a special election to fill the rest of LaMalfa’s term, which will take place under the existing district boundaries, rather than the new lines voters approved of through Proposition 50.
More on LaMalfa: CalMatters’ Ryan Sabalow, who grew up in LaMalfa’s district, covered the politician’s career over the past two decades. Though Ryan had skewered LeMalfa on environmental issues, federal subsidies and more, Ryan writes that he “spoke his mind, no matter who was in the room.” Read more here.
Limón starts as Pro Tem
Seven months after being elected Senate President Pro Tem in June, Democratic Sen. Monique Limón of Santa Barbara begins her tenure as leader of the California Senate — the first Latina ever to do so, reports Maya.
Backed by labor unions, the 46-year-old progressive’s career in the chamber includes successfully pushing legislation to make workers’ pay more transparent, shield medical debt from credit reports and require setbacks around new oil and gas wells. Prior to that, Limón was an Assemblymember for four years, and served on the board of trustees for the Santa Barbara Unified School District for six years.
As Senate Pro Tem, Limón faces the state’s $18 billion budget deficit and deep federal cuts under President Donald Trump. Though she did not disclose many details about how she’ll steer the caucus through budget talks, she told CalMatters that the caucus “will continue to prioritize issues that our communities prioritize.” She also declined to identify any specific legislative measures that the caucus would prioritize.
And lastly: Changing CA’s school funding formula?
The nonpartisan Legislative Analyst’s Office released a report Tuesday, examining whether the funding formula for California’s K-12 schools should switch from attendance to enrollment, which could bring billions of more dollars to schools. Read what the LAO recommends from CalMatters’ Carolyn Jones.
California Voices
CalMatters columnist Dan Walters: Critics of Newsom and California Democrats are making an iffy link between a state audit on fraud and a scandal in Minnesota, highlighting the amped-up rhetoric during an election year.
The California Department of Insurance is too lax regulating insurance companies’ behavior, yet too strict controlling their market access, writes Patrick Wolff, a Democrat who is running for insurance commissioner.
Local and state governments failed to lead within months of the L.A.-area fires, and candidates now running for various L.A. offices must present serious plans to address these failures, writes Max Lubin, CEO of Kismet Research.
Other things worth your time:
Health Dept. to freeze $10B in funding to 5 Democratic states, including CA // The New York Times
Ties between CA and Venezuela go back more than a century with Chevron // Los Angeles Times
These are the biggest challenges facing CA’s economy in 2026 // San Francisco Chronicle
New USPS rule could affect mail delivery dates in CA // The Sacramento Bee
Charter authorizers urge Newsom to lead on anti-fraud bill // EdSource
CA’s largest reservoir rises 36 feet as rains boost water supply statewide // The Mercury News
Marin tidal flooding prompts renewed push for fortification // Marin Independent Journal
Thousands of Fresno Unified retirees abruptly lose access to health care services // The Fresno Bee
San Diego sues federal government over razor wire border barrier on city-owned property // The San Diego Union-Tribune