County leaders continued to advance wildfire recovery and prevention efforts in recent weeks, rolling out a series of programs aimed at helping Los Angeles County residents rebuild their homes, find employment and protect communities from future fires.
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved a motion to explore a new regional wildfire prevention authority, while county officials spotlighted job fair resources for fire survivors and a state assessor moved to protect homeowners from unexpected property tax increases during the rebuilding process.
Regional Wildfire Mitigation Authority
The Board of Supervisors approved a motion by Supervisor Lindsey P. Horvath to assess the feasibility of establishing a regional wildfire mitigation authority to better coordinate prevention efforts across the Santa Monica Mountains.
The 2025 fires burned more than 23,000 acres and damaged or destroyed thousands of homes, exposing the fragmented nature of land management across the region. Land in the Santa Monica Mountains is managed by a patchwork of federal, state, county and local agencies, as well as private landowners, each operating under different policies despite facing the same fire risk.
"Keeping our communities in the Santa Monica Mountains safe means staying prepared, strengthening prevention, and working together across agencies," Horvath said. "Following the Franklin and Palisades Fires, we have a clearer understanding of the need for stronger, more coordinated mitigation efforts."
The motion directs the Department of Regional Planning and the Los Angeles County Fire Department, working alongside federal and state agencies, nonprofits, environmental groups, academics and homeowners, to evaluate whether a Regional Wildfire Mitigation Joint Powers Authority should be created for the Santa Monica Mountains. The departments will analyze existing vegetation management practices, develop potential governance and implementation strategies, and identify funding sources to support a coordinated regional approach.
The departments are expected to report back to the Board within 90 days with findings and recommendations.
Fire Recovery After-Action Survey
The county has also launched a public survey to gather feedback from residents impacted by the January 2025 Eaton and Palisades fires as part of an independent After-Action Review of recovery and repopulation efforts conducted by the McChrystal Group.
The survey seeks input from residents who evacuated, experienced property damage, used disaster shelters, accessed debris removal or recovery services, have access and functional needs, sought information about someone in county custody, were unhoused at the start of the fires, or attempted to volunteer or donate. Residents who were not directly impacted are also encouraged to share observations about the county's response.
The survey takes less than 10 minutes to complete. Responses will be anonymized and used solely to inform improvements to the county's disaster recovery and repopulation operations. The survey remains open through April 24, 2026, and can be accessed at selfserve.decipherinc.com/survey/selfserve/2a8c/260109. For information on prior After-Action Reviews, visit lacounty.gov/aar.
Fire Recovery Thursdays
Supervisor Kathryn Barger highlighted a weekly job fair program that connects wildfire survivors with employment resources and career support.
Fire Recovery Thursdays are weekly recruitment events held every Thursday from 1 to 4 p.m. at America's Job Centers of California locations countywide. Organized by the LA County Department of Economic Opportunity, the pop-up events connect workers and job seekers impacted by the January 2025 wildfires with immediate job opportunities, career training and supportive services.
The events are held at all 18 AJCC locations across Los Angeles County. In Altadena, the local AJCC is located at 464 West Woodbury Road, Suite 210. Job seekers can find their nearest center at ajcc.lacounty.gov/ajcc or by calling (888) 226-6300.
"Eaton Fire survivors are facing challenges that most of us can hardly imagine," Barger said. "They've lost homes, livelihoods, and a sense of stability all while navigating one of the most difficult economic climates in recent memory."
At each event, AJCC staff provide one-on-one support to help job seekers explore career pathways and access hiring and training services, including eligibility screening for the Fire Recovery and Resilience Workforce Program. Eligible participants may access temporary job opportunities lasting three to five months starting at $20 per hour, no-cost job training in high-demand industries and a range of supportive services.
Attendees should bring a valid photo ID along with work authorization documents. A resume is helpful but not required. Job seekers are encouraged to create a profile on CalJOBS at caljobs.ca.gov in advance.
Property Tax Reassessment Protections
Los Angeles County Assessor Jeff Prang announced his office is sponsoring new state legislation to provide clarity for homeowners rebuilding after the 2025 wildfires, shielding them from potential property tax reassessments triggered by reconstruction.
Under existing California law, property owners whose homes are damaged or destroyed by misfortune or calamity may rebuild without losing their original property tax base value, so long as the replacement home is considered "substantially equivalent" to the structure that was lost.
However, local governments adopted expedited rebuilding policies in the aftermath of the Eaton and Palisades fires that in many cases allowed homeowners to rebuild up to 110 percent of their home's original size to comply with modern building codes and safety requirements. That flexibility exposed a gap in state tax law — current statutes do not clearly define whether a home rebuilt at up to 110 percent of its original size qualifies as "substantially equivalent," creating uncertainty for homeowners already navigating a difficult recovery.
Senate Bill 1352, authored by Sen. Suzette Valladares and sponsored by Prang, would explicitly clarify that a rebuilt home may be up to 110 percent of its original size and still retain its existing property tax base value without triggering reassessment as new construction. The bill would apply statewide to properties damaged or destroyed by misfortune or calamity on or after Jan. 1, 2025.
"Homeowners should not have to worry that following local rebuilding standards could unintentionally lead to higher property taxes," Prang said. "That kind of uncertainty is unacceptable — especially after a disaster."
SB 1352 was introduced in the State Senate last week and will proceed through the legislative committee process.