Eaton and Palisades fires 1-year anniversary to be commemorated at events across SoCal

PASADENA, Calif. () — Several events are scheduled to commemorate the one-year anniversary of the start of the wildfires that devastated Altadena, Pacific Palisades and other communities in January 2025.

Tuesday

At 9:30 a.m., Alberto Carvalho, superintendent of the Los Angeles Unified School District, will hold a 9:30 a.m. briefing at the site of Marquez Charter Elementary School, one of three LAUSD campuses devastated by the Palisades Fire. He will provide “a one-year update on schools in Pacific Palisades.”

Marquez, located at 16821 Marquez Ave., reopened in September, using temporary bungalows as makeshift classrooms while a rebuilding project targets 2028 for the completion of new permanent facilities. About 75% of the estimated 310 students who once attended Marquez are now dispersed elsewhere in the district, officials say.

Palisades Charter Elementary and Palisades Charter High School campuses were also devastated by the Palisades Fire. The district has said it will spend an estimated $725 million to rebuild the three schools.

At noon, the UCLA Latino Policy & Politics Institute will host a webinar titled “The Altadena Recovery: Who Gets to Come Back?” — examining “the uneven path to wildfire recovery for families and local small businesses in Altadena.”

According to organizers, LPPI research indicates that “a year after the Eaton Fire, Altadena’s recovery reflects both resilience and inequity.”

“Many families and small businesses remain stalled,” organizers say. “Nearly seven in ten severely damaged homes show no visible progress — delayed by insurance issues, rising costs, and complex rebuilding.

“Black, Latino, and AAPI homeowners were among the hardest hit, with most property sales going to investors. Tenants, over a quarter of Altadena’s population, face widespread displacement as much of the damage hit limited affordable and rent-controlled housing. Latino and AAPI-owned small businesses are also struggling to recover, many tied to properties now under new ownership.”

Wednesday

At 8 a.m. in Pacific Palisades, American Legion Post 283 will host a “White Glove and Remembrance Ceremony” to “bring together community members, civic leaders, and recovery partners in remembrance, gratitude, and unity.”

The program, running from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., will commemorate the 12 Palisadians who lost their lives “and pay tribute to the countless individuals and groups who are helping the community recover and rebuild.”

It will begin with a “Coffee & Breakfast Public Gathering” at the American Legion Post.

From 9-10 a.m. there will be a private “Remembrance and Tribute Program” featuring a white-glove presentation of flags and certificates to rescue and recovery participants, and an invocation and accompanying music by the Palisades symphony. This segment of the event will be for families of those lost and invited guests — though it will also be streamed outside the Legion Post on La Cruz Drive, for the public to view.

The event will also include the dedication of the American Legion Post 283 “survivor flag” flown during the fire; a retirement of the Palisades Post Office flag and the raising of replacement flag, accompanied by a bugler; a color guard and procession to the Village Green on Sunset Boulevard; a ringing of bells and wreath presentations; and a moment of remembrance on the Village Green “honoring those lost.”

A community lunch at 11:15 a.m. will close the remembrance. Palisades American Legion Post 283 is located at 15247 La Cruz Drive.

At 8:30 a.m., Eaton Fire survivors and elected officials will gather for an 8:30 a.m. briefing at The Collaboratory in Altadena to share stories with media and “present a clear update on where recovery truly stands.”

The event is organized by the Eaton Fire Survivors Network, described as “a survivor-led community of 10,000+ Eaton and Palisades fire survivors.”

The group reports that “8 in 10 Eaton Fire families remain displaced, with most running out of insurance housing coverage in the coming months” and that “70% of insured survivors report delays and denials blocking recovery.”

Participants will gather to “offer an unfiltered assessment of recovery, what moved in 2025, and what must happen in 2026 to turn resilience into real recovery,” organizers say.

In addition, lawmakers are expected to preview their 2026 legislative aims regarding “what remains broken in our insurance and recovery systems.” Among those expected to take part are state Sen. Sasha Renée Pérez; Assemblyman John Harabedian; and L.A. County Supervisor Kathryn Barger.

The event will also be livestreamed on YouTube.

At 10:30 a.m. in Pacific Palisades, the Palisades Fire Residents Coalition will hold a rally titled “They Let Us Burn!” — at which participants will “demand accountability for a total breakdown in prevention, precaution and leadership from the City of Los Angeles, State of California, LADWP, LA Fire Officials, California State Parks, California Natural Resources Agency, state/local agencies, Governor Newsom, and Mayor Bass.”

Organizers say that, “despite promises of action, city and state leadership and agencies have delivered little real progress, with limited vision or a clear plan paired with great uncertainty.”

In a statement ahead of the rally, Palisades resident and rally organizer Mariam Engel said, “We lost more than our homes. We lost trust. This fire was preventable. The city ignored warnings, ignored protocol, and ignored its own firefighters. Now, a year later, families are still without homes, and we’re gathered to remind leaders. We haven’t forgotten — even if they have.”

Scheduled speakers will include homeowners, business owners and local officials “as well as experts addressing failures in fire preparedness, evacuation planning, insurance recovery, legal settlement recovery, and environmental cleanup,” organizers said.

“This protest isn’t politically motivated,” according to organizers. “This is a call for fairness, accountability, and a vision for the rebuild.”

The event is scheduled to run from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Antioch/Swarthmore to Via De La Paz in the heart of Pacific Palisades. More information is available at theyletusburn.com.

At 4 p.m. at Malibu City Hall, the city will hold a “Palisades Fire Commemoration: Finding Strength in Community” event — giving residents a chance “to reflect on the profound impact the fire had on all of Malibu.”

“The one-year mark reminds us of both the pain we experienced and the strength we discovered in one another,” Mayor Marianne Riggins said in a statement ahead of the event.

“Through loss, uncertainty, and recovery, our community has shown extraordinary resilience. As we look ahead, we remain focused on supporting every resident, honoring what we’ve overcome, and building a future rooted in hope and long-term restoration.”

According to a city statement, “the Palisades Fire stands as the greatest disaster the City of Malibu has ever endured. It tore through the community, destroying more than 700 structures, displacing families, and leaving entire neighborhoods reduced to smoldering ruins. It was part of a historic regional disaster that took many more lives and thousands of homes, and we stand in solidarity with our fellow communities that experienced this tragedy.”

Wednesday’s program will run from 4-5:30 p.m. and include a native Chumash blessing, a moment of silence for the three Malibu residents who lost their lives, and a remembrance poem written for the occasion by Charlotte Ward, Malibu’s poet laureate.

A reception will follow with light food, a memorial space and an art gallery paying tribute to first responders and community members. Malibu City Hall is located at 23825 Stuart Ranch Road.

The event will also be livestreamed on the city’s YouTube channel.

At 5:30 p.m., the Pasadena Civic Auditorium will host “A Concert for Altadena,” to benefit the Pasadena Community Foundation’s Eaton Fire Relief & Recovery Fund — with funds raised going specifically to PCF’s supporting organization, the Altadena Builds Back Foundation.

Performers will include Dawes & Friends, featuring Eric Krasno, Aloe Blacc, Jackson Browne, Brandon Flowers, Judith Hill, Jenny Lewis, Mandy Moore, Brad Paisley and Stephen Stills, plus performances by Ozomatli and Everclear and other guests.

Doors open at 5:30 p.m., and the concert is set to start at 6:30 p.m. The Pasadena Civic Auditorium is located at 300 E. Green St. Tickets are available at ticketmaster.com.

City News Service contributed to this report.