LA Fires
Nov. 19, 2025
Rebuilding Los Angeles: Lessons from California's wildfire recovery
California's post-wildfire recovery efforts in early 2025 revealed both the promise and the pitfalls of its disaster laws -- exposing a system in urgent need of modernization as climate threats grow.
Roberto Escobar
Roberto "Bobby" Escobar is general counsel, and an environmental and labor and immigration advisor.
California's January 2025 Eaton and Palisades wildfires marked a turning point in the state's understanding of disaster recovery. With more than 16,000 homes and buildings destroyed across Los Angeles County, the months that followed became an unfiltered test of the legal and regulatory systems governing post-fire rebuilding. What emerged was a mixed picture: evidence of innovative reforms and strong emergency leadership, but also a stark demonstration of how fragmented proce...
For only $95 a month (the price of 2 article purchases)
Receive unlimited article access and full access to our archives,
Daily Appellate Report, award winning columns, and our
Verdicts and Settlements.
Or
$795 for an entire year!
Or access this article for $45
(Purchase provides 7-day access to this article. Printing, posting or downloading is not allowed.)
Already a subscriber?
Sign In