LA Wildfires and Brownfields: Navigating Risks, Resources, and Resilience

Wildfire Resources

In the wake of devastating wildfires in Los Angeles, CCLR’s team is eager to support affected communities. To help our network navigate the breadth of resources available, we curated a list for immediate assistance, public health information, and grant opportunities to assist with remediation, recovery, and rebuilding.

Below are some wildfire resources from DTSC’s Enforcement and Emergency Response Division as well as the Environmental Health Division:

https://dtsc.ca.gov/emergency-guidance-on-wildfires-1/

https://dtsc.ca.gov/emergency-guidance-on-wildfires-2-2/

Clean_up_After_a_Fire_FAQ-English.pdf

Cal OES Resources:

• Friday’s weekly LA Area Small Business Response and Recovery Webinar – Webinar Registration – Zoom
• LA County’s Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO)
  • Resources webpage (can also check this page for business recovery-related webinars and events)
  • LA Disaster Relief Navigator
  • LA Region Small Business and Worker Relief Funds
  • Business to Business Space Share
• City of LA’s Economic & Workforce Development Department resources

EPA:

https://www.epa.gov/ca/2025-california-wildfires (Describes key issues to be aware of, as well as EPA’s role in fire response. You can view maps of fires + fact sheets about debris removal and environmental hazards. There is an email and phone number for public inquiry.)

Dedicated Organizations:

https://afterthefireusa.org/ (a 501(c)3 organization created by wildfire survivors and experts to support communities of all sizes as they prepare for wildfires and recover, rebuild, and reimagine a more resilient future after a wildfire.)

https://www.philanthropyca.org/2025-california-disaster-response (2025 California Disaster Response) Philanthropy California monitors wildfires & natural hazard events and provides individual and institutional funders with vetted funds, resources, and events on this response page.

https://ibhs.org/guidance/wildfire/ Insurance Institute for Business and home safety prepares Wildfire Guidance for Home & Business Owners to assist in preparing and protecting your home from wildfires)

https://www.foothillcatalog.org/mission Affordable, regionally-appropriate home design options for the victims displaced by the wildfires to rebuild their homes, allowing them the financial capability to remain on their property, retaining as many original homeowners as possible.

Brownfield Examples

Unfortunately, the Los Angeles fires are not unprecedented. In recent years a number of wildfires have destroyed communities in California, Oregon, Hawaii and elsewhere. In these cases, federal, state and non-profit support was provided to communities to help with immediate needs, as well as the cleanup of debris and ash. Communities also adopted diverse funding streams to rebuild after disasters. In this history comes stories of inspiration and resilience as well as foreshadowing of what Los Angeles can expect as crews begin to assess the damage.

Wildfires can introduce contaminants into the soil, creating new brownfields. The affected areas may include gas stations, dry cleaners, underground storage tanks, and other facilities with materials that require careful management. When buildings burn, so do the chemicals that have become ubiquitous to modern life. PCBs, heavy metals, polyvinyl chloride, lithium-ion batteries, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) can all be found in the ash from a structure fire. However, brownfield programs can also play a key role in supporting safe cleanup and sustainable rebuilding efforts.

Brownfield Job Training Grantee Assisting with LA Fire Cleanup

The LA Conservation Corps runs job training programs in the Los Angeles area to provide youth and those needing a second chance opportunities for high-quality careers that better their communities. The Corps is a partner in the LA Fire cleanup. In this role, crewmembers have installed swaddles and barriers to help keep contaminants from entering storm drains. The brownfield job training grant supports disaster cleanup, and the HAZWOPER training the corps members received prior to deployment ensures that they are staying safe while working to contain pollutants.

Brownfields as the Foundation of Recovery from the Dixie Fire

The 2021 Dixie Fire was the largest fire in California history, burning more than 1,500 square miles in the Northern Sierra Nevada Mountains. The fire destroyed 1,329 structures, about half of which were homes.

During the fire emergency personnel used the defunct Louisiana Pacific Sawmill in Crescent Mills as a staging area. The Sierra Institute for Community and Environment was partway through a brownfield remediation on the sawmill site with plans to produce locally-sourced biofuels from trees felled for fire prevention measures. While the fire was still raging, the Sierra Institute realized the sawmill could also help the community rebuild in support of while meeting the organization’s goals to improve fire resilience/sustainability and create jobs for the rural mountain community. The organization was able to pivot existing grants to purchase second-hand mill equipment and partnered with a locally-owned company to run milling operations.

Within two months of the Dixie Fire, the Indian Valley Wood Utilization Campus at the old sawmill site cut its first board and kickstarted rebuilding efforts.

The Sierra Institute also partnered with architecture firm Atelierjones, LLC to design fire-resistant mass-timber homes plans. Plumas County approved these plans in an expedited permit process. The Institute then secured grants to start producing cross laminated timber (CLT) that is used to create a fire-proof exterior for the new homes. The Sierra Institute also partnered with the Mountain Maidu Tribe in Greenville to rebuild its Roundhouse Council Center after the fire. The new roundhouse merges Native design principles with fire-resistant construction like CLT.

Removing Hazardous Materials in Lahaina

The August 2023 Lahaina fire destroyed 2,200 structures including historic and multi-generational homes. Memories and heirlooms were scattered among hazardous materials in the ash. Knowing that these chemicals could harm survivors, various local and government agencies restricted access to impacted areas while they assessed and removed hazardous materials. EPA employees sent to lead cleanup efforts received mandatory cultural training and were observed by cultural monitors to ensure the Island’s rich history was respected and protected. Over five months EPA removed hazardous materials from 1,374 residential and 74 commercial properties – enough to fill 13 shipping containers. EPA also sprayed a soil stabilizer to reduce movement of ash. Afterwards, the Army Corps of Engineers removed the stabilizer, debris, and contaminated soil. By September 2024 homeowners could begin rebuilding.

This process was not without problems and frustrations. Lahainans complained about slow clean up, being prevented from helping, and being unable to return home. These issues were compounded by the tumultuous history between the seat of the former Hawaiian Kingdom and the US Government that conquered it. Rumors of government land grabs masquerading as assistance made people fearful of help. Understanding these issues can inform leaders in Los Angeles and help address potential problems before they arise. Local communities and their concerns need to be built into a comprehensive plan to rebuild.

What Happens Now?

The road to recovery will be long for Los Angeles. Four years after the Dixie Fire, the community is still rebuilding. In Lahaina, survivors are navigating complex intersectional trauma related to colonialism, climate disaster, and the high costs of rebuilding. Disaster response requires cultural competency, patience and creative thinking. Altadena, a historic black community with high homeownership rates and community pride could face similar challenges as Lahaina as residents cope with the history and generational wealth lost.

When developing a plan to rebuild, brownfield redevelopment provides a helpful framework to center community needs and safety. When we focus on re-using existing resources to their fullest potential, or pivoting existing infrastructure to meet new goals, it can be easier to imagine a healthy future for everyone. While there is no easy road to recovery, we hope that sharing these resources and stories of resilience can shine some light on the road to redevelopment.