Altadena faces displacement a year after devastating wildfires

A year after the Eaton fire, Altadena residents report pressure to sell land to investors while many homes remain unrebuilt; experts and a UCLA analysis link the pattern to what they call 'climate gentrification'.

A year after the Eaton fire, residents of Altadena are confronting pressure to sell land while rebuilding remains slow. The article reports that investors have been active in buying vacant lots created by the blaze, and survivors and researchers describe the trend as "climate gentrification." A UCLA analysis and survivor accounts highlight racial disparities in damage and in barriers to rebuilding. What is known: - A UCLA analysis found Black households in Altadena were more likely to be inside the Eaton fire perimeter and to suffer severe damage; the article reports nearly six in 10 Black-owned homes sustained severe fire damage and many severely damaged properties show no progress toward rebuilding. - The article reports real estate investors bought up a large share of empty lots sold after the fire, and survivors say investors began contacting them days after their homes burned. - Reporting cited evidence that Southern California Edison’s power lines probably sparked the Eaton fire; the company has offered a payment program for some survivors who agree not to sue while stopping short of accepting full legal responsibility. - Insurance and financial barriers are widespread: a cited survey found about 70% of insured survivors experienced delayed, denied or underpaid claims, and only roughly one in four people with severe damage have had claims fully approved. Summary: The pattern of stalled rebuilding, underinsurance and investor purchases is raising concerns about displacement and the loss of Altadena’s long-standing Black community. Undetermined at this time.