Palisades Fire Damage Maps
Frequently Asked Questions About Returning After a Fire
While residents in some evacuated areas are being permitted to return to their property in various areas each day, it will take longer for residents in some heavily impacted communities to begin returning to their property. Visit our FAQ page to learn more.
Damage Inspectors Bring Urgently Needed Info to Public
Source: CAL FIRE Damage Inspection (DINS) database
The damage inspection data is approximate and for informational purposes only. This map contains information and data collected using a systematic inspection process.
Fire damage and poor access are major limiting factors for damage inspectors; therefore, a small margin of error is expected. The terrain, vegetation coverage, and large area burned by the fire made locating damaged or destroyed structures very difficult. Due to these limiting factors, all the structures damaged or destroyed by the fire may not be identified.
Additionally, identifying structure types (such as single-story residences vs. multi-story single- family residences) is extremely difficult in some areas due to the complete combustion of all identifying features. Damage inspection teams use their best judgment when assigning structure type classification based on available features.
The damage assessment process evaluates various types of structures impacted by the disaster to provide an accurate understanding of the extent of damage within affected communities. This assessment follows standardized criteria, including Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) guidelines and the Firefighting Resources of California Organized for Potential Emergencies (FIRESCOPE) Damage Inspection Specialist (DINS) training curriculum, ensuring consistency and reliability. This data is not designed or intended to assess the value of individual damaged structures or determine the value of the total damage caused by the fire.
1. Residential Structures
- Single-Family Homes – Standalone houses, including single-story and multi- story residences.
- Multi-Family Units – Duplexes, apartments, and condominiums with shared walls.
- Manufactured and Mobile Homes – Prefabricated housing units placed on either permanent or non-permanent foundations.
2. Outbuildings
Utility or Miscellaneous Structures – Equal or more than 120 ft2 and is non- habitable; Required to have a permanent foundation, four walls, and a roof, including:
- Garages and Carports
- Barns and Agricultural Buildings
- Well Houses and Utility Structures
- Storage Sheds
3. Commercial and Public Buildings
Business Facilities – Retail stores, offices, and warehouses.
Public Infrastructure – Schools, fire stations, hospitals, and government buildings that provide essential services.
Certain types of structures are not included in the damage assessment because they do not meet the criteria for FEMA assistance or are considered non-essential to habitability or economic recovery. These structures include:
- Non-Permanent and Temporary Structures – Tents, RVs, trailers used as temporary residences, and other mobile units not placed on a permanent foundation.
- Recreational Structures – Gazebos, pergolas, picnic shelters, and outdoor decks without living space.
- Outbuildings – Less than 120 ft2, or lacking a permanent foundation, four walls, and a
- Fences, Driveways, and Landscaping – While often damaged, these elements are not included in structural assessments.
- Swimming Pools and Hot Tubs – Recreational water features are not assessed as part of the official damage inspection.
- Partially Built or Abandoned Structures – Buildings under construction or not actively in use at the time of the disaster may not be included.
The damage assessment teams utilize the four categories of damage established in the FIRESCOPE curriculum that an impacted home may fall within: Destroyed (>50%), Major (26% – 50%), Minor (10% – 25%), or Affected (1% – 9%). A structure with damage affecting less than 1% of its total square footage may be classified as having No Damage.
For Damage Assessment specific questions please email: fire-DINS@fire.lacounty.gov Please include your Name, Address, Phone Number and Assessors Parcel Number in you email.