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, officials announced. Safety inspections, search operations, damage assessments and utility restorations are being conducted as quickly as possible to expedite residents’ safe return to their properties. EPA officials are already at work with local teams to assess the removal of toxic materials from the sites and clear the way for debris to be removed. Permission to return to neighborhoods will be determined each day by the field incident management teams for each fire (Palisades and Eaton) in coordination with all relevant agencies.

These updates will be shared with the public as soon as they are available.

Residents can continue to visit recovery.lacounty.gov to view maps showing damage assessment, which are also being updated daily.

When can I return to my property?

It will be several days or longer before residents in heavily impacted communities can begin returning to their properties. Inspections, search operations, and assessments are being conducted as quickly as possible to expedite residents’ safe return to their properties.

I just want to see my property or retrieve something special. I just need 15 minutes.

Unfortunately, too many dangers remain to allow you to return to your property safely. Downed power lines must be cleared to avoid the potential for electrocution when lines are reenergized. Hazardous materials from burned homes must be assessed and removed as overseen by the EPA to avoid health risks to you and your family. The Fire Department must make sure that all small spot fires have been extinguished. Sadly, in some cases, we are still searching for remains. All of this work must be done before we can safely allow you to return to your property. Resources are being poured into the field from federal, state and local partners to help complete this as soon as we possibly can. We know how important it is for you to begin the recovery process.

When will all of this work be complete?

Several teams are working as quickly as possible given the safety and technical constraints of the job, including the EPA, damage inspection teams, public works personnel and utility crews. The work is sometimes hampered by access issues and hazards on site at some locations. We cannot yet accurately gauge when this process might be complete.

How will I know when my neighborhood is safe to return to?

You can find real-time, accurate information on the status of evacuation warnings and orders at lacounty.gov/emergency, which is updated throughout the day.

I need to file an insurance claim now. I want to know if my property is still standing.

Los Angeles County has provided a mapping tool that allows residents to identify whether their property or other properties have been damaged in the fires that have devastated so many of our local communities. The maps can be found at recovery.lacounty.gov and are easy to use. Just enter your address into the search bar. If your property has been inspected, you will be able to see an image of it online, taken just days earlier. An icon will indicate the current known status: no damage, minor damage, greater than 50% damage or destroyed. If no icon appears for your property, the inspectors have not yet been able to visit and assess it, but teams have already completed inspections of thousands of homes and are rapidly working to finish the job and get everyone access to the information they need. Their appraisal can be the basis for an insurance claim.

Why do I not see my property on the map? / Why do the inspection numbers keep changing?

The damage inspection process is a house-by-house effort that takes time. Teams are out in the field daily conducting damage inspections as quickly and accurately as possible. The map is updated on a daily basis, including photos of damaged and destroyed properties. In an effort to get information to those impacted as quickly as possible, data is uploaded to the maps as soon as it is available. If your residence is not shown on the map yet, continue to check back for updates.

Can I use this information to file an insurance claim?

In most cases, yes. Most major insurance companies have approved the extensive inspection process that our damage inspection teams follow and should accept the results of that inspection as the basis for a claim. However, it can vary from company to company, and you should contact your insurance company.

Is the air and water safe?

For information on air safety, please go to: LA County Department of Public Health.

For information on water safety, please reach out to your water utility provider. Some additional contacts are listed following the question immediately below.

Los Angeles Department of Water and Power: (800) 342-5397

When will power and other utilities be restored in my neighborhood? Do I need to contact the utility companies to pause billing?

Communities devastated by these fires will likely not have utilities available, even if your property is not damaged. Due to the widespread damage, it was imperative to deactivate electricity and gas services to avoid further damage. Once fire agencies release areas for restoration, damage assessment crews inspect areas and remove safety hazards. Vegetation management teams clear debris to support line crews in restoration efforts. As repairs are completed, power is first restored to essential services, and then to as many customers as is safely possible. Dangerous conditions may impact progress. Customers should be prepared for extended and potentially intermittent outages throughout these extreme conditions. If you see a downed power line or dangling wire, stay 100 feet away from it or anything that is in contact with it and call 911 immediately.

Utilities must discontinue billing customers whose properties are not capable of receiving utility services, and utilities cannot assess a disconnection charge. The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power and Southern California Edison have paused billing for customers in areas affected by the fires. You can check current outages by contacting your local power provider or visiting their website:

Clean Power Alliance: (888) 585-3788l

Los Angeles Department of Water and Power: (800) 342-5397

Southern California Edison: (800) 655-4555

SoCalGas continues to restore service to properties that have not been directly affected by the Palisades fire or Eaton fire. SoCalGas crews will be arriving in your neighborhood to go door-to-door to safely restore your service. If you are not yet in an area where the evacuation order has lifted or the area is still unsafe, they will leave you instructions on how to make an appointment for gas restoration services.

SoCalGas is forgiving the current bill and the most recent bills of customers whose properties have been destroyed by the fires. Customers who have had their gas supply turned off for safety reasons will not be billed for service during this temporary outage.

SoCalGas: (800) 427-2200

When I am able to return to my community, what precautions should I take before entering the burned area? 

Before entering any area that has been severely damaged or destroyed by a wildfire, ensure that local authorities have cleared the area for entry. Once you receive clearance to enter a burned area, take appropriate precautions to protect your health and safety.

Enter the area during daylight hours, when it is easier to avoid hazards. Wear a properly fitted N95 mask to protect against inhaling harmful particles, as well as safety goggles to shield your eyes from smoke, ash, and debris. Wear gloves, long-sleeved shirts, long pants, and shoes and socks to protect your skin. If ash comes into contact with your skin, wash it off immediately with warm water and soap.

To read a full list of tips from the Department of Public Health, click here.

Who will protect my property in the meantime?  

The LAPD and LA County Sheriff’s Department are conducting increased patrols in the areas impacted by the fires. Both the County and the city of Los Angeles have established 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfews in areas where evacuation orders are still in place to protect both lives and property. We have also made clear that those who violate the law will be prosecuted.

How do I protect my property from future flash flooding and debris flow?  

To protect your property from flash flooding and debris flow after a fire, please refer to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works’ Homeowner’s Guide for Flood, Debris, and Erosion Control.

My child’s local school is closed due to fire damage. Where do they go now?

The Los Angeles Unified School District and Pasadena School District are working diligently to ensure a smooth transition for the reopening of impacted schools. To learn about the latest updates, online learning and other educational tools, visit the school websites or call them directly:

Los Angeles Unified School District: (213) 241-1000

Pasadena Unified School District: (626) 396-3600

Los Angeles County Department of Education: (562) 922-6111

How will the County handle the rebuilding process?

There will be a streamlined rebuilding process. Governor Newsom has cleared the way by issuing an executive order suspending environmental regulations under CEQA, and the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors is committed to eliminating as much red tape as possible to get your community rebuilt. Mayor Karen Bass also issued a sweeping order to create a one-stop shop to swiftly issue permits to rebuild in all fire affected areas. The State, County and city of Los Angeles have all declared emergencies to further expedite rebuilding and recovery.

My property is still standing. When will the County allow me to go to my property to pick up belongings? And when can I move back in?

We understand that you want to return to your property as soon as possible, whether to retrieve a few treasured items or to try to return to a more normal day-to-day life. Evacuation orders will remain in place until the unified command managing the fire response can ensure that your neighborhood is safe. At the moment, downed power lines, hazardous materials, downed trees, toxic water and other hazards make many areas within the fire zones extremely treacherous and completely unsafe to inhabit. Please bear with us and know that we will lift orders and allow residents to return to their property as soon as we can possibly do so safely.

My property has been deemed unsafe to enter. However, I still see items in my property I would like to save. Can I enter and obtain personal items at my own risk?

We are sorry, but no. We cannot allow you to put yourself at risk given the dangerous situation in many of these neighborhoods. We will work to lift evacuation orders and allow you to return as soon as it is safe.

When we’re allowed to return to our property, what steps do we need to take to start the rebuilding process?

What rebuilding resources are available?

Please go to the Department of Regional Planning website: https://planning.lacounty.gov/disaster-recovery/

How can I replace vital records?

Los Angeles County residents directly impacted by fires can request property and vital records free of charge to help with recovery efforts from the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk’s Office. If you have been impacted, please call 800-201-8999 and select Option 1, followed by Option 2, or email your request with specific information to recorder@rrcc.lacounty.gov. Read an FAQ here.