As firefighters continue to battle the Palisades and Eaton fires, many residents have been denied entry into their fire-ravaged neighborhoods to see the state of their homes, in part due to safety concerns.
In the meantime, residents can check the Los Angeles County portals to see inspection reports and images of many of the damaged homes. Inspections of both fire zones are underway, but they are less than halfway done and it is unclear when the work will be completed, according to data from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
Recovery maps give residents the ability to identify conditions in their homes even before evacuation orders are lifted and allow them to begin the insurance claims process.
“Damage inspection teams are working as quickly as possible given the technical and safety limitations of the work. Your appraisal may be the basis for an insurance claim, so [is] Not a cursory review of the property,” the Los Angeles County Office of Emergency Management said in a statement.
The data provided by the inspections is used by county, state and federal agencies as the recovery process progresses.
The inspectors' work has been “hindered by access issues and site hazards in some locations,” according to the statement. “We cannot yet accurately assess when this process will be completed.”
Below are summaries of the inspection processes for the two fires.
stockade fire
Affected areas include Pacific Palisades and Malibu.
Inspectors had completed 35% of inspections within the fire's footprint as of Wednesday, according to the city of Malibu. Cal Fire estimates indicate that more than 5,000 structures have been damaged or destroyed.
Inspections are conducted by 26 teams of two inspectors each, according to the county Office of Emergency Management. His most recent findings:
- 2,192 confirmed structures destroyed
- 398 confirmed damaged
- 1,429 confirmed without damage
To view the map showing the inspection results so far, click here.
eaton fire
Affected areas include Altadena, Sierra Madre and Pasadena.
Inspectors had completed 45% of inspections within the fire's footprint as of Wednesday, according to Cal Fire. Cal Fire estimates indicate that more than 7,000 structures have been damaged or destroyed.
Inspections are conducted by at least 20 teams of two inspectors each, according to the county Office of Emergency Management. His most recent findings:
- 4,627 confirmed structures destroyed
- 486 structures confirmed damaged
- No confirmed count of undamaged structures
To view the map showing the inspection results so far, click here.
Official reports currently include residential, commercial and other structures in their counts. It is unclear when, or if, a separate housing count will be available.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
