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Rebuilding After the Palisades Fire: A Step-by-Step Look at the Recovery and Reconstruction Process
Phase 1: Emergency Response & Environmental Site Clearance
EPA Cleanup After a Wildfire
The first step after a fire in Los Angeles County is environmental clearance. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is typically the first agency on-site, ensuring all hazardous materials—like asbestos, lead, and household chemicals—are safely removed.
At 1041 Iliff, the EPA conducted a full Phase 1 debris removal, which included:
- Hazardous material identification and removal
- Air quality testing
- Safety clearance to prevent environmental contamination
Army Corps of Engineers & Phase 2 Debris Removal
Once EPA finished their part, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers stepped in for Phase 2 cleanup, which involved:
- Deep debris removal down to the soil
- Removal of damaged concrete foundations and footings
- Initial soil testing and compaction reports
This phase is mandatory before any rebuilding can begin in a wildfire-affected zone in Los Angeles.
Phase 2: Site Prep and Clearing for Rebuild
After environmental clearance, we began preparing the site for reconstruction:
- Cleared remaining debris and tree stumps
- Removed fire-damaged utilities and infrastructure
- Completed grading, compaction, and topographic surveys
- Verified lot lines, setbacks, and slope conditions for compliance
Proper grading and soil compaction is critical to passing LADBS (Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety) inspections for new construction.
Phase 3: Architectural Planning and Permitting
At this stage, our goal was to rebuild the home identical to its previous layout, incorporating a few key upgrades:
- A new tile roof (approved upgrade)
- Window upgrades from vinyl to aluminum grid doors by Lincoln
- A 10% square footage increase (~380 sq. ft.) while maintaining the original architectural footprint
We collaborated with our architectural and structural engineering teams to:
- Replicate the home’s last renovation (originally designed by Mandy Chang)
- Update structural calculations for new roofing and layout modifications
- Prepare full plan sets for LADBS submittal
Permitting Process in Los Angeles
Permitting in LA is a multi-step process that includes:
- Architectural review
- Structural plan check
- Soil & grading approval
- Energy compliance (Title 24)
- Green building compliance
We also worked with our expediters to streamline reviews and minimize delays.
What’s Next: Rebuilding the Palisades Home
With permits nearly complete and upgrades approved, we’re scheduled to begin construction this summer. Our team at LA Design Build is committed to delivering a modern, high-performance home—one that honors the original design while enhancing safety, energy efficiency, and long-term value.
Stay tuned for the next phase: Framing and Foundation Work—where we’ll go behind the scenes of building the new structure from the ground up.
Keywords used naturally throughout:
- Palisades fire rebuild
- Los Angeles fire reconstruction
- EPA Phase 1 debris removal
- Army Corps of Engineers Phase 2
- home rebuild after fire
- LADBS permitting process
- wildfire home restoration
- rebuilding after fire in Los Angeles
