Tag: Eaton Fire

PASADENA—The College Football Playoff Foundation, bowl partners, and supplies company School Specialty join forces in historic collaboration following the Eaton Fire destruction.

On Thursday, May 8, The College Football Playoff Foundation is giving $1.2 million to help Altadena’s Eliot Arts Magnet School rebuild after it sustained major damage in the Eaton Fire.

The CFP’s six bowls – the Rose, Cotton, Sugar, Fiesta, Orange, and Peach Bowls – each pledged $150,000 to invest in the school’s rebuilding. The CFP Foundation’s Britton Banowsky called it historic.

“We are grateful to the College Football Playoff Foundation and its partners for their extraordinary pledge to help restore Eliot Arts Magnet School,” said PUSD Superintendent Dr. Elizabeth Blanco.

“This generous support brings hope and momentum to our recovery and reaffirms the power of community partnerships in rebuilding schools that inspire creativity, resilience, and pride.”

Eliot Arts’ iconic library had just undergone a major renovation in 2023 thanks to a partnership between the CFP Foundation, Pasadena Tournament of Roses®, Pasadena Educational Foundation, and School Specialty—making the loss even more poignant and the rebuilding efforts especially meaningful. In January, the Pasadena Unified School District passed a resolution to rebuild.

School officials said it will take multiple years to restore Eliot, which lost its auditorium, a set of classrooms, and administrative offices in the fire.

Pasadena Educational Foundation’s Patrick Conyers thanked the CFP Foundation for recognizing that “buildings are important.”

“Obviously stadiums that these bowl games are played in, including the iconic Rose Bowl, are special places where special things happen,” he said. “This sort of building is also important because this is the way that students can unlock the world of potential inside of them.”

By Christopher Floch

MALIBU—On Saturday, February 15, a 3.7 magnitude earthquake struck California just seven miles northwest of Malibu. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the depth of the earthquake was 9 miles.

Floods and mudslides swamped with February 14 debris flow covered the fire-scarred earth burnt from wildfires that began on January 7. The Pacific Coast Highway (PCH), Pacific Palisades, Malibu, and multiple other areas had just hit the second phase of recovery efforts the debris removal when the mudslides hit.

It was three weeks ago, on January 24, that President Trump met with community leaders whose residents were devastated by fire. The President convinced local authorities to forego the normal permitting requirements. He then began to make arrangements for the Army Corps of Engineers to aid fire victims with debris removal.

It was January 28 before evacuation orders were first lifted. Phase One of removing toxic waste had begun.

On February 10, the Army Corps of Engineers began their work clearing debris. Weather authorities were already posting flash flood warnings for the area.

By February 15, the flooding and mudslides in the fire-scarred Pacific Palisades and Eaton areas flooded Sierra Madre in the foothills of San Gabriel Valley.

As it comes closer to the two-month anniversary since the wildfires began, recovery efforts in California continue with the added burden of flooding, mudslides, and an earthquake.

In the face of one natural disaster after another, Californians remained strong and turned out to help one another in relief efforts.

By Sharon

PACIFIC PALISADES—On February 10, the Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) issued a press release notifying the public that in coordination with the Federal Environmental Management Agency (FEMA) will begin with Phase 2, debris removal from the wildfire sites in Los Angeles County.

On Tuesday, February 11, men in hard hats were seen with their backhoes and excavators in LA County’s most burn-scarred areas.

General Jason Kelly, the Deputy Commanding General for Civil and Emergency Operations for USACE made the following statement.

“This mission is personal for us. Our teams on the ground are bringing the same urgency, precision, and care to residential properties that we do with our civil works and military construction missions around the world. We are grateful for the strong collaboration with FEMA, the state of California, Los Angeles County, and the local jurisdictions impacted by the fire, and we remain committed to supporting these impacted communities every step of the way.”

Colonel Eric Swenson, Commander of USACE Recovery Field Office made the following remarks:

“Clearing debris is the first step toward recovery, and we are committed to helping residents in communities across LA County rebuild. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is proud to support this mission alongside the federal, state, and local partners to ensure families return home and begin the rebuilding process as quickly as possible.

According to the National Weather Service, Los Angeles County, including the ruins of the Pacific Palisades and Eaton fires, is currently under a Flash Flood Watch with warnings of debris flow.

Those who have not signed up for the debris removal program are invited to do so by visiting the county’s recovery website at: www.recovery.lacounty.gov.

By Sharon

CALIFORNIA—On January 25, President Trump accompanied by First Lady, Melania Trump, boarded Marine One to survey storm damage in North Carolina and the aftermath of rampant wildfires in southern California.

Governor Gavin Newsom greeted President and First Lady Melania Trump on the tarmac as they exited the plane at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).

The President met with local leaders in both states assuring them of his support indicating that the Trump Administration will be waiving the normally required permits needed to begin the debris clean-up. Trump said, “That could take up to 10 years. We want to get it done in 10 days.”

Before sitting down with Los Angeles Mayor, Karen Bass, and others, Trump took an aerial tour and saw the ruins of the Pacific Palisades, Eaton, and Hughes fires, among others.

“You really can’t believe it, unless you see it,” Trump stated publicly.


While Trump was in California touring the aftermath of the fires, and meeting with some of the people who lost their homes, Pete Hegseth was confirmed as U.S. Secretary of Defense. Reporters following the President called out questions. One asked the President, what he thought about outgoing Senator, Mitch McConnell (R-KY) voting against confirming Hegseth.

Trump indicated that he had not heard that, but it didn’t matter. What mattress is that “We Won.” Hegseth brought in at least 50 votes to confirm the win.

By Sharon

SANTA MONICA—On Wednesday, January 8, the city of Santa Monica issued an emergency order in response to the impacts of the Palisades Fire. City Manager David White signed the order late Wednesday. The Santa Monica City Council will be required to call a special meeting to officially certify the order within seven days.

Evacuation orders have been issued for all areas of Santa Monica north of Montana Avenue from the beach to 11th Street. In addition to all areas north of San Vicente Boulevard.

The emergency order includes a curfew, from sunset to sunrise, in the areas where a mandatory evacuation order is in effect to support law enforcement efforts in these zones, and other measures to facilitate an effective response.

“The Palisades Fire is currently impacting neighborhoods in the northern part of Santa Monica with approximately 2,472 households under a mandatory evacuation order within the city of Santa Monica and 8,338 under a voluntary evacuation warning,” said Mayor Lana Negrete. “This emergency order further assists our first responders and further protects residents as we weather this regional crisis and, ultimately, begin and support recovery efforts.”

The Santa Monica Police Department, along with mutual aid law enforcement partners, has been deployed during the course of the Palisades Fire to support evacuation efforts and protect life and property.

“The local emergency order provides Santa Monica Police and our mutual aid partners another tool to continue to protect our community,” said White. “Our first responders are out patrolling, staying vigilant and coordinating with our partners throughout this emergency on all fronts. The order helps us ensure nobody enters impacted areas who is not supposed to, particularly those with nefarious intentions attempting to take advantage of the mandatory evacuations.”

The local emergency order also:

-Allows impacted schools to temporarily operate within non-residential zones in Santa Monica

-Suspends preferential parking rules and enforcement for residents providing accommodations for those displaced by the Palisades Fire

-Prohibits price gouging for emergency and recovery goods and services

-Restricts evictions of residential tenants who provide accommodation to those displaced by evacuation orders, including their pets

-Prohibits construction activities in evacuation areas and allows for extended time to complete the work

Find the latest updates on Santa Monica evacuation orders, services and resources at santamonica.gov.

By Trevor