Rebuilding L.A.

LA Times Studios
  • 4.2 (28)
  • NEWS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

What’s next for L.A. in the wake of its recent wildfires? In “Rebuilding Los Angeles,” broadcast journalist Kate Cagle examines the systems that failed us, the path forward and the innovative fire recovery efforts making L.A. more resilient. You’ll also hear inspiring stories from real Angelenos working to restore their lives and rise from the ashes. “Rebuilding Los Angeles” is more than an essential resource for California — it’s a cautionary tale for everyone affected by climate change.

  1. 1D AGO

    After The Fires: Scorched Earth Litigation

    LA lawyers have been busy. Eaton and Palisades fire survivors have filed thousands of lawsuits, and  at least one criminal case is pending. How might these cases play out, and how long will it all take? The outcome of these cases could make or break the recovery, and affect whether or not the residents of these affected communities can rebuild.  GUESTS: Richard Winton, Investigative Crime Writer for the L.A. Times, and Neama Rahmani, former federal prosecutor and president, West Coast Trial Lawyers. Florida man ‘maliciously’ started Palisades fire, then tried to cover his tracks, authorities allege: https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-10-08/palisades-fire-arrest Defense lawyer for man charged with igniting deadly  Palisades fire calls case thin and labels it scapegoating: https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-10-16/defense-lawyer-for-man-charged-with-igniting-deadly-palisades-fire-calls-case-thin-and-labels-it-scapegoating  Timeline: Two fateful hours that planted the seeds of destruction in Pacific Palisades:https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-10-08/la-me-palisades-fire-timeline  Rebuilding LA S1 Episode about the arrest : "An Arrest, A Report, And Little Closure For Palisades Fire Victims": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MeIwt-4eWU8&list=PLbQOBfbdbTeNUJ9LARXDUjl8Z yfWpSStV&index=49                               Rebuilding LA S2 Episode 2: "Where There's Smoke: Uncovering The Origins Of The Palisades Fire": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Vcc5kgOh5Q&list=PLbQOBfbdbTeNUJ9LARXDUjl8ZyfWpSStV&index=1

    55 min

  2. 3D AGO

    Where There's Smoke: Uncovering The Origin Of The Palisades Fire

    Last October, the U.S. Department of Justice revealed a stunning accusation — alleging that a young Uber driver from Florida caused the death and destruction in the Pacific Palisades and Malibu. It's theory rested on belief that the Palisades Fire was a rekindling of a week old fire, the Lachman Fire, that this man, Jonathan Rinderknecht,  had, allegedly, intentionally started with a flick of a lighter on New Year's Day.   LA city firefighters said they believed that first fire had been put out. Federal investigators stressed that it burned so deep underground it could not be detected. But then evidence began to emerge that told a different narrative. The question: did concerns the fire was still smoldering go ignored?   This episode examines what we know about what happened between the Lachman Fire and the Palisades Fire, and the missteps and miscommunication that may have led to one of California's most destructive fires in history.  GUEST: Arlene Tchekmedyian, LA Times Investigative Reporter  Links:  LAFD After-Action Report - Drafts and Final: https://lafd.org/news/palisades-afteraction-review-report-drafts-and-final 3 critical days, many ignored warnings: How the LAFD failed to prevent the Palisades inferno: https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2026-03-11/lafd-testimony-details-missed-chances-to-fully-put-out-lachman-fire   Who made the call to leave the Lachman fire? In sworn testimony, LAFD officials pass the buck: https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2026-03-01/who-made-call-to-leave-lachman-fire-in-sworn-testimony-lafd-officials-pass-buck    L.A. firefighter testifies that Lachman fire was not fully put out. ‘I saw ... red hot coals’: https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2026-02-26/la-firefighter-testifies-that-lachman-fire-was-not-fully-put-out-when-crews-were-ordered-to-leave.                                                            L.A. Mayor Karen Bass directed Palisades fire damage control, email shows: https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2026-02-13/mayor-karen-bass-directed-palisades-fire-damage-control-emails-show

    41 min

  3. APR 8

    It’s Been Over a Year. Now Where Do We Go?

    It’s been 16 months since the Palisades and Eaton Fires destroyed two historic communities in L.A. and the path forward, for many, is as unclear as ever. A little more than 4500 building permits have been approved in the burn areas - far fewer are in active construction. Most people still do not have enough money to rebuild. There are outstanding lawsuits and settlements that could make a difference but timing is uncertain. There are also questions about infrastructure: water and power and whether or not favorite grocery stores, restaurants or even neighbors will return. There are questions about sustainability and resilience. Will these neighborhoods be safer or will the same risks remain after people move back in? The conversation around real solutions seems to be, for the most part lost among all the questions and the very real anger so many survivors still feel about what happened on January 7th and 8th. Guests: Noah Haggerty, Science and Environment Reporter, Los Angeles Times.  The Palisades fire discourse is stuck in January 2025: https://www.latimes.com/environment/newsletter/2026-02-19/why-the-palisades-fire-discourse-is-stuck  Long-awaited reports outline problems with Palisades infrastructure: https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2026-02-19/long-awaited-reports-outline-problems-with-palisades-infrastructure  Owners of fire-destroyed Palisades mobile home park seek to displace residents for development deal: https://www.latimes.com/environment/story/2026-03-05/fire-destroyed-mobile-home-park-seeks-development-deal-displacing-residents  Officials considered warning Altadena before Eaton fire, but no alert was sent: https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2026-03-24/fire-weather-alerts-eaton-fire-wildfires-how-to-improve-early-warnings  Turning the Altadena fire into a civil rights crusade: Was discrimination against Black residents at play?: https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2026-03-14/was-discrimination-behind-botched-eaton-fire-response-civil-rights-attorney-considers-lawsuit  Investors keep buying up burned lots in Altadena, Pacific Palisades. Could Congress limit such sales? https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2026-03-03/ca-senator-wants-to-halt-investors-buying-properties-after-disasters  With Pacific Palisades in spotlight, Altadena fights for attention, post-fire justice: https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2026-02-22/palisades-in-limelight-west-altadena-fights-for-justice-eaton-fire

    1h 2m

  4. APR 1

    Introducing: Rebuilding L.A. Season 2

    Nearly a year and a half after the Eaton and Palisades Fires destroyed much of Altadena, the Pacific Palisades, and Malibu, people are rebuilding their homes but many survivors are still unsure of their path forward. 2026 could be a pivotal year -- a year of personal, and political reckoning.  Thousands of people have filed lawsuits over perceived failures by the city, the county, municipal agencies, and Altadena's main power utility, SoCal Edison. Any settlements from these cases could determine whether some people can afford to rebuild. There's also an election this fall in Los Angeles -- for mayor, L.A. City Council seats, and other races. The results of these could also impact the direction of the recovery.  And hovering over all of this is the longstanding question: Are we building back better, and who exactly is in charge of answering that? Can residents and officials agree on some solutions, and find a way for people to safely return home? In the second season of Rebuilding L.A. from L.A. Times Studios, host Kate Cagle will dig into all these questions and more. The series returns April 8.

    2 min

  5. JAN 14

    Through Her Doc ‘All The Walls Came Down,’ Filmmaker Ondi Timoner Aims To ‘Save’ Altadena, And Help Her Community — And Herself — Heal

    NOTE: We taped this episode on January 8th, 2026, exactly one year after much of Altadena awoke to the news that their homes and their neighborhoods had burned, and their lives were forever changed.  Filmmaker Ondi Timoner was overseas shooting a documentary when the Eaton Fire destroyed her home of 14 years, and wiped her entire neighborhood away. She learned about the fate of her house from her neighbor Randy Vance via a text. As soon as she came back, she picked up her camera and began to tell the story of what happened last January, highlighting the displacement of friends and neighbors, the endless financial challenges, and the daily heartache — and small joys — of trying to move forward. Ondi joined forces with fellow Altadenean, Heavenly Hughes, and the non profit My Tribe Rise to help their neighbors with immediate, temporary housing needs, fight foreclosures, and, hopefully, help people come back to Altadena and rebuild the homes they lost to the flames. Her short documentary, All The Walls Came Down, was completed in months and has been distributed in partnership with L.A. Times Studios as part of the L.A. Times Short Docs program. It’s been shortlisted for an Oscar nomination. Guest: Ondi Timoner, filmmaker, All The Walls Came Down  Link to the film: https://www.latimes.com/shortdocs Ondi's Production Company, Interloper Films: https://www.interloperfilms.com/ My Tribe Rise/ Adopt A Survivor Program: https://mytriberise.org/home Ondi’s Change.org petition to freeze foreclosures and force So Cal Edison to release emergency funds to fire survivors to help with costs: https://www.change.org/p/freeze-foreclosures-and-release-emergency-funds-keep-altadena-families-on-their-land November 2025 update regarding conversations with Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger as well Judy Chu, the congresswoman representing the 28th District that includes Altadena: https://www.change.org/p/freeze-foreclosures-and-release-emergency-funds-keep-altadena-families-on-their-land/u/34066783 (edited)

    58 min

  6. JAN 7

    They’ve Never Met But These Fire Survivors Connect Over Loss, Demands for 'Accountability', And A Strong Desire To Get Back Home.

    It’s been a year since two fires tore through Los Angeles County, killing 31 people and destroying 16,000 structures, and the disaster is still unfolding as thousands of people continue pick up the pieces, find new places to live, new jobs, new neighborhoods, and wrestle with whether to return to their old streets, which were burned beyond recognition.   It’s clear that we are still in the very early days of this recovery and there is a long way to go. There’s been some progress but, if you ask them how it’s going, survivors will tell you that not a lot has happened and there are plenty of roadblocks in their path. Many want to rebuild and move back home but still aren’t sure if they can afford it, or what else will be there if they do.   In this episode, taped Monday January 5, host Kate Cagle talks with three people — each from the three areas hit hardest by the fire: Altadena, the Pacific Palisades, and Malibu — and learns more about the challenges most people are still facing.   Guests:   Dana Brumfield, Altadena Resident, Business Manager, Pasadena Rosebud Academy Wade Major, Malibu Resident, Film Critic, Public Works Commissioner Nancy Fracchiolla, Pacific Palisades Resident, Actress, Retired Drama Teacher, Palisades High   Other voices in this episode: Palisades resident Tamara Rawitt and Altadena residents Zaire Calvin and Joe Ressa   Links:   LAFD leaders tried to cover up Palisades fire mistakes. The truth still emerged: https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-12-31/lafd-leaders-tried-to-cover-up-palisades-fire-mistakes-truth-still-emerged

    1h 23m

  7. 12/17/2025

    Case Study Houses For the 21st Century, After The Fires

    Thousands of homes need to be built in Malibu, the Pacific Palisades and Altadena over the next decade. With many homeowners still looking for architects and blueprints, there is an opportunity to rethink the modern home.Dustin Bramell is one Palisades Fire who is drawing a parallel to eighty years ago and the Case Study Houses that rose up during the post-World War II building boom.The Case Study movement called for inexpensive and efficient model homes - a kind of blueprint - for a stylish and modern America. Many of those homes are still standing today in Southern California, including the Eames Home, which narrowly escaped the Palisades Fires, and the iconic Stahl House in the Hollywood Hills.The new effort is called “Case Study: Adapt,” and its objective to is to build with the risks of climate change and fire in mind. Guests: Dustin Bramell, co-founder, Case Study: Adapt Kathleen Katims, Palisades Resident and co-founder of Saved By A Story Check out the CSA designs here:See How 16 Families are Rebuilding After the LA Fires: https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/see-how-16-families-are-rebuilding-after-the-la-fires A display of student-constructed CSA home models at the USC school of architecture: https://www.instagram.com/p/DRF82C2Eiu1/ **This exhibit will soon move to the Eames House in 2026.More info on Kathy Katims organization, Saved By A Story: https://www.savedbyastory.com/about

    55 min

  8. 12/10/2025

    Edison’s CEO Pitches His Plan For Eaton Fire Survivors: ‘I Want To Be Able To …Look A Neighbor In The Eye’

    The official investigation into the cause of the Eaton Fire is not over, but power company So-Cal Edison has already said that it likely sparked from their equipment.Edison is facing dozens of lawsuits from survivors, and one from the U-S Department of Justice, accusing the company of not only starting the fire, but also of negligence.Edison says it wants to make things right and has come up with a Wildfire Recovery Compensation Program for survivors. Eligibility is fairly expansive but many survivors say it does not go far enough, especially those who are also struggling with insurance payouts.CEO of Edison International Pedro Pizarro, who lives in the area affected by the Eaton Fire, says he “want to be able to walk into the grocery store and look his neighbors in the eye” so he stopped by in early November to give host Kate Cagle his pitch for the program. Guest: Pedro Pizarro, CEO, Edison International Dana Brumfield, Altadena Resident Clarification: Dana Brumfield, our guest profiled at the top of the episode, does not endorse Edison’s Wildfire Recovery Compensation Program at this time. The inclusion of her story is coincidental and not connected to the program currently being offered by So Cal Edison and Edison International.In addition, per her lawyer, the standard rate charged by attorneys representing wildfire survivors is 25 percent. The following interview implies the legal fees could reach as high as 40 percent. Edison International’s Wildfire Recovery Compensation Program: https://energized.edison.com/wildfire-recovery-compensation-program Edison increases compensation for Eaton fire victims, but some say it’s not enough: https://www.latimes.com/environment/story/2025-10-30/edison-increases-compensation-for-eaton-fire-victims-but-some-say-its-not-enough

    1h 8m
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Trailer

4.2
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About

What’s next for L.A. in the wake of its recent wildfires? In “Rebuilding Los Angeles,” broadcast journalist Kate Cagle examines the systems that failed us, the path forward and the innovative fire recovery efforts making L.A. more resilient. You’ll also hear inspiring stories from real Angelenos working to restore their lives and rise from the ashes. “Rebuilding Los Angeles” is more than an essential resource for California — it’s a cautionary tale for everyone affected by climate change.

Information

  • Creator
    LA Times Studios
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    34
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Show Website
    Rebuilding L.A.

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