L.A. Wildfires: Stories of Recovery

T

he January wildfires were the most destructive in California history, leaving behind immeasurable damage in the Pacific Palisades and Altadena neighborhoods. Last March, our Bruins Helping Bruins article shed light on UCLA’s actions during and in the immediate aftermath of the fires to keep everyone safe and mobilize resources for victims. Today, the neighborhoods impacted by the fires are still being inspected and assessed as displaced residents, many who lost everything, have begun the process to recover and rebuild.

BRUIN STORIES

Within the UCLA community, it is estimated that the fires affected more than 22,000 alumni who were living in the evacuation zones. Each home, each business lost to the fires tells the story of a family. On Jan. 7, Jane Szutu Permaul, Ed.D. ’70, left her house for a doctor's appointment. The UCLA alumna and retired assistant vice chancellor for UCLA Student Affairs has lived in her Palisades home for more than 50 years. By the time she left the doctor’s office, she could see smoke in the distance as her phone exploded with calls and messages.

She went home, grabbed a few essentials, and raced to pick up her daughter in Santa Monica — a 20-minute drive that took two and a half hours. A text alerted her of the evacuation order. She says, “I don't think our house was burned on the first day. I think it just became so overwhelming for the firefighters. The wind was just blowing in such a way it was just ridiculous to even think about saving it.”

She and her daughter stayed with her son who lives in Sherman Oaks. They thought about finding a rental on the Westside, but she says, “It was too difficult. Landlords were hiking up the rates. It calmed down now, but it was just ridiculous.”

Instead of focusing on her loss, Permaul prefers to focus on positive things she can be grateful for. She says, “I believe in positive thinking and problem solving rather than harping on something that you can't do anything about. You lost your house. So, what do you do next? That's how we managed.”

Her Palisades neighbors have been a source of strength. She says they started a group chat, “We call ourselves the loopers, because of the shape of our block. If you need something as minor as a scanner, or as big as a contractor, everybody shares their knowledge and their connections and whatever else is needed to make life easy for all of us.” Eighty percent of the neighborhood plans to rebuild, and she anticipates their bond will be stronger than ever.

Her passport had been destroyed, so she went to the FEMA disaster recovery center at UCLA Research Park (formerly Westside Pavilion). Within 30 minutes, she had completed the application, and the fees had been waived. Her new passport arrived in 10 days.

She says she’s been impressed with how government agencies have coordinated and cooperated to help those in need. The disaster response brought together the federal government, including FEMA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the governor of California and state senators, as well as county and city officials. These entities have worked together to introduce legislation to expedite the recovery and mitigate the bureaucracy.

Since retiring 24 years ago, Permaul is still active in several UCLA organizations, including UCLA Faculty Women's Club, the UCLA Emeriti Association and the UCLA Retirees Association. She has had an outpouring of support from Bruins. She says, “To this day, I am getting little notes or emails, and sometimes little gifts. I got a box from my former executive assistant that was filled with UCLA swag.”

As a die-hard Bruin basketball fan, she told a story of when she went to a game shortly after the fire. “A friend handed me a bag full of file folders, paper, stamps and envelopes. Soon enough, I had to get things organized, and I was so grateful for the gift. The thoughtfulness helps a great deal in making this easier.” She continues, “I've very seldom received contributions, gifts and donations. I always thought somebody else needs it more than I do. I have learned how important it is to not only give but to graciously receive.”

Allegra Mancuso ’86, M.Ed. ’89, M.A. ’97, Ph.D. ’01, is a quadruple Bruin with a doctorate in education. She and her husband bought their home in the Pacific Palisades in 1993 and raised their family there. With her children now grown and living out of state, Mancuso was home the morning of Jan. 7 with the family dog. She recalls, “From my backyard, I could see little fires across the hill. I thought, this is bad. We have to get out of here.” She took a few pieces of clothing, some personal items and paperwork, along with her Bernese Mountain dog and a large bin of dog food. She also took a photo of her parents and a Madonna and child statue from Italy that had been in her family for generations. She says, “I remember walking through the house thinking we’ll be back tonight or tomorrow.”

They evacuated to her mother-in-law's house, and it was there they learned their home had been destroyed. “First, it's fight or flight. Then you're in disbelief, you're in shock. But the brain is wired for hope. Your brain makes you survive because hope is right there.” Mancuso views her experience with the larger perspective of the many crises happening around the world each day. She says, “I don't have anger. That's the one feeling I don’t have, it's the sadness, the anxiety, the loss and pain.”

Her sister, a doctor in northern California, immediately took off work to come to Los Angeles. She says, “The community was amazing and our friends who don't live in the Palisades came to our rescue. There was a lot of support around, so it felt really kind. But we were the people who always donated, and receiving can be an uncomfortable feeling.”

For her, the loss of her close-knit neighborhood hit the hardest. As the family tried to rent an interim home, she was also faced with skyrocketing rental costs, which sometimes increased overnight. But she has been touched by the outpouring of community support. Boutiques, many locally owned, have offered free clothing and other items to fire victims.

“All the gestures of support make such a difference in lifting your spirits and reminding you that you’re part of a larger community.”

After the fire, they had to determine what their insurance would cover. She says, “My advice is to take photos of everything in your house, and to know where everything is in case of an evacuation. It was incredibly helpful to have photos to send to the insurance company.”

That week, they met friends for dinner. When they asked for their bill, the waiter shared that it had been taken care of by another diner. He told them, “The customer at the neighboring table overheard your conversation and she paid for you. She just wanted to do something to help.”

A few weeks later, she was in the same neighborhood with her sister-in-law shopping for clothes. The store clerk approached Mancuso to let her know that a fellow shopper, a young woman also shopping that day, had overheard their conversation and left a $100 gift certificate for her. She says, “All the gestures of support make such a difference in lifting your spirits and reminding you that you’re part of a larger community.”

To help others, like Permaul and Mancuso, replace their lost Bruinwear, UCLA Alumni is coordinating a Bruin Gear Pop-up on Thursday, June 22, from noon to 5 p.m. at the Pasadena Senior Center, 85 E. Holly Street in Pasadena. Alumni can bring their new and slightly used UCLA apparel for Bruins who lost it all in the fires.

WESCOM’S RELIEF EFFORTS

The Wescom motto is “people helping people,” and with its headquarters in Pasadena, and more than 40% of their members in the communities impacted by the wildfires, providing support was a top priority. As the official banking partner of UCLA Alumni, Athletics, Campus Life and Recreation, Wescom Financial’s charitable foundation stepped up to help.

Immediately following the wildfires, Wescom launched a member and community giving campaign that raised over $273,000 in grants and financial assistance. These funds went directly to supporting people in need, including $9,000 for the Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation; $157,000 for the American Red Cross; and $107,000 in direct relief to victims. They also distributed 75 emergency loans totaling $283,000 and 81 loan deferments. To help their employees who had been directly impacted by the fires, Wescom created an employee relief fund of $100,000.

Beyond the financial support, Wescom's direct involvement in relief efforts comes from their commitment to their community. With their headquarters across the street from the Pasadena Convention Center FEMA disaster recovery site, they were able to spring into action by opening up their parking lot to assist with the substantial number of volunteers and donations arriving. Additionally, their team members volunteered to help coordinate a donation drive at the Pasadena Job Center in collaboration with the Credit Union League. They opened their item processing center and donated apparel, bags, reusable water bottles, mobile chargers, power banks, dog food and lunch for volunteers, along with plush toys, blankets, coloring sheets and crayons for children.

Wescom has stated they intend to make a long-term investment in the recovery, with a sustained commitment to rebuilding and healing.

UCLA EXPERTS

As the rebuilding begins, UCLA experts across campus, from environmental studies and urban planning to medicine, psychology and biology, have been providing analysis, guidance and hands-on assistance with all aspects of fire recovery and rebuilding, as well as pressing ecological and environmental concerns. 

Los Angeles County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath Cert. ʼ14 recently announced a blue-ribbon commission that will leverage that UCLA expertise across campus to create policy recommendations for a safe and resilient rebuilding effort.

At the UCLA Samueli School of Engineering, faculty and students are supporting community recovery initiatives that emphasize the need for long-term wildfire resilience strategies and technological innovation. Sanjay Mohanty, associate professor of civil and environmental engineering at UCLA, is working with Community Action Project–Los Angeles to test soil and water samples from yards, gardens and pools free of charge. The program expedites the recovery process while empowering home and business owners. Mohanty is developing climate-resilient solutions for remediating contaminated land and water.

The fires burned for 24 days, and more than 16,000 structures were destroyed. A report from UCLA Anderson economists Zhiyun Li and William Yu suggests that the total losses may be between $95 and $164 billion. They argue for long-term investments in wildfire mitigation to protect from higher insurance premiums, health risks, and unaffordable housing and rental units.

Along with the damage, there remain questions about the fires’ impact on the environment. In Altadena, four months after the wildfires, wildlife is beginning to return to the Eaton Fire burn area. UCLA researchers are monitoring plant and wildlife recovery in the Chaney Trail Corridor. Stephanie Landregan, director of the landscape architecture and horticulture and gardening programs for UCLA Extension, is part of a small team led by Altadena residents making a record of the trees that weren’t destroyed by fire. They will use their findings to advocate for protecting the trees instead of removing them.

FINANCIAL SUPPORT

UCLA established the Bruin Wildfire Relief Funds to assist students, faculty, staff and researchers who have been impacted by this tragedy. Rebuilding and recovery will take years and will require a large-scale mobilization. But if there’s one thing we can count on, it’s that Bruins are here to help.

Below is a list of UCLA opportunities.

• Economic Crisis Fund - students in need
• UCLA Employee Relief Fund – UCLA staff in need 
• UCLA Health Employee Relief Fund - assist those who work in patient care and David Geffen School of Medicine faculty and employees.
• GoFundMe – UCLA alumni in need
• Volunteer Interest Form – Offer your time, resources or expertise
• UCLA Volunteer Center – Database of volunteer opportunities

If you are impacted by the fires and are in need of support, please reach out to community@alumni.ucla.edu.   

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