As victims of last January’s firestorm continue to struggle to rebuild and recover, the bigger picture may offer a sense of hope. The latest satellite images reveal a healing situation.
A year after the Eaton and Palisades fires, winter rains have returned green to the Altadena and Pacific Palisades areas, burned trees have shown new growth, and buildings have begun to replace piles of debris.
Satellite images from Vantor, a commercial company specializing in geospatial data, show changes in two communities in the first year of recovery – some man-made, some natural.
The photo below shows the dramatic contrast in the mountains surrounding the Pacific Palisades, which have been scorched by the Palisades fire and filled with rain.
On Jan. 14, 2025 (left), topography shows the fire’s destruction. On December 20 – and before the holiday storms hit Southern California – the mountains looked green.
The Palisades fire, which reduced thousands of homes to ash and killed a dozen people, will be a major issue in this year’s LA mayoral race, creating a potential minefield for Karen Bass as she seeks a second term.
Questions surround the investigation into how officials handled the fire. Los Angeles Fire Chief Jaime Moore admitted last week that his department’s report after the Palisades fire was watered down to protect the brass from scrutiny.
The photo below zooms in on Palisades Village and bullet roads to the northeast on the same dates as in the previous photo.
A year later the area has started to recover, and several buildings can be seen in the areas that were covered with rubble.
Thirty kilometers from Altadena we are starting to make similar changes. A view from space shows the difference a year makes.
The photo below shows Altadena in space on Jan. 21, 2025 (left), shortly after the Eaton fire, and again a year later, on Dec. 1.
In the first photo the debris from the fire is visible and the land is a burnt brown color. In the second photo the debris has been removed and the exposed lot removed. The mountains have regained their green color as they have open spaces including Mountain View Cemetery and Altadena Golf Course.
The people of Altadenan are still angry at what they say is a lack of accountability in the local government after many problems with the fire response.
In Pasadena’s Rose Parade, Altadena residents on a float celebrating LA County’s post-fire resilience held up a surprise sign demanding an investigation from California Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta on fire response. State- and state-commissioned reports have, so far, been reluctant to point fingers at each other.
The picture below, comparing Jan. 21 and 1 Dec. 2025, we show more details in one of the most affected areas within Altadena.
The property pictured, near East Palm Street and Fair Oaks Avenue, was destroyed by the Eaton fire. A year later the lot has been cleared, and many of the trees are showing signs of new growth.
As physical conditions begin to change, uncertainty remains as to how long a full recovery will take. The first new homes in each community have been completed, but thousands of vacant lots still loom large.
