A Year in Review: LA Fire Justice’s Work After the Eaton Fire

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LA Fire Justice is a coalition of lawyers, experts, community outreach professionals, and case analysts formed after the devastating Eaton Fire to address fire survivors’ needs holistically, not just their legal services. What helps LA Fire Justice be effective in advocating for its clients is the deep roots that many of its team members have in the fire-affected foothill communities. Among its team are residents who understand the history, geography, and lived realities of the region. By combining legal action with access to providers of recovery services like mental health professionals, and rebuild and insurance specialists, LA Fire Justice helps families, renters, homeowners, and small businesses navigate complex claims, pursue accountability, and access practical resources during long-term recovery, with a focus on justice, transparency, and sustained community presence.

Chris Holden, former Pasadena Mayor, California State Assemblymember, and CEO of LA Fire Justice, described the work as an extension of decades of public service in the region.

“This fight is personal to me,” Holden said in a letter to clients. “For more than 35 years, I have dedicated my life to serving this community.”

Alongside litigation, in 2025, LA Fire Justice built out recovery-focused programming. Mental Health Monday sessions and ongoing Insurance Workshops are designed to offer trauma-informed resources and help residents navigate an often overwhelming process with clearer steps and support.
“Our fight is not only about ensuring every survivor receives the compensation they deserve,” Holden said. “It’s about helping the community emerge more whole than before.”

Holden also highlighted the return of his annual block party, expanded this year to include a farmers market supporting fire-impacted small businesses in Altadena.

“Recovery is not just about rebuilding homes,” Holden said. “It’s about restoring the fabric of our community.”

LA Fire Justice also expanded outreach beyond Altadena and Pasadena to foothill communities, including Sierra Madre. The organization held a town hall in Sierra Madre in December 2025 as part of its effort to ensure residents across the region feel seen, heard, and supported as recovery continues.

That same commitment to the community’s story has shaped Ashes and Echoes: Voices of the Eaton Fire, an oral history project supported by LA Fire Justice, to preserve the lived experiences of residents, business owners, and local leaders. Interviews and updates are available here.

Legal work was the primary focus of 2025. Attorneys with LAFJ filed a lawsuit against Genasys, the company responsible for the emergency alert system used during the Eaton Fire. The case raises questions about the lack of evacuation warnings and alerts in West Altadena. LA Fire Justice has stated that 18 of the 19 fatalities occurred west of Lake Avenue and that residents there did not receive timely warnings in the early hours of the fire.

“This was digital redlining in real time,” Holden said. “Entire communities were left without warnings because the alert map didn’t include their side of town.”

Holden said the lawsuit is intended to push for accountability and reforms that ensure every neighborhood receives timely and accurate protections.

“This lawsuit is more than a legal action,” Holden said. “It is a demand for equity, transparency, and the reforms necessary to ensure that every community receives the protections it deserves.”

That same forward-looking approach continues to shape LA Fire Justice’s work across the region, as it combines ongoing legal action with community engagement, recovery programming, and sustained advocacy for residents still navigating life after the fire. Holden emphasized that rebuilding trust, infrastructure, and systems will take time, but said the work remains rooted in staying present long after headlines fade.

“We are here, and I am not going anywhere,” said Holden. “We are here for you. We are fighting for you. And together, we will rebuild stronger.”