6•11•26 Altadena 17 months Post Fire - Drone

17 Months Post-Fire | Altadena Rebuild Update | June 11th 2026 This early morning drone flight was filmed just before 6:30 AM, starting in North Altadena near Fair Oaks Avenue just north of Altadena Drive. We begin by looking north toward the San Gabriel Mountains as the sun starts to break over the foothills and cast its first light onto Altadena. From there, we make our way through portions of the burn scar, following areas where rebuilding activity has begun to take shape. One of the primary areas featured in this flight is Pine Street, where there has been a noticeable amount of progress over the past several months. Several homes are under construction, while others appear to be nearing completion. One notable project visible in this footage is the San Gabriel Valley Habitat for Humanity rebuild home, recognized by many as one of the first completed rebuilds in Altadena following the Eaton Fire. From Pine Street, we head east and fly through neighborhoods just beyond Fair Oaks, capturing a broader perspective of rebuilding efforts throughout the community. We then circle back toward Pine Street before concluding the flight. One thing aerial footage does exceptionally well is provide perspective. When driving around Altadena, it’s easy to feel like construction is happening everywhere. You see framing, roofing, fresh paint, and active job sites. A handful of homes under construction on a single block can create the impression that the rebuild is further along than it really is. And progress is happening. But the scale of the disaster was enormous. As of this update, there are still only around 60 homes with Certificates of Occupancy. Many more homes are actively being rebuilt, but a finished exterior doesn’t tell the whole story. Once the foundation is poured, framing goes up, and the roof is installed, a house starts looking complete. In reality, that’s often when some of the most challenging work begins. Electrical. Plumbing. HVAC. Insulation. Drywall. Cabinets. Tile. Finish work. Inspections. Change orders. Material delays. Insurance funding gaps. The mountain gets smaller, but you’re still climbing. I also analyzed several aerial images from this flight and was surprised by what I found. Roughly 50% of lots in this area still show little to no active construction activity. Some have been cleared and graded. Some have compacted pads waiting for permits. Others are waiting on insurance proceeds, financing, contractor availability, or simply difficult decisions from homeowners. Every family’s timeline is different. Still, seeing orange shirts, pickup trucks, trailers, heavy equipment, fresh framing, and crews arriving before sunrise continues to give me hope. This flight is just a small snapshot of where Altadena stands today—17 months into what will likely be a years-long rebuilding effort. Thank you for watching and for continuing to follow Altadena’s recovery. #Altadena #EatonFire #AltadenaRebuild #DroneFootage #RebuildUpdate #HabitatForHumanity #CaliforniaWildfires #ConstructionUpdate