The homes that are still standing
The Eaton Fire started on January 7, 2025 near Altadena Drive and Midwick Drive, burned 14,021 acres and destroyed 9,419 structures before it was contained on January 31 (CAL FIRE). Thousands of homes around the burn area survived with smoke, soot and ash inside them. The state Insurance Department estimates more than 13,000 smoke-damage claims from the January 2025 Los Angeles County fires. For many of those houses the kitchen and bathrooms are where porous materials were removed, and where the rebuild is concentrated.
Restoration first, rebuild second
Smoke recovery is two different trades. Restoration specialists test, clean and remove contaminated materials. A remodeling contractor rebuilds what was removed. Pasadena Bath & Kitchen does the second part.
| Stage | Typical work | Who |
|---|---|---|
| Testing | Sampling for soot, ash and, under the new laws, lead and asbestos | Testing and restoration firms, under the claim |
| Cleaning and removal | HEPA cleaning, removing contaminated insulation, drywall, cabinets or ductwork as the scope requires | Restoration contractors |
| Rebuild | New insulation, drywall, cabinets, counters, fixtures, tile, paint; any circuits or plumbing touched | Licensed remodeling contractor, with a permit |
| Upgrades | Changes you choose beyond pre-loss condition, paid separately from the claim | Owner and contractor |
Swipe the table sideways to see every column →
California's 2026 smoke-damage laws
On September 15, 2026, the Governor signed AB 1642 and AB 1795. Together they make insurers pay for lead and asbestos testing and remediation in smoke-damaged homes, cover cleanup and restoration to pre-loss condition, and bar insurers from ending Additional Living Expense coverage until the home is actually remediated and safe. AB 1795 presumes that smoke damage in a fire zone came from the fire.
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| Jan 7 to 31, 2025 | Eaton Fire burns; 9,419 structures destroyed, 1,076 damaged |
| Sep 15, 2026 | AB 1642 and AB 1795 signed |
| Jan 1, 2027 | The new protections take effect |
| End of 2028 | State standards for lead and asbestos testing, repair and removal (DTSC) |
| End of 2029 | Standards for other toxic materials and contaminants |
Swipe the table sideways to see every column →
Sources: CAL FIRE; Office of the Governor, September 15, 2026; CalMatters, September 2026.
Working with the insurance claim
A rebuild estimate is most useful when it can be laid next to the adjuster's scope line by line. That doesn't mean a contractor negotiates your claim; it means the paperwork makes differences easy to see. Keep these together:
- Testing results and the restoration company's report of what was cleaned and what was removed
- Photos of each room before removal and with the walls open
- The adjuster's scope and any revisions
- A line-item rebuild estimate, with anything beyond pre-loss condition listed separately as your upgrade
- Records of Additional Living Expense, which under the new law can't be cut off until the home is remediated and safe
Permits and code in Altadena and Pasadena
Altadena
Altadena is unincorporated, so permits come from Los Angeles County Public Works through its Altadena Building and Safety office at 464 W. Woodbury Road, Suite 210, or online through EPIC-LA.
Pasadena
Pasadena homes go through the City's Building & Safety Division. Once walls are rebuilt the work is a remodel like any other: Pasadena's handouts list insulation for exposed exterior walls (R-13 for 2x4, R-19 for 2x6) and ceilings (R-19), and the circuits, receptacles and ventilation for kitchens and baths. The permit guide has both offices.
Hiring safely in a disaster area
The CSLB warns that contracting without a license in a declared disaster area is a felony. Check any contractor's license at cslb.ca.gov or 800-321-2752, get a written contract, and don't pay more than $1,000 or 10 percent down, whichever is less. The hiring guide covers the rest.
From smoke damage to a working kitchen
- 1Testing and the restoration scope
Testing and cleaning come first, done by restoration specialists under the insurance claim; their report says what was cleaned and what was removed.
- 2Rebuild scope from the open walls
With drywall, insulation or cabinets removed, the rebuild is measured: what has to be replaced, and what the permit will require once walls are rebuilt.
- 3Line-item estimate for the claim
The rebuild is priced line by line so it can be compared against the adjuster's scope; differences are documented, not argued.
- 4Permit with LA County or the City
Altadena permits go through LA County Public Works; Pasadena homes through the City. Rebuilt walls, circuits and fixtures are inspected like any remodel.
- 5Rebuild the kitchen or bath
Insulation, drywall, cabinets, counters, fixtures and finishes go back in, to current code.
If you're changing the layout while the walls are open, the kitchen remodel and bathroom remodel pages cover the rest of the work.
