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Palisades fires damaged Will Rogers and Topanga state parks; parks officials describe response and recovery needs
Summary
State Parks described damage from the Palisades fire, noting the loss of historic structures and large-scale impacts to natural and cultural resources; the department is completing damage assessments for FEMA reimbursements and will engage the public on recovery planning.
State Parks officials told the subcommittee the Palisades fire beginning January 7 burned more than 8,600 acres across Topanga State Park and Will Rogers State Historic Park, destroying historic structures and concession buildings and causing significant damage to natural and cultural resources.
"The Palisades fire consumed over 8,600 acres of state park land, resulting in the loss of historic structures, recreational access, concession businesses, and it affected both owners and employees," Director Armando Quintero said. He described state staff who lost homes and then immediately worked on recovery and hazard-mitigation tasks.
Quintero said more than 160 state parks professionals contributed over 10,000 hours to emergency response, hazard mitigation, artifact preservation and planning. The department is preparing a comprehensive damage assessment for FEMA consideration and expects to refine estimates as work progresses; it also reported mudslides and debris flows that occurred during recovery.
State Parks said some work is already underway with FEMA and other state and federal partners to package and remove hazardous materials from affected neighborhoods and park areas. Parks will submit a formal damage estimate to FEMA after it completes a comprehensive assessment and said some projects might be eligible for climate bond funds depending on final assessment outcomes.
Subcommittee members asked about FEMA cost-share and whether Proposition 4 could be used for recovery. Parks officials said it is possible some climate bond allocations may be eligible but that assessment results will drive requests. The department also said it had already received special-session funding for immediate response and agreed to provide staff with the amounts used thus far.
The subcommittee did not take formal action; members requested continued updates and more detailed cost estimates when the department completes its assessment.
