Santa Monica Mirror: Jan 24 - Jan 30, 2025

Zooey Deschanel Mourns Loss of Childhood Home in Palisades Fire “Full of Too Many Incredible Memories to Count”

See Page 6

Two Arrested By LASD for Impersonating Firefighters in Palisades Fire Zone

Suspects Detained After Attempting to Access Evacuation Areas

Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Major Crimes Bureau investigators announced the arrest of two individuals impersonating firefighters in the Palisades Fire evacuation area on Saturday, January 18, 2025.

According to officials, Los Angeles Police Department officers, accompanied by fire personnel, noticed a suspicious fire truck while patrolling the fire zone. The truck bore the name “Roaring River Fire Department,” an agency that investigators determined does not exist.

Sheriff’s deputies stopped the truck as it attempted to enter an evacuation zone and discovered two occupants wearing firefighter turnout gear. Further inspection revealed that the pair was also wearing CAL FIRE T-shirts beneath their gear and carrying helmets and radios. Investigators determined the fire truck had been purchased at an auction.

impounded.

The suspects, identified as Dustin Nehl, 31, and Jennifer Nehl, 44, admitted to entering the evacuation zone the previous day. Both were arrested on charges of impersonating firefighters and unlawfully entering an evacuation zone. The truck was

Authorities disclosed that Dustin Nehl has a criminal history in Oregon, including charges of criminal mischief and arson.

Neither individual has a criminal record in California.

The case will be presented to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office

for potential charges on Tuesday.

Officials urge anyone with additional information about the case to contact the Major Crimes Bureau at 562-946-7893. Anonymous tips can also be submitted through L.A. Crime Stoppers by calling 800-222-TIPS (8477)

City of Los Angeles Extends City Business Tax Deadline for Wildfire-Affected Businesses

Mayor Bass announces New Deadline, State and Federal Extensions

Even Longer

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass announced that the deadline to file City business taxes has been extended for businesses directly impacted by the wildfires. The due date for those businesses impacted has been extended from February 28, 2025, to April 14, 2025. Additional information from The Office of Finance is available at finance.lacity.gov.

“I am extending the deadline for businesses impacted by the firestorm to file their City business taxes – it’s the right thing to do,” said Mayor Bass. “I have always said that City Hall should be an advocate for businesses – not a barrier –that’s how we will move forward through recovery.”

This follows the extension of personal

and business tax deadlines by The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and the California Franchise Tax Board that were announced last week. Individuals and businesses in parts of California impacted by wildfires and straight-line winds beginning Jan. 7, 2025, will receive tax relief, including an extended deadline to file federal tax returns and make payments until Oct. 15, 2025.

The relief follows a disaster declaration by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), covering Los Angeles County. Under this declaration, the IRS can extend filing and payment deadlines for taxpayers in the affected areas.

• Extended Deadlines: Deadlines for tax returns and payments originally due between Jan. 7, 2025, and Oct. 15, 2025, are postponed to Oct. 15, 2025.

• Individual Filers: This includes the 2024 individual income tax returns and payments normally due on April 15, 2025.

• Estimated Tax Payments: Relief applies to estimated tax payments due on Jan. 15, April 15, June 16, and Sept. 15, 2025.

• Business Filers: Affected businesses have until Oct. 15, 2025, to file quarterly payroll and excise tax returns, as well as calendar-year partnership, S corporation,

corporation, fiduciary, and tax-exempt organization returns typically due between Jan. 7 and Oct. 15, 2025.

• Penalty Abatement: Payroll and excise tax deposits due between Jan. 7 and Jan. 22, 2025, will not incur penalties if made by Jan. 22.

The IRS will automatically apply relief to taxpayers identified in the disaster area.

Those who live or operate businesses outside the declared area but are affected by the disaster can call the IRS disaster hotline at 866-562-5227 to request assistance.

Taxpayers receiving late filing or payment penalty notices for due dates within the postponement period should contact the IRS using the number on their notice to request penalty abatement.

County Board Approves Emergency Measures to Address Post-Fire Debris Flows

The measures include installing temporary flood control infrastructure, removing hazardous materials from burn zones, and coordinating with state and federal agencies

In response to the devastation caused by recent wildfires, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved an emergency motion, led by Supervisors Lindsey P. Horvath and Kathryn Barger, to mitigate debris flow risks and accelerate cleanup efforts in affected communities.

“This motion directs swift action to prevent dangerous debris flows and protect our water and air quality in fireimpacted areas,” Supervisor Horvath

said in a statement. “With support from Governor Newsom’s Executive Order and partnerships with federal and state agencies, we are clearing hazardous debris, stabilizing flood-prone areas, and safeguarding critical infrastructure. Together, we’re taking urgent, coordinated steps to ensure a sustainable recovery.”

The measures include installing temporary flood control infrastructure, removing hazardous materials from burn zones, and coordinating with state and federal agencies to expedite emergency actions. The County has convened nine inter-agency working groups to ensure resources are efficiently deployed to address immediate hazards and protect residents.

Governor Gavin Newsom’s Executive Order N-13-25, issued on January 20, grants emergency powers to streamline debris removal and debris flow mitigation efforts. These actions will be carried out by the County’s watershed protection and debris management task forces, with support from local, state, and federal partners, including the California Department of Emergency Management and municipal public works departments.

Phase one of debris removal, led by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, is already underway, focusing on the removal

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of hazardous waste from private properties in fire-affected areas. Subsequent phases, managed by LA County Public Works, will address broader cleanup and restoration efforts.

“This is about protecting lives, property, and our natural environment,” Supervisor Barger said in a statement. “We must act swiftly to mitigate the risks posed by

debris flows and pollutants in the aftermath of these fires.”

The motion enables the Director of Public Works to establish agreements with cities and other agencies to ensure comprehensive flood control and debris removal efforts across Los Angeles County, including in cities such as Los Angeles, Malibu, Pasadena, and Sierra Madre.

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“All The Happiness I Accrued Had Disappeared” As Repopulation Begins, Palisades Residents Face Emotional Distress of Seeing Ruins Face-to-Face

Areas such as those off Topanga Canyon Boulevard from Viewridge Road to Grand View Drive, and areas off Old Topanga Canyon Road to Tuna Canyon, among others, have been cleared for partial repopulation

By Zach Armstrong

As a disabled veteran, Branden Anderson has seen several dismal scenes in combat and humanitarian zones. But none compared to Pacific Palisades.

Days after the ravenous Palisades Fire ignited, Anderson returned to the Marquez Knolls section of the neighborhood, where he had moved five months earlier, to the split-level duplex he had described to friends as having a “cute, bungalow style.” He walked on foot from Santa Monica. Along the way, he saw flattened hillsides once dense with vegetation and homes, scorched metal turning into puddles, and at least two human corpses. When he arrived, he found his abode was the same as the landscape around it: an ashy heap of rubble.

“It felt like all the happiness I accrued had disappeared,” said Anderson. “All my hobbies, all my recent positive memories, encounters and hopes for the future were there. Even right now, I still have this undertone feeling of hopelessness.”

As select sections of Pacific Palisades slowly open for repopulation, residents now face a surreal and devastating process

of returning to what little may remain of their homes, searching through dust and debris in case any belongings have miraculously survived.

Areas such as those off Topanga Canyon Boulevard from Viewridge Road to Grand View Drive, and areas off Old Topanga Canyon Road to Tuna Canyon, among others, have been cleared for partial repopulation. However, access is restricted to residents only, who must present a photo ID that matches their physical address to be granted entry.

The fire, which ignited on January 7, has reached 63% containment and has consumed 23,713 acres, destroying 6,380 structures and damaging 857 more. The death toll from this fire has reached 11, with victims spread across Malibu, Palisades and Topanga.

“I could hear the ocean at night and go hiking during the day. It was good for my mental health. It healed me … Everyone who could live in Palisades didn’t want to leave and I was trying to hold onto that as long as I possibly could,” said Anderson. “I don’t know the feasibility of it, but I’ll do everything within my power to come back as soon as it becomes available,”

The emotional toll of seeing the destruction face-to-face is something thousands of Palisadians are still bracing for.

Meryl Starr, whose address has yet to be included for repopulation, was sent photos of what remained of her Via Bluffs apartment building the day after she evacuated. Since moving to the neighborhood in 2021 to be close to her daughter, she became well integrated in the community. In 2023, she helped raise $8,000 for the Pacific Palisades Woman’s Club through an art show, silent auction at the Bruce Lurie Gallery.

“I was in utter shock,” said Starr, recounting the moment she first saw photos of her decimated apartment. “Then it got worse because I remembered all the stuff I had: things my children gave me, clothes, books, videos of TV I’ve been in, beautiful mirrors I had, artwork I collected for twenty years … I cried a lot,”

Once her address is approved for reentry,

Starr plans to return alongside friends who lived on her block. Every month, the group would bring snacks, wine and a lawn chair, gather in a circle on a lawn facing the ocean, and talk about the neighborhood or what was new in everyone’s life. In the weeks ahead, the group will be supporting each other as they look through the rubble.

“I can’t think that far,” said Starr, commenting on when she thinks she will live in Palisades again. “Whatever happens in Palisades will happen because it’s the unknown. It could take three or four years to build back schools, gas stations, the library, everything is just gone … it might never come back,”

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To Our Beloved Community,

As the winds settle and the fires subside, we find ourselves reflecting on the deep impact this disaster has had on all of us. For those of us who grew up in this city, these streets, neighborhoods, and beaches aren’t just familiar, they are part of who we are. We are friends and neighbors, sharing in both the beauty and the heartache of this place we call our community. When something like this happens, it shakes us to our core.

Seeing familiar places, homes, local shops, or a favorite spot for a quick meal, destroyed by fire is difficult to process. It’s a loss that feels personal, and the uncertainty of what lies ahead can feel overwhelming. But if there’s one thing that gives us hope, it’s the strength of our shared spirit and our willingness to come together in times of need.

Our work is centered around helping people where they live. In moments like these, it’s not just what we do, it’s how we can help. As the process of recovery begins, please know that you don’t have to face it alone. Together, we will rebuild not only the physical spaces we’ve lost but also the sense of community that makes this place so special.

We want to take a moment to express our deepest gratitude to the courageous first responders. Your bravery and selflessness in protecting us all is something we will never take for granted. Thank you for your tireless service.

This is where we belong, and we’re committed to standing with you through this journey of rebuilding and restoring what makes our community truly one of a kind.

With heartfelt solidarity, Quake Strong, Inc

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Zooey Deschanel Mourns Loss of Childhood Home in Palisades Fire

“Full of Too Many Incredible Memories to Count”

The

home earned it

the nickname

“The Church”

among her childhood friends

Zooey Deschanel’s childhood home, a historic 1920s Spanish Revival house in Pacific Palisades, has been destroyed in the recent Palisades Fire. The actress and musician shared the heartbreaking news on Instagram, describing the loss of her beloved family home, which she called a “sanctuary” filled with treasured memories.

“My childhood home. A marvel of 1920s Spanish revival architecture. Full of too many incredible memories to count,” Deschanel wrote. “It was not a mansion but it was cozy and lovely and unique and perfect to me.”

The home, one of the oldest in the neighborhood, was known for its distinctive 14-foot ceilings and stained glass windows, which earned it the nickname “The Church” among her childhood friends. Deschanel recounted its significance as the site of family celebrations, from Christmas

Remaining Malibu Schools to Reopen Wednesday Following Power Shutoff

Superintendent Shelton confirms power restoration at key campuses

Schools in Malibu are now set to reopen on Wednesday, Jan. 22, following closures caused by recent wildfires and severe weather conditions, Superintendent Dr. Antonio Shelton announced in a message to the community on Tuesday.

Malibu Elementary, Malibu Middle, and Malibu High Schools, which were closed due to a public safety power shutoff, will resume regular full-day schedules if power remains restored. Parents and staff will be notified by 5:15 a.m. if there are any changes due to additional power outages.

“School provides a sense of comfort and familiarity for children during times of recovery,” Shelton said. “Being surrounded by friends, teachers, staff, and routines they know can make a significant difference in

their lives.”

Webster Elementary School reopened earlier, as power was restored there sooner.

Please note that the City of Malibu’s Town Hall meeting has been postponed to Saturday, Jan. 25 at 4 p.m. at Malibu High School, 30215 Morning View Dr. More information is available on the city website.

“Our hearts remain with the families, staff, and community members who have lost homes and are navigating the challenging process of rebuilding their lives,” Shelton said.

dinners and Easter egg hunts to birthdays, weddings, and baby showers.

Among the items lost in the fire were family photos, heirlooms such as furniture crafted by her great-great-grandfather, and the piano on which she first learned to play music. “The reminders of generations past: All have vanished into thin air,” she wrote.

Deschanel expressed gratitude for the support her family and the community have received. She thanked friends who provided meals, clothing, and emotional support, as well as the firefighters who worked tirelessly to protect lives and property. “Your kindness is the salve that has made this bearable,” she wrote.

The Palisades Fire has ravaged large swaths of the Pacific Palisades and neighboring Alta Dena, leaving many families displaced and homes destroyed.

“So many people have lost so much,” Deschanel noted.

Born and raised in Los Angeles, Deschanel is best known for her work in film and television, including roles in Elf, 500 Days of Summer, and the hit sitcom New Girl. She is also a musician, performing as part of the duo She & Him and co-founding the website HelloGiggles.

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Peril, Prevention, and the Path Forward

SMa.r.t.

Santa Monica Architects for a Responsible Tomorrow

The recent Palisades and Altadena fires brought Los Angeles’ inherent contradictions into sharp focus as residents fled their homes in darkness, uncertain if they would ever see their cherished, often magical, properties again. Many were born and raised in these places, many had young families they called home, yet faced an unprecedented but not entirely predictable crisis. While high winds and fires were recorded in the journals of Spanish explorer Portola and remembered in Tongva tribal histories, California’s 21st-century fire record has reached unprecedented intensity, revealing the growing vulnerability of our urban landscape.

This vulnerability, while dramatic, illustrates a fundamental truth about life in LA: extraordinary beauty comes with extraordinary risk. Los Angeles presents a unique urban proposition - a global metropolis nestled against untamed natural environs. The forces shaping our southern areas operate on a geologic timescale far beyond human comprehension. Recent fires exposed this reality, beginning in bone-dry chaparral hills that hadn’t experienced natural burn cycles for decades. Following two wet seasons and 9 months without rain but with high winds generating low humidity, all new growth became perfect kindling, threatening the thousands of densely constructed homes. The structures built 50 to 100 years ago were under less protective seismic and fire-resistant codes proving to be especially vulnerable.

The intensity of these fires exposed critical weaknesses in our emergency response systems. The standard home fire response—two trucks and fifteen firefighters—proved woefully inadequate against wind-driven blazes consuming entire blocks in a short time span. As three retired LAFD Captains noted, the extreme weather forecasts should have triggered advance strategic positioning of fire truck equipment and substantial personnel. Adding to these challenges, critical infrastructure failures complicated the response when the LA Departmentof-Water-and-Power emptied the reservoir intended for fighting fires in the Palisades without informing the LAFD. Despite these overwhelming odds— being undermanned and lacking water at hydrants—the scheduled firefighters demonstrated remarkable dedication, working double shifts without food or sleep.

As the southland fires continue to burn, we must look beyond immediate firefighting to address long-term resilience through comprehensive protection strategies. Environmental management must play a crucial role, conducting regular controlled burns in high-risk areas,

dedicated maintenance of wild-environ trails as fire breaks, and introducing animal grazing to reduce wild-plant fuel loads. These preventive measures must be coupled with the establishment of defensible buffer zones around clusters of homes, creating manageable spaces that give firefighters a fighting chance.

In the immediate aftermath of these fires, community organization will become the cornerstone of recovery. Neighborhood groups are thrust into coordinating multiple priorities simultaneously: securing Environmental-ProtectionAgency approval for hazardous debris removal, stabilizing flood-prone areas, and working with LA County Public Works on exterior cleanup and restoration. Those homes that escaped direct fire damage require deep cleaning to remove accumulated ash and smoke-damaged interiors. Through collective action, these community groups need to demand the city expedite the promised permit process, and restoration of essential infrastructure, while advocating for regulatory relief.

The lessons learned from recent fires must reshape our approach to modern fire protection, and revise enforcement of the fire safety measures already in place. Property owners shall implement the LAFD Fire Prevention Bureau guidelines, beginning with five-foot hardscape perimeters around all structures. This individual responsibility extends to the community level, where increased spacing between houses must replace the dense construction patterns that enabled recent fires to spread so rapidly. By incorporating advanced fire systems, including emberresistant vents, fire-resistant siding, noncombustible deck, and patio construction, and enhanced sprinklers, multiple layers of protection will work in concert with community-wide safety measures.

This rebuilding process brings both immediate challenges and long-term opportunities for affected communities. While LA City’s preference for “like for like” replacement using existing infrastructure and codes offers a straightforward path forward, homeowners must still navigate a complex web of administrative paperwork with the city and FEMA, insurance inspections for settlements, and financing options. The preservation of neighborhood character depends heavily on encouraging residents to rebuild rather than relocate—a goal that may require city subsidies to help implement enhanced fire safety measures with sprinklers for example. To guide this transformation, resources like the “Regenerative Materials NOW: A Playbook for Designers & Specifiers” will provide crucial direction for creating safer, more resilient homes maintaining the area’s architectural integrity. Looking ahead, our experiences must inform the development of a modern firefighting framework that addresses current challenges comprehensively. This evolution requires a multi-faceted approach: establishing effective mass

evacuation routes, implementing strategic fire breaks between buildings, and advancing training programs for emergency teams to improve response to fire behaviors. City programs must similarly adapt, ensuring robust early warning systems, fully coordinated communication networks, and consistent vegetation management throughout the year. These improvements cannot exist in isolation but must work in concert with the citizens and advocate within LA City and County to create a resilient emergency response system.

The undeniable impact of climate change on fire behavior demands that we move forward to more effective fire prevention and control. While the urgency of rebuilding calls for expedited processes, we seize the crucial opportunity to implement best-practices safety improvements with revised building codes. This watershed moment demands innovation, cooperation, and an unwavering commitment to change. Through collective action and forwardthinking solutions, we can preserve Los Angeles’s unique character while adapting

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to new environmental realities, ensuring that future generations can safely enjoy Los Angeles which is unlike few places on Earth with a sublimity to residents who get to call this remarkable landscape home.

New Path Forward

The Palisades/Altadena fires are a glaring lesson. SMa.r.t. will have more to say regarding fire safety code evolution, rebuilding after a mega-fire, noncombustible building materials, and other resilience alternatives in our following articles.

Jack Hillbrand AIA, Architect for SMa.r.t.

Santa Monica Architects for a Responsible Tomorrow

Samuel Tolkin, Architect & Planning Commissioner; Thane Roberts, Architect; Mario Fonda-Bonardi AIA, Architect; Robert H. Taylor AIA, Architect;

Dan Jansenson, Architect & Building and Fire-Life Safety Commission, Michael Jolly, AIRCRE; Marie Standing; Jack Hillbrand AIA, Architect; Phil Brock, SM Mayor (ret)

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