As Malibuites enter a new decade 14 months after the Woolsey Fire, those seeking to rebuild still face significant obstacles, both in terms of obtaining the necessary permits as well as attempting to obtain insurance payments to fund rebuilding the homes they once had.
The Woolsey Fire burned 96,949 acres of land and destroyed 1,643 structures, including more than 670 structures in Malibu consisting of more than 400 single-family homes with an estimated market value of at least $1.6 billion, according to a report commissioned by the City of Malibu.
Tales about residents being given misinformation by officials concerning the permitting process, mixed messages and dead ends relating to how residents can obtain authorization to rebuild or to place temporary structures on burn sites, alleged price gouging by contractors and other vendors, and tales about insurance companies not fully paying for losses and not paying replacement value for contents have all caused undue stress for fire victims.
“As part of the City of Malibus disaster response, the City offers a streamlined process for residents to get back into their homes,” states a City of Malibu letter provided to fire victims dated November 17, 2018, nine days after the Woolsey Fire ravaged Malibu and surrounding areas.
Many Malibu residents disagree.
“The process has been anything but streamlined,” says Paul Major, whose family lost both their home and business.