Los Angeles Wildfires: First Crucial Steps Toward Rebuilding

When discussing the devastating wildfires that hit Los Angeles in January 2025, we often lament the loss of homes and neighborhoods. And at the heart of these neighborhoods are communal spaces, where people gather and build fellowship.

Through these places, you become more than people who just happen to live in the same place; you start forming bonds that create the long-lasting social fabric of the community.

At CORE, we’re always looking for ways to fill gaps. As the Army Corps of Engineers currently prioritizes assisting those impacted by first clearing residential properties, we’re focusing on critical infrastructure, small businesses, and communal spaces.

That’s why during a multi-week project, CORE partnered with Caterpillar to clear and haul away 92 metric tons of debris from the Pacific Palisades Presbyterian Church that burned down in the Palisades Fire.

For the past several months, the church congregation has held weekly services in a temporary location in Culver City, as they look forward to returning to the site of their beloved church and preschool. However, when it comes to getting started, it’s a daunting task that thousands still face. With so much damage and wide-scale destruction, it can be difficult to even begin.

CORE gladly worked with the church to help them take that first, crucial step in the rebuilding process. Crews were on hand, using large pieces of equipment to demolish the condemned structures and sort the materials by type, which semitrucks picked up and safely disposed of.

During the demolition process, CORE and the CAT team ensured that care and respect were present on site. With that in mind, the teams salvaged one of the large crosses at the top of the tower on the corner of their property, facing out towards the community, which had survived the fire and served as a sign of hope for the congregation.

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New Beginnings

The critical work not only rids the surrounding community of tons of toxic material from the decades-old structure, but it also gives the church a clean slate to start the rebuilding process. And just being there for the church to lend a hand has meant a lot to the congregation. 

In an interview with ABC 7, pastor Matt Hardin said, “To the people involved in getting this important work done, CORE, their donors, so many people who’ve gotten us to this point. We feel so thankful.”

CORE recognizes that these communal spaces, like this church, are integral to the heart of communities as residents look toward the future. These places form the foundations of home. And as people begin to move back, they deserve to find the same community the fires took from them. 

CORE will continue to look for opportunities to assist small businesses and other cornerstones of communities as they rebuild. If you’d like to learn more about our work in Los Angeles, please visit our response page. If you’d like to support CORE’s response, please visit our donation page.