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Malibu Rebuild: Rising from the ashes Part 3

Benjamin Marcus
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Malibu Rebuild: Rising from the ashes Part 3

Debris Removal by the numbers — after the most destructive wildfire in recent history

The misleadingly named Broad Fire was Nov. 6, and while it was nasty, brutish, and short and destroyed at least three beloved homes on Malibu Road, the Broad Fire was a weenie roast compared to the Franklin Fire, which began on Dec. 9 and wasn’t officially contained until nine days later: 4,035 acres burned. Seven structures destroyed and nine others damaged. As Dante’s Inferno end-of-the-worldish as the Franklin Fire was in the middle of Malibu, it was a flicked match compared to the Palisades Fire, which began on Jan. 7 and wasn’t fully contained until Jan. 31: Approximately 23,448 acres burned, 6,837 structures destroyed, 1,017 damaged, 12 confirmed fatalities and four injuries. And now here we are, five months later, brushing off the ashes and figuring out how to put it all back together again — again.

These numbers and quotes were gathered from Matt Myerhoff at the City of Malibu, Erin Jimenez and Col. Sawser from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Googling and Chat GPT, and a “60 Minutes” segment on the Palisades and Altadena fires on Sunday, March 30.

Debris Removal 3 Graphic for Phaase Two from USACE website 3 30 2025

Frequently Asked Questions 

What will be the procedure and penalty for property owners who neither opt in nor opt out of USACE Debris Removal? 

The ability to enforce compliance is retained at the local municipality, the county, or the state.

Can the USACE go onto these properties without permission and clear them? 

In terms of bulk debris clearance, USACE must have a right of entry, verified by the city or county, in order to remove disaster-related debris.

Why have so many properties neither opted in nor opted out? 

If I had to speculate, some property owners may not be aware of the requirement, others could be located overseas or be difficult to contact, or some may be uncertain about the eligibility rules or the implications of opting in or out.

And can USACE say what the high and low cost of debris removals has been for the Palisades Fire? 

USACE is not charging homeowners for debris removal. It is difficult to provide an estimate of cost per house due to numerous variables that continue to evolve as this response effort progresses. Towards the end of this mission, in accordance with FEMA oversight, USACE will be able to release a more detailed account of expenditures.

And how is that cost determined? 

There is an existing contract in place as USACE executes this mission. As one would expect, there is fluctuation in cost factors as this mission continues to evolve.

City of Malibu Statement on failure to opt in/opt out

On April 1, Matt Myherhoff passed along this official statement from the City of Malibu: “The City Council will be discussing next steps at an upcoming council meeting. In the meantime, the city has been working closely with state, county, and federal officials to seek assistance in addressing these properties. The city has also formally petitioned the governor for support, which we hope will be forthcoming.

“If no assistance is received, several options remain available. For properties that do not opt into a solution and where conditions pose a public nuisance or environmental hazard, the city and other public agencies may impose penalties or take direct action to safeguard public health, safety, and the environment.

“A detailed report outlining the available options, including those with significant financial implications, will be presented to the council for consideration.”

How many traffic passes have been handed out? 

CALTRANS

Many are curious to know the number of resident and essential worker passes that had been handed out, and MarcBischoff from Caltrans responded:  “Caltrans is not involved in approving or distributing passes for access to the restricted portion of PCH.

“The Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department is distributing burn area access passes for Malibu, Sunset Mesa, Topanga Canyon, and unincorporated LA County residents and contractors hired by residents in the burn area only. Those can be picked up from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Santa Monica College-Malibu Interpretive Center, 23555 Civic Center Way, Malibu, on Tuesdays and Thursdays or at Malibu City Hall, 23825 Stuart Ranch Road, Malibu, on Saturdays. More information and restrictions can be found at malibucity.org. Pacific Palisades and all Palisades Fire-impacted residents can pick up access passes at the Disaster Recovery Center at 10850 Pico Blvd., Los Angeles, Monday through Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.”

LA County Sheriff’s Department 

A query about pass numbers to the LASD got this response from Chris Wax: “Unfortunately, we are unable to provide you with exact numbers regarding passes issued or the breakdown between essential, contractor, and residential passes. I can reaffirm, as Sgt. Soderlund indicated, that total passes issued are in the thousands (more likely tens of thousands based on residency in the burn scar areas and work being done). 

“The Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department notes that eligibility for business passes will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis at the pass center. Eligible businesses may include brick-and-mortar businesses, caretakers, health care workers, grocery workers, babysitters, contractors, insurance adjusters, and damage mitigation companies. Applicants must apply in person. No vetting will be conducted over the phone or online.”

When will PCH be open to everyone? 

As for when PCH would be open to everyone, Bischoff from Caltrans said:  “No decisions have been made on a reopening timeline. State, county, and local transportation agencies are working with law enforcement, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the city of Los Angeles and Los Angeles County to open lanes as quickly and safely as practical. This is predicated on work of USACE and County Public Works being completed.”

What are the updates from the Malibu Rebuilds

As of last week, the Malibu Rebuilds Center had 12-31 people visiting daily with an average of 16. Of the four phases in rebuilding, there were 0 Building Plan Check Submittals, 0 Certificates of Occupancy filed or approved, 9: Architectural plan submittals. 6 Pending / 3 Approved and 123: Initial Rebuild Appointments/Site Verification. 

According to Matt Myerhoff of the City of Malibu: “Regarding the updated rebuild numbers, there has been a change upin the routine for reporting that out. It will be reported each week in the weekly Rebuild Newsletter which comes out on Thursdays.”

By the Numbers | Weekly Update 

1 – 4: Days to remove debris according to Commander Eric Swenson on 60 Minutes. “It takes an average of one to four days to do a standard-size house. If we have a house that’s pinned on the side of a mountain, those properties could take us six, eight to 10 days to do because we’re going to need some specialized equipment to get in there.”

2-3: Days to remove debris per property. From LA County Recovers: Phase 2 Debris Removal:  “The Army Corps of Engineers is aiming for debris to be safely removed in two-to-three days PER PROPERTY. This timeline can change depending on the size of the lot or parcel, the amount of debris, inclement weather, and other factors, so it may take longer to remove debris. Other factors include the size of the lot, the amount of hardscape, the degree of damage, the condition of the foundation and whether you want to remove or try to maintain the foundation. None of those specifics will be available to the Army Corps of Engineers until they get on site. It will not be possible to estimate how long it will take to clean up your property until the contractor assesses the site. And for the same reasons, we cannot accurately predict at this time how long the overall cleanup effort will take.”

2: Number of hours it can take a six-person team to extract one electric vehicle, according to “60 Minutes.”

2: Landfills in California certified to take hazardous materials, according to “60 Minutes.”

3: Days the barrels of lithium-ion batteries are submerged in a saltwater bath: “The saltwater gives any trapped energy a place to go, so they’re less likely to ignite. See those bubbles? That’s energy releasing from the batteries.”

6: As many as six drums filled with thousands of lithium-ion cells are needed to remove the hazardous waste from one electric vehicle, according to “60 Minutes.”

6: According to “60 Minutes”: “After the property is cleared, six inches of soil are removed in an effort to get rid of any contaminants that may have seeped into the ground.” 

8: Steps to Rebuilding Together according to MalibuRebuilds.org / Steps to Rebuilding Together

  1. Verify your property is in city limits and obtain property records
  2. Make a Rebuild Appointment at the Rebuild Center
  3. Select a Rebuild Option
  4. Select Building Design Professionals
  5. Site Verification
  6. Architectural Plan Submittal (Review and Approval)
  7. Building Plan Check
  8. Inspections

April 15: Extended deadline to opt in or opt out for debris removal with the USACE or privately.

17: “All that remaining debris from burned-down homes is headed to 17 landfills and recycling centers across California,” according to “60 Minutes.”

25: MPH speed limit between Chautauqua Boulevard in Pacific Palisades and Carbon Beach Terrace in Malibu.

Feb. 25: Date the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)  completed its Phase 1 hazardous materials removal mission 

28: Days it took the EPA to complete hazardous waste removal on 900 properties, according to 60 Minutes.

“60[:] Minutes” broadcast a segment on debris removal by the USACE on Sunday, March 30.

507: USACE debris removals signed off in Palisades/Malibu.

600: Number of EVs found by the EPA during Phase One, “Most of them in Lynn Mcyntire’s Palisades neighborhood” according to “60 Minutes.”

600: Miles to Knolls, Utah, where some of the hazardous waste is trucked to, and buried. “About half of California’shazardous waste is trucked hundreds of miles away and buried in nearby states, mainly Utah and Arizona which rely on more lenient federal waste standards,” according to “60 Minutes.”

750 – 1,470°F: Temperature of prehistoric fires burning naturally while modern wildfires can exceed 2,192°F, especially in urban areas where synthetic materials burn.

840–1,650°F: According to Chat GPT, these are the burn temperatures of California trees and shrubs.

Chamise (Adenostoma fasciculatum) Is highly flammable, rich in oils, burns explosively in wildfires: 840–1,650°F 

Manzanita (Arctostaphylos spp.) Highly flammable, rich in oils, burns explosively in wildfires: 750–1,650°F

Ceanothus (California Lilac) Waxy coating makes it highly flammable: 750–1,560°F 

Eucalyptus Oils cause intense combustion and fire spread: 570–1,470°F

Palm Trees (Washingtonia & Phoenix spp.) Fronds act as fire ladders, embers travel far: 570–1,300°F

Sagebrush (Artemisia californica) Aromatic oils contribute to rapid burning: 500–1,300°F

Pine Trees (Ponderosa, Jeffrey, Lodgepole, etc.) High resin content makes it ignite easily: 500–1,300°F

Valley Oak & Coast Live Oak More fire-resistant than softwoods but will still burn: 750–930°F 

Bristlecone Pine Dense but burns at high temperatures once ignited: 750–930°F

Redwood Fire-resistant bark and high moisture slow burning, but it can still sustain wildfires in extreme heat:  (600–930°F)

900: “More than 9,000 homeowners have opted for their (USACE) help. And as of last week, about 900 parcels had been cleared,” according to “60 Minutes,” referring to  the week of March 23-30 in Altadena, Palisades and Malibu.

2,500 – 2,800°F: Range of temperatures at which steel melts, depending on composition.

1,947°F: Melting point of gold.

1,832–2,192°F: Breakdown point of concrete, which decomposes before melting.

1,220.5°F: Melting point of aluminum.

621.5°F: Melting point of lead.

356.9°F: Melting point of lithium

3,129: Out of the 13,579 eligible parcels, 3,129 Rights of Energy (ROE) have been submitted to the Army Corps of Engineers.

$5,000: Amount that Palisades homeowner Lynn Mcintrye paid to have her somehow-still-standing, 1940s Palisades home independently tested for toxins. “The tests revealed arsenic in her home and lead levels 22 times higher than what the EPA considers safe,” according to “60 Minutes.” “Her insurance company says it will not cover the cost of cleaning it all up, because it does not constitute quote ‘a direct physical loss.’”

10,000: “Houses still standing in the burn zones,” according to “60 Minutes.”

$79,000: Cost to privately clear the fire debris from a 2,400-square-foot house in Big Rock. The Anonymous Homeowner said: “That is being paid for by California FAIR Plan because debris removal was an item I elected to have written into the policy. I have to say FAIR plan has really been more than fair. They paid for the debris removal and cut me a check for 80% of what I was covered for. The last 20% is still coming.”

As of April 1, it has taken two days to remove 80% of the debris and The Anonymous Homeowner is pleased: “One of the guys who is clearing my property has been doing it for 40 years. He said in his experience.the Northridge earthquake, the L.A. Riot and the Palisades Fire are the three biggest messes he’s had to deal with.”

9 billion: With a B, pounds of debris that will be removed, according to “60 Minutes.” “I anticipate having all fire, ash anddebris removed by the one-year anniversary of this fire,” said Col. Eric Swenson, a commander for the Army Corps of Engineers.

Driving Change: Weaponizing Grief — 15 years after Emily

Michel Shane
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Driving Change: Weaponizing Grief — 15 years after Emily

By Michel Shane 

If you read this on Thursday, April 3, you’re witnessing my heart laid bare. Fifteen years ago today, my world imploded when Emily was stolen from us on PCH. Not taken — stolen. Because death on a preventable death trap isn’t natural; it’stheft. It robs families of futures, communities of promise, and parents of wholeness.

When your child dies, you’re gutted. Permanently. I created three hearts and watched them grow into the world, each carrying all of our love until one was violently ripped away. The question haunts me daily: How do you become whole when a piece of your soul has been torn from you? You don’t. You transform. You become a weapon aimed at preventing others from experiencing your pain. You weaponize your grief.

dolphin Emily Shane
Emily Shane.

We refused — immediately, fiercely — to let Emily become another nameless tragedy, just “that poor child killed on PCH.” While still reeling from those first devastating hours, we launched “Pass it Forward,” an act of defiance against darkness. This evolved into The Emily Shane Foundation, our SEA program mentoring struggling middle schoolers, and eventually pushed me to create the film “21 Miles in Malibu,” igniting our “Driving Change” division. All because we made one critical choice: light over consuming darkness.

Meanwhile, PCH continues its deadly legacy, though we now wonder what will become of the road after the fires. We know it will resurrect and continue — we can’t let it be from the past; it must be the future. A serpentine death trap disguised as a scenic drive. How many more memorials will line its shoulders before we demand meaningful change? How many more children must die before we stop accepting politicians’ empty promises and half-measures?

Caltrans is now painting bike lanes along this killer highway and expecting our gratitude. A PAINTED LINE on a HIGHWAY is beyond negligent — it’s criminal! Ask any child if a painted line will stop a distracted driver going 65 mph from killing a bicyclist. They’ll tell you what our officials can’t seem to grasp: lines don’t save lives. Proper infrastructure does. Malibu — our paradise of just 10,000 souls( or less) — ranks among America’s top 25 deadliest cities per capita for road fatalities. Read that again. Let it burn into your consciousness. Is this acceptable to you? Because it’s not to me, and it shouldn’t be to anyone who calls this community home.

And yet, the most obvious solution glitters daily before our eyes: the ocean. While we squeeze more cars, bikes, and pedestrians onto a single deadly strip of asphalt, the Pacific offers an untapped transportation corridor. Why aren’t we demanding water taxis, ferry services, and integrated electric shuttles like countless other coastal communities worldwide? Why can’t we demand our fair share of infrastructure funds to create safe alternatives for daily life and emergency evacuations?

What I find most maddening is the disconnect between what we say and do. We call ourselves a progressive, environmentally conscious community yet cling to outdated, carbon-spewing transportation models. We pride ourselves on innovation while accepting solutions from the 1950s. We claim to value every life while tolerating infrastructure that regularly claims them. This hypocrisy must end.

Every day that I drive past the spot where Emily died, I’m confronted by our collective failure. That sacred ground remains unchanged — still dangerous, still claiming victims, still tearing families apart. When I see tourists walking precariously along PCH edges or cyclists gambling with their lives in traffic, I don’t just see strangers. I see future Emilys. Future heartbreaks. Future funerals that don’t need to happen.

Our city pleads for visitors to use “alternative means,” while PCH is closed to visit us, without creating any alternatives!What exactly are tourists supposed to do? My flying car is still in the shop, and I suspect yours is too. We need action, not empty rhetoric — integrated water transit, parking plazas with frequent shuttles, and physically separated bike paths. I refuse to believe I’m the smartest person in this equation because if I am, we’re doomed. Why not run a pilot program this summer? We all know that even if PCH is operational, it will be one lane at 25 miles an hour for years; I feel the frustration just saying that.

Ask yourself: What if April 3 becomes YOUR day of loss? What if it’s your child, parent, or partner whose life is suddenly erased on PCH? Will you feel differently then about painted bike lanes and bureaucratic delays? Will you wish you had demanded more when you had the chance?

The time for grieving what we’ve lost must now fuel building what we need. We stand at a pivotal moment — we can either rebuild the same vulnerable systems on the same deadly foundations or create something transformative that honors our dead by protecting the living.

In the coming weeks, we’ll announce The Emily Shane Foundation’s major fundraiser. This year, your support isn’t just appreciated — it’s essential. We’re not just mentoring struggling students; we’re launching our new division dedicated to ensuring no more families experience the devastating loss of a loved one to road violence. Join us. Fight with us. Because if not you, then who?

To my beloved Emily: You live in every breath I take, every word I write, every change I demand. You showed us that even in unbearable pain, we could choose light. Your legacy isn’t just in memory — it’s in action, in the lives we save, the systems we change, and the future we create. Emily Shane Way isn’t just a street sign — it’s how we must live.

You can reach me at Michel@21milesroadrules.com

Pepperdine’s Quinonez at USA U20 soccer camp

McKenzie Jackson
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Pepperdine’s Quinonez at USA U20 soccer camp

After playing internationally with Mexico, dual citizen now training with U.S. National Team

When Julia Quinonez was a youth soccer player, she dreamed of donning the red, white, and blue, and taking to the pitch with Team USA. 

The Pepperdine sophomore women’s soccer player is doing so now. Quinonez, a forward, is one of 22 players from across the nation taking part in the U.S. Under-20 Women’s National Team Training Camp in Riverside, Missouri, at the University of Kansas System Training Center. 

Quinonez, 20, said playing with other top soccer players in the March 31 to April 7 camp, months after winning the West Coast Conference crown with the Waves, is an amazing experience. 

“It feels really great to see the hard work me and my team have done pay off,” she said a few days before going to Missouri. “What we accomplished in the fall — winning WCC is crazy — but I’m so stoked, so excited.” 

Quinonez wants to improve and show off her soccer skills during the eight-day camp.

“I’m looking forward to growing in my techniques, my technical skills, my soccer IQ,” she said. “I want to see what their level of play is and bring it back here, execute on the pitch here at Pepperdine. I want to grow and learn. This is a high-level team. I’m excited to get to know them. Hopefully it will help me in the future.”

Waves head coach Tim Ward said he and his coaching staff are proud and excited for Quinonez. 

“Last year, Jules had a few opportunities to play with the Mexican U20 team, and in one of those games, she scored on the U.S. U20 team,” he said. “I’m thinking they didn’t forget that. And they are about to find out what we already know,Julia is both an amazing player and perhaps, more importantly, an amazing human being.”

Quinonez scored two goals and had two assists for Pepperdine during the 2024 season. She scored six goals — including one game winner — and registered three assists during her freshman season in 2023. Quinonez was named the West Coast Conference Freshman of the Year that year. 

Quinonez has improved her soccer skills during her two collegiate seasons. She is always a threat to make a play on offense or kick for a score. 

“My team has played a big part in that,” she said. “I think my finishing can be lethal at times. I’m dangerous with or without the ball. I want to always be on a defender’s blind side. I always want to help get my team the scoring chances we need.” 

A Torrance native, Quinonez played soccer, basketball, and baseball when she was kid. She committed to soccer when she was 8. The future Wave won several honors in high school soccer including Pioneer League MVP, Daily Breeze Player of the Year South Bay, and two All-Pioneer League first team honors. She also led her team to a league championship. Quinonez played soccer for the LA Galaxy Girls Academy DA U9-U14 and for Beach FC U15-U18/19 also.

The other players participating in the U.S. camp include defenders Hailey Baumann, Kennedy Bell, Ava Bramblett, Jordyn Bugg, Cameron Patton, Cameron Roller, Morgan Roy, and Kaelyn Wolfe. 

Midfielders Mia Bhuta, Shae Harvey, Reagan Kotschau, Emily Lenhard, Ashley Pennie, Megan Santa Cruz, and Taylor Suarez are also there. As are goalkeepers Caroline Birkel, Sonoma Kasica, and Adelyn Todd. 

The six other midfielders on the field with Quinonez are Emeri Adames, Katie Collins, Mia Oliaro, Olivia Thomas, and Amada Schlueter. 

Quinonez and Harvey, a Stanford standout, played club soccer together a few years ago. Now, they train together in the summer. 

Quinonez said Harvey is a talented soccer player. 

“Her technical skills are crazy,” Quinonez revealed. “She also has great instincts. Being able to play with more than one player like that at camp is awesome.”

Quinonez, an American and Mexican citizen, played on Mexico’s U20 Women’s National Team last summer. She scored a goal during one of the team’s friendlies against their U.S. counterparts in July. 

Quinonez said she cherished the experience. 

“That team is amazing,” Quinonez explained. “Their ability to have an amazing culture while traveling … I learned so much from Mexico that it has helped me here at Pepperdine. The people, the culture, the skills, it’s at a high level I love.”

She aimed to do her best with Team USA. 

“I want to do everything I can and remember to stay calm, alert, and in control,” Quinonez said. “I want to execute anything I need to when given the opportunity and trust the process.”

The Waves soccer player said playing with the American U20 squad is great.

 “Growing up, I always had dreams about being on the USA or Mexico’s national team,” Quinonez remembered. “It’sexciting that I have accomplished that. It is so surreal and an amazing feeling.” 

Malibu Man Convicted in App Start-up Scam 

Judy Abel
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Malibu Man Convicted in App Start-up Scam 

A Malibu man faces up to 20 years in federal prison after being convicted of wire fraud and a scheme deceiving investors out of nearly $25 million.  63-year-old Bernhard Eugen Fritsch marketed  a tech platform centered on a start-up called StarClub. His pitch for an app, StarSite, he claimed was to help social media influencers better monetize their endorsements. However, the proposed StarSite never materialized as promised. Between 2014 and 2017, Fritsch falsely claimed that StarClub was on the verge of securing major deals and investments from large companies, including Disney—a claim prosecutors say was completely fabricated.

In addition to these misrepresentations, prosecutors stated Fritsch told investors that StarClub had generated $15 million in revenue in 2015, which was untrue. His scheme proved effective: one investor alone contributed over $20 million and introduced Fritsch to others who collectively added millions more. Rather than using the funds to develop the company as promised, Fritsch diverted large portions of the money to fund his extravagant lifestyle. Prosecutors revealed he spent investor funds on luxury vehicles—including a McLaren and a Rolls-Royce—upgrades to his yacht, and lavish renovations to his Malibu mansion near Carbon Beach.

Federal authorities have since seized the vehicles and yacht, which are now subject to forfeiture proceedings. Fritsch was convicted this week in Los Angeles on one count of wire fraud and acquitted on another. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

Malibu’s Best Shot: Malibu Lunar Eclipse blood moon

The Malibu Times
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Malibu’s Best Shot: Malibu Lunar Eclipse blood moon

The lunar eclipse blood moon from March 13, Malibu. Photo by Emily Scher

Submit your photo for a chance to be featured to editorial@malibutimes.com

Call fire fighter program celebrates 15 years of serving Malibu

Judy Abel
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Call fire fighter program celebrates 15 years of serving Malibu

Trained firefighter program paved the way for Malibu’s community brigades

A game changer for fighting fires locally, the call fire fighter program is celebrating 15 years of service to the Malibu community. The part-time and on-call firefighters marked their 15-year anniversary Saturday with a reunion with members and their training sergeant.

After the Corral Fire in 2007 took 53 homes, then Fire Chief P. Michael Freeman met with the community and listened to a lot of “anger and heartache” from local residents. Matt Haines and Paul Morra decided to take action. With the help of Freeman and the Los Angeles County Fire Department, they resurrected the call fire fighter program that had been in place in Catalina and the Antelope Valley, two communities, like Malibu, that were rural, remote communities that can be hard to reach. 

Corral Canyon Call Firefighters
Matt Haines, Chief Steven Swiatek, and Paul Morra were instrumental in forming the Corral Canyon call fire fighter program in 2007.

It took a few years, but when the call firefighter program was initiated finally in 2010, 40 residents applied. However, due to strict requirements with background, medical checks, and physical agility tests that number dropped to 10 call firefighters. The community raised funds to buy a fire engine, 271, and a firehouse that is expected to break ground later this year.

Morra, Haines and the initial cohort trained at the Los Angeles County Fire Academy in downtown LA that first summer, putting in about 80 hours. “We trained every weekend,” recalled Morra. “We all were career professionals elsewhere. Our training captain Steve Swiatek was one harda** of a drill sergeant, but you have to be in these situations because people get killed and so he didn’t treat us any differently than he would’ve with real firefighting candidates.”

Now Morra credits the call fire fighter program with paving the way for other Malibu volunteer firefighters.

“It helped blaze the path for the community brigades with Keegan Gibbs and others who helped create those brigades after the Woolsey Fire,” he said. “That success opened the door for future partnerships, like the community brigade with LA County fire so I believe that it absolutely is a game changer. Also, I think it encourages the neighborhood and the community as a whole to come together, to work together. Not everybody should stay behind in a fire, but those who are willing, those who are equipped to do so can save homes together. The brigades are a perfect example. I mean the work that they did during the Palisades Fire has to be commended. The amount of sacrifice that those guys and women went through to help save as many homes as they could. I’m really proud of the work that they were able to accomplish and ofcourse, the ongoing work the call firefighter program continues to do.”

Haines who is still a call firefighter explained academy training includes “everything from the basics of firefighting all the different types of fire, fire preparedness, safety measures, all the way through pumping operations ladders, and everything that’s involved. One thing that’s unique about our program is the typical fire department will train you as a firefighter, but with ours since we have our own engine in our community we are trained in all aspects of the fire department requirements for a firefighter, fire captain and a fire engineer because we have to know how to drive the engine, pump the engine, talk on the radio like a captain does, and make calls.” In the 15 years of the program, they’ve made countless calls in Malibu and the Santa Monica Mountains. Haines and the group train every other weekend even though only 40 hours a year is required.

Corral Canyon Call Firefighters 2
The class of recruits for the Corral Canyon call fire fighter program are shown in 2010.

Swiatek, now Chief Swiatek commented, “It’s a very important program because the call firefighter program is designedto serve rural areas within the county of Los Angeles, where the population in those areas don’t mandate that a full-time fire station be constructed and especially in Corral Canyon where it’s so isolated with a very small population. It provides a quicker response time for a LA County firefighting unit to respond to whatever incident they’re responding to be it a brushfire, structure fire, or any other kind of special incident and so having the call firefighters in Corral Canyon is extremely important and extremely needed.”

Clearing the path: U.S. Army Corps speeds up fire debris removal in Malibu

Barbara Burke
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Clearing the path: U.S. Army Corps speeds up fire debris removal in Malibu

Col. Eric Swenson discusses progress, challenges, and the push to reopen PCH after the Palisades Fire

He’s in charge of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Recovery Field Office for the Palisades Fire and, as such, oversees Phase 2 debris removal for those fire victims who have opted to have the Corps’ contractors clear properties affected by the Palisades Fire. Col. Eric Swenson sat down with The Malibu Times to discuss the current state of play regarding debris removal, residents’ concerns regarding increased traffic congestion on Malibu Canyon and Kanan roads they perceive as being attributable to dump trucks ferrying ash and other debris to landfills, and the ever-present query regarding when the Corps estimates that debris removal will be completed and when the Pacific Coast Highway will be fully open. 

Colonel Eric Swenson
Colonel Eric Swenson screenshot from Press Conference

“Today, we had 81 crews in the Palisades Fire-affected area, which is divided into six zones, and in Malibu specifically, our excavating crews were working at La Costa Beach, in properties above PCH such as Big Rock and in neighborhoods in unincorporated Los Angeles County,” Swenson said. “Our next focus is Tuna Canyon.”

The Corps and its contractors are, Swenson emphasized, “working faster than we did after the Maui fire. My aim is to have all debris removed for those who opt in to have us perform that task by the end of summer, well before the end of our contract which expires one year after the fire started.”

With regard to the opening of the eight-mile stretch of Pacific Coast Highway that remains closed to accommodate debris removal, utility undergrounding, and highway repairs, Swenson stated, “I hope to have all the coastal properties whose owners have asked us to remove debris completed by the end of May. Readers should know that I am putting as many resources as I can to get the debris removal process completed so that fire victims can start the rebuilding process.” 

He added an important qualifier, however: The Corps is not the only entity whose work impedes the re-opening of PCH. 

“We don’t control work completion by utility companies, Caltrans, the county’s cleaning debris basins or privately contracted debris removal companies,” he stated. “We are steadfastly trying to safely get the community free of the greatest risks presented — that of having uncontrolled ash and debris, which isn’t good for people or the ocean. Our goal is to transfer those toxic substances to a controlled setting in landfills that are licensed to store them.”

The possibility of working to remove debris overnight

Some residents, as well as business owners whose companies’ operations are paralyzed by the PCH closure, are imploring authorities to open the road and ask why they cannot do so immediately. They also want to know why the debris removal process cannot be sped up by having crews work overnight and seven days a week.

“We continuously assess the practicality of having night operations and we will continue to do so,” Swenson stated. “We have to make that decision by balancing the reality that we still have some crews working on asbestos mitigation and asbestos testing, by the fact that hundreds of landowners have not opted to have us perform debris removal, and that increasing our work hours may risk disturbing those people who have re-occupied their homes. Moreover, a real obstacle is that the landfills have restricted hours and also have limits with regard to the amount of tonnage they can accept every day.” 

The Malibu Times asked who makes decisions on expanding the hours of the landfills’ operation and their per diem tonnage protocols. As readers have grown to learn with regard to details regarding governmental disaster responses after the Palisades Fire, the answer is multi-layered and complicated.

Area landfills accepting deposits of debris from the Palisades Fire are owned by Los Angeles County and operated by the Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts. CalRecycle, along with local enforcement agencies, regulate the operation of landfills in Los Angeles County.  There are 17 landfills in the county that are certified to receive items such as foundations, chimneys, fire ash, soil and damaged green waste that have had household hazardous materials removed from them during Phase 1 of the fire response effort. Residents may direct comments and concerns regarding debris removal to the following agencies: the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, especially the office of Supervisor Lindsey Horvath, the Los Angeles County Sanitation District, and CalRecycle, which oversees the landfills.  

The Malibu Times will update information received from those entities as soon as they respond to queries and will also ask if officials have explored negotiating an intergovernmental contract with nearby counties, such as Ventura County, to arrange for use of other landfills nearby to help to expedite the process. 

Malibu is open for business! Officials Rally to Support Local Businesses Amid PCH Closure

Barbara Burke
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Malibu is open for business! Officials Rally to Support Local Businesses Amid PCH Closure

Assemblywoman Jacqui Irwin, Malibu Mayor Doug Stewart, and PaliBu Chamber CEO Barbara Bruderlin hold a press conference at the iconic Malibu Pier

District 42 Assemblywoman Jacqui Irwin, Malibu Mayor Doug Stewart, and PaliBu Chamber CEO, Barbara Bruderlinheld a press conference on March 28 at the Malibu Pier, an iconic Malibu landmark which served as the perfect venue to issue their urgent plea to Angelinos and residents of Conejo Valley and communities near Malibu to come to shop, dine, and enjoy Malibu to support its struggling businesses.

Malibu is open for business!

“Because of previously unimagined levels of destruction caused by the Palisades Fire it has necessitated the closure of an eight-mile stretch of Pacific Coast Highway that connects the City of Malibu to the Palisades, Santa Monica, as well as the City of Los Angeles and cities beyond,” Irwin stated. “With customers and the workforce unable to commute into Malibu from the south, they are forced to make a much longer commute or, in the case of many, choose to go elsewhere to shop, eat, play, or work. Caltrans, the Army Corps of Engineers and SCE are very aware of the hardships created by the work and are committed to getting PCH opened as soon as possible.”

The expected timeline for debris removal and utility undergrounding is June, but the closure is being examined every day, keeping the safety of the public in mind, Irwin stated. “The message we have here today is that Malibu is open for business!” she said. 

Irwin and Stewart noted that there are a number of ways into the city through Malibu Canyon, Kanan Road or PCH from the northern end of the city. LA Metro has the 134 bus line running on PCH between Santa Monica and the northern closure point, with service beginning around 5:30 am in Santa Monica and the last bus leaving Malibu at 9:30 pm. 

“These businesses need our help during what is an economic crisis for them!” Irwin emphasized. “They need us to come back to Malibu, shop, recreate and dine.”  

Chiming in, Stewart noted that the Palisades Fire devastated some of Malibu’s neighborhoods, destroyed homes, displaced families and damaged Malibu businesses and winter storms brought flooding and mudslides. “Now, the prolonged closure of PCH has become a secondary crisis,” he said. “Today, many of Malibu’s most beloved local businesses, cornerstones of our community, are struggling and fighting for their survival.”

Stewart informed that at the last regular City Council meeting, the Chamber reported that dozens of once thriving businesses have not yet reopened and that some businesses report revenue losses between 50 and 85 percent due to drastically reduced foot traffic and cars arriving on PCH. 

“More than 100 local businesses are at risk of permanent closure,” Stewart lamented. “When small businesses suffer, our whole community feels it — jobs are lost, services disappear and vibrant places where neighbors and visitors once gathered fade away. We recognize the hardship caused by PCH closure, but we must also balance these impacts with safety and long-term recovery — the debris removal is a public health imperative. Reopening too early will significantly slow the rebuilding and clean-up process.”

Continuing, Stewart stated, “Spread the word that Malibu remains a welcoming destination. The city is also taking proactive steps — in the coming days, we will release a business impact survey to better understand how our businesses have been affected and what they need the most.”

He also noted, “The city also will be considering a business assistance program at our next council meeting on April 14 — this will be to determine what we can deliver as targeted support and recovery assistance.”

The City Council will, he vowed, “also explore what we can do within our jurisdictional authority to place a moratorium on commercial lease evictions to give the businesses the time and space they need to survive without fearing the loss of their storefronts.” 

Many of the landlords in the Palisades are canceling the lease costs while the businesses are under construction, Stewart pointed out, adding, “We want that same kind of effort done for our businesses in Malibu.” 

Palibu Chamber CEO Bruderlin stated, “We have been on the ground going door to door in Malibu and the Palisades to help everyone get grants — for businesses standing, that is very difficult.”

She emphatically added, “I am here with a message — we want everyone in the world to know to come to Malibu because everyday in Malibu is a vacation — it is so beautiful here and there are fabulous stores and dining and all of our beaches are all different and are so fascinating. 

“We have venues everywhere with local musicians — famous ones — they just appear across the street at Dreamland and at Malibu Music. We are open and are ready for you!”

She suggested that people drive down Kanan or Las Virgenes through Malibu Canyon and added, “those are scenic highways and doing so is a memorable experience.” 

Business owners and resident attendees expressed concerns about the delay in opening PCH, with Helene Henderson, proprietor of two restaurants on the Pier commenting, “We who run businesses in Malibu need accurate information about when the PCH will open so we can make decisions based on that concerning our employees and business operations.”

Local realtor Josh Spiegel, who noted that he was speaking as an individual and not as a Malibu Safety Commissioner, urged officials to consider pressing the Army Corps of Engineers, Southern California Edison and Los Angeles County to find solutions to open PCH soon, at least for business on the weekends, noting that doing that would benefit local merchants.

After the press conference, he commented, “I just want to push back a little more — those in authority seem to have an impression that we who want to open the PCH sooner rather than later are not in touch with all that is involved in fixing PCH infrastructure,” he said. “That’s not the case. Rather, we just advocate that the Army Corps and others working on the PCH make as many adjustments as possible to maximize efficiencies as they conduct their work to go as fast as they can.”

2025 Press Conference March 28 Hayley Mattson 3
(From left) Malibu Mayor Doug Stewart, PaliBu Chamber of Commerce CEO Barbara Bruderlin, District 42 Assemblywoman Jacqui Irwin, and Councilmember Haylynn Conrad are shown at the Malibu Pier on March 28 during a press conference promoting Malibu business. Photo by Hayley Mattson/TMT

Malibu businesses didn’t burn down, but they are bleeding to death

Small business consultant Mikke Pierson, former mayor of Malibu and a community fire brigade member, remarked,“When the fire was over, the battle really began, we are seeing our local businesses start closing every day now — it’s an unexpected situation that they didn’t burn down but are bleeding to death.” 

Adding additional insights regarding the trauma suffered by Malibu businesses, he said, “We are not in the situation as arethe businesses in the Palisades — we didn’t burn down. Not a single store in Malibu has gotten a grant from the government in Malibu!”

Discussing the need for a moratorium on commercial rental evictions, Pierson stated that, “Some landlords in Malibu are not playing nice and we need the moratorium to help small businesses survive.” 

Noting that many have the perception that all who reside in Malibu are wealthy, Pierson informed, “Most Malibu businesses are small businesses — a lot are mom-and-pops.” 

Glen Becerra, representing Tim Morris from Paradise Cove, noted, “The Morris family has been in Malibu for more than 75 years and they are representative of all these small businesses that make up Malibu.” 

Pausing to reflect, he added, “Today is about the families that work in those small businesses — there are 80 people who work at Paradise Cove, and the employees are struggling to get here. There are a lot of things that we can do to make sure that those folks can come here and that they can work and take care of their families.”

Becerra suggests an easy step to help inform that Malibu is open 

Further addressing the need to ensure that the public knows that Malibu is wide open for business, Becerra pointed out,“A simple fix would be changing the digital signs on the 101 that say PCH is closed — it is not completely closed!” He advocated that authorities change the signs to say that Malibu is open via Las Virgenes and Kanan. Doing so “would be of immense help!” he emphasized. 

Ryan Ahrens, CEO and founder of Malibu Brewing Company in West Malibu, added his insights concerning how Malibu businesses need support: “Every business in town relies upon our customers and without that support, none of us can make it alone. We recognize how far it might feel to plan a trip to Malibu, but it’s actually never been easier to spend a day in our town — the canyon roads are open and the PCH from Ventura County is clear — and although a portion of our town is mourning, the majority of our community is just as you remember: The hills are green, the whales have returned and spring is in the air.”

It’s time to make some plans, Ahrens continued. “Schedule that morning hike with a friend, a day at the beach or a family camping trip to Leo Carillo,” he said. “Go tidepooling, go horseback riding, watch a sunset or just go for a ride along the coast — because a day spent in Malibu is always a day well spent — and we can’t wait to spend it together with you.”  

Agoura Animal Shelter Pet of the Week, Meet Luna: Thursday, April 3

The Malibu Times
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Agoura Animal Shelter Pet of the Week, Meet Luna: Thursday, April 3

Little Stuffy Girl, Luna A5672799. Grabbin Stuffies and Stealin Hearts since January 4th, 2025. This sweet girl has been overlooked long enough. She’s ready to take her stuffies home with you!

Although she’d love to be your only, she could do well with another calmer dog. 

Meet this wonderful husky mix and all her adoptable friends!

Care Center Hours:
Monday-Saturday 11am-5pm
Closed* on Sunday and holidays

29525 Agoura Road, Agoura Hills, CA 91301
agoura@animalcare.lacounty.gov

Letter to the Editor: Think Pink for Women’s Wellness

Letter to the Editor
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Letter to the Editor: Think Pink for Women’s Wellness

Dear Editor, 

The Irene Dunne Guild will hold its 19th annual Think Pink for Women’s Wellness, a fundraiser for Saint John’s Health Center, at the Upper Bel Air Bay Club on Wednesday, May 7, from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

As our community continues to recover from the devastating Palisades and Eaton Canyon wildfires, the Irene Dunne Guild is more committed than ever to creating meaningful gatherings and bringing health education and awareness to women and their families. The Irene Dunne Guild, a support group of Saint John’s Health Center Foundation, raises funds for women’s health programs, nursing scholarships, medical equipment, programs for caregivers and family support services. 

This informative, fun and social event features breakout sessions, with lectures from notable physicians and health experts. Boutique shopping is available throughout the event, with net proceeds benefitting the programs, equipment andservices noted above at Providence Saint John’s Health Center, including its new Women’s Health & Wellness Institute and 20% of the proceeds going to the Foundation.

Think Pink Chairs are Suzanne Caldwell and Sila Vokshoor. For more information, contact Saint John’s Health Center Foundation at 310.829.8424 or irenedunneguild.org

Carol Bullock, Santa Monica

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