March 26, 2025

From Ashes to Hope: Guiding Families Through Rebuilding After LA Wildfires

As the Chief Operating Officer of a Design Build General Contractor in California, rebuilding after la wildfires revealed two stark realities to us: utter devastation and a significant opportunity. Initially, like everyone else, we contemplated how we could contribute to the rebuilding efforts while also making a profit. However, it wasn’t until I engaged with those affected that I truly grasped the depth of what we were undertaking.

We have several clients eager to utilize our talents and services, but this situation is profoundly different. Normally, when we collaborate with someone to build their dream home, it is filled with excitement and anticipation. They actively participate in the design process, watching their
dream come to life through drawings and renderings.

But the people affected by these fires are not those same individuals. They lost their dream homes, filled with cherished memories and belongings that symbolized their family and life. Their children were uprooted from their friends and the place they called home. It was their sanctuary.

Now, what do they dream of? Once they emerge from the dark shadow of the fire-ravaged world that was once their home, they face worries no one should have to endure. They grapple with mortgages, often in forbearance at best, and the uncertainty of whether their insurance will cover what they once had. So many questions and so many people to seek answers from. It must be terrifying, a mountain so high it seems insurmountable to regain what they once had.

I find myself playing multiple roles: part therapist, part resource for answers, and part General Contractor guiding them through the rebuilding process. My time in the fire zone, navigating Army and police checkpoints, and standing amidst the remnants of their homes, has been eye-opening. I witness their tears when they discover a ceramic pot in the debris.

It’s not just about rebuilding their house; it’s about restoring their belief that they can create new memories in a new home. It is a time-consuming yet gratifying endeavor. If you think this is a bonanza run, think again. These are people, and there but for the grace of God go I. Michael Fanghella is the Chief Operating Officer of JDB Builder, Inc.

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