One Year After the Eaton Fire, Altadena Woman Prepares to Return to Her Rebuilt Home
Altadena Property First to Clear Debris Following Eaton Fire
Margot Stueber’s property in Altadena has the distinction of being the first site cleared of debris by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in the aftermath of the January 2025 Eaton Fire.
One year after the disaster, setbacks have slightly delayed Stueber’s rebuilding timeline, but she anticipates moving back into her home within weeks. Over the past year, NBCLA has documented the transformation of her building plans from concept to reality, highlighting the ongoing restoration efforts in the San Gabriel Valley.
Determined to rebuild after losing her century-old cottage, Stueber expressed her resolve. "I knew I would be able to have a new life because a lot of people have not only to overcome all these hurdles, the financial ones and so on, they also have a lot of inner hurdles," she said. "There is trauma attached to losing everything in one night."
Stueber hopes to complete her move by next month, potentially aligning with her 69th birthday.
The Eaton Fire, which ignited on January 7, 2025, ravaged 14,000 acres, claiming 19 lives and destroying 9,400 structures. It ranks as the fifth-deadliest and second-most destructive wildfire in California’s history.
