LOS ANGELES (KABC) — Months after the Palisades and Eaton Fires ravaged Southern California, progress is being made. Some will say it’s ahead of schedule. Others feel frustrated at the recovery pace and the often overwhelming task of rebuilding from nothing. So where are we really on this road to recovery?

In an attempt to learn more about the challenges and victories victims from January’s fires will face, ABC7’s Phillip Palmer traveled to Paradise.

Paradise is a Northern California town that lost 90% of its homes when the Camp Fire surged through in 2018. Many of the lessons learned and experiences there can help people who are rebuilding in our area better understand what to expect now and in the future.

“You lose everything. Now you’re a victim, but my recommendation is don’t stay there. Climb out of that hole and become a survivor. Then once you have a survivor mindset, you can gain some clarity and set a vision for yourself,” said Gary Ledbetter, a Paradise resident who lost everything in 2018.

That’s a mindset shared by Jen Goodlin, another Paradise resident. “There were some really defeating days, but you just have to do one thing at a time and if you get through that, then you do the next hurdle.”

As for construction, Paradise residents we spoke with warn it’s a marathon instead of a sprint.

“You see trucks everywhere. You see red cones everywhere. We’re a work in progress and people get frustrated about it. We call it construction fatigue here,” former Paradise Mayor Ron Lassonde warned.

“The folks down in your area are gonna experience that same thing because construction’s gonna take a long time and it’s gonna interfere with day-to-day life. That’s just normal for the first three to five years after the disaster.”

While rebuilding continues in Paradise, Pacific Gas and Electric Company is moving utilities underground up there.

LADWP has said it wants to go fully underground in the Palisades, and SoCal Edison began work almost immediately after the fires to move 40 miles of power lines underground.

Paradise residents also shared their experiences living in modular homes or RVs while they rebuild, similar to experiences we’re already seeing here in Altadena.

Learn more about insurance troubles, scams to watch out for when it comes to rebuilding, and a new AI app that can help people before a disaster starts.

Watch “7 On Your Side Solutions: “The Road Ahead” in the media player above.

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