2026 Project of the Year: Palisades and Eaton Fires Recovery Response – Los Angeles Conservation Corps & Partners
Congratulations to Los Angeles Conservation Corps on winning a 2026 Project of the Year Award! Awardees will be recognized at The Corps Network’s National Conference – #CorpsCon26 (virtual, March 24-25) and at The Corps Network’s Advocacy Action Summit (May 5-6). Click here to learn more about both events. Click here to learn more about #CorpCon26 awards. Click here to learn about the 2026 Project of the Year finalists.

In January 2025, the Eaton and Palisades Fires caused catastrophic damage in Los Angeles County, killing more than two dozen individuals and destroying over 16,000 structures. The firesburned more than 37,000 acres of land, including heavily developed residential neighborhoods and commercial areas.
After the fires were extinguished, runoff and mudslides were major concerns. The charred remains of buildings and cars can leach toxic substances into the ground and water. Burn scar areas are also unstable and prone to mudslides.
Los Angeles Conservation Corps partnered with numerous state agencies – including the California Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES), Caltrans, CAL FIRE, the Department of Water Resources, and the California National Guard – to help prevent further potential damage. Six other Corps programs also joined this effort: California Conservation Corps, Conservation Corps of Long Beach, Urban Conservation Corps of the Inland Empire, San Jose Conservation Corps, Orange County Conservation Corps, and Sequoia Community Corps. Together, LACC and partner Corps deployed 71 Corpsmembers and 11 staff members to an extended watershed protection project.
From mid-January through mid-February 2025, Corpsmembers focused on stabilizing burned hillsides, reducing flooding and debris-flow risks, and protecting nearby communities and natural habitats during a period of heightened environmental vulnerability. Corpsmembers served directly alongside state and federal partners to install erosion-control systems, remove debris, clear storm drains, and strengthen watershed defenses ahead of storms: the wettest time in Los Angeles is generally December through February.
Before deployment, Corpsmembers prepared by completing the 24-hour HAZWOPER certification, OSHA safety courses, and receiving hands-on instruction from Cal OES, CAL FIRE, and Caltrans. These trainings ensured that crews were ready to operate safely in hazardous burn zones and steep terrain.
The deployment resulted in substantial outcomes: more than 82,000 linear feet of straw wattles installed, more than 3,800 sandbags filled and placed, multiple storm drains cleared, 62 truckloads of debris removed, several hazardous trees removed, and nearly 200 structures protected. This sustained presence of Corpsmembers in the field provided continuous community protection during rapidly changing weather conditions and helped reduce the likelihood of debris flows, slope failures, and other storm-related damage.
The project also delivered meaningful environmental benefits by stabilizing sensitive habitats, improving water quality, supporting post-fire ecological recovery, and helping maintain wildlife corridors in areas heavily impacted by wildfire.
Additionally, this project had a profound impact on the participating Corpsmembers, who – through trainings and hands-on practice – significantly expanded their technical skills and strengthened their readiness for careers in environmental restoration, public works, and emergency response. Serving in burn zones gave Corpsmembers experience operating within coordinated, multi-agency structures – an uncommon opportunity that built confidence, leadership, and problem-solving skills. Many Corpsmembers expressed that serving on this mission deepened their sense of purpose, strengthened their commitment to environmental careers, and gave them real-world experience that will support their long-term employment goals.
LACC says this project benefited from close documentation of field methods and material use, allowing for best practices to be shared from one Corps to the next. They also employed multi-week crew rotations, allowing crews to keep up steady progress and carry-out continuous work. Additionally, LACC recommends other programs take time now to build relationships with key state and local emergency response agencies. This can help establish coordination, discuss communication procedures, and set safety expectations in advance of any needed deployment.
LACC says the scale, duration, and level of interagency coordination made this deployment fundamentally different from any other previous disaster response work, positioning LACC and other local Corps as reliable partners in statewide emergency and watershed protection efforts.





































































