LOS ANGELES, CA — More than 100 volunteers gathered in Altadena over the weekend to clear brush from vacant lots as community service projects marking the 9/11 anniversary continued across the Los Angeles area.
The brush-clearing effort was organized by L.A. Works in partnership with the Altadena Talks Foundation and was focused on helping residents continue recovering from the Eaton Fire.
The event connected a national day of remembrance with a local recovery effort that remains ongoing more than a year after the wildfire devastated parts of Altadena and surrounding communities.
The annual September 11 National Day of Service and Remembrance encourages Americans to honor those who died in the 2001 terrorist attacks through volunteer work and community service. AmeriCorps identifies Sept. 11 as a national day for service and remembrance, with projects organized around the country.
Volunteers focus on overgrown Altadena lots
Saturday’s work took place on Maiden Lane, where more than 100 volunteers joined the cleanup effort.
The project addressed brush and vegetation that have become a concern on vacant and fire-affected properties. L.A. Works said its 2026 9/11 Day of Service programming included work supporting Eaton Fire survivors and residents still navigating the recovery process.
The organization described its Altadena project as an opportunity to help residents facing overgrown brush on burned lots, including properties where vegetation can create additional challenges for homeowners trying to recover and rebuild. L.A. Works has organized 9/11 Day of Service activities in Los Angeles for years, with the broader program emphasizing community service and support for local residents.
The work also builds on an existing volunteer effort by the Altadena Talks Foundation. Its Neighbors Helping Neighbors initiative was created after the Eaton Fire to provide vegetation removal and property cleanup for residents dealing with overgrown and fire-damaged lots.
According to the foundation, its volunteer-driven program has been helping fire survivors, seniors, veterans and other vulnerable homeowners with property cleanup. The organization says hundreds of properties became overgrown following the fire, creating additional wildfire hazards and making recovery more difficult.
Eaton Fire recovery remains a long-term effort
The Eaton Fire began Jan. 7, 2025, and caused widespread destruction in Altadena and nearby communities.
Los Angeles County continues to maintain a dedicated Eaton Fire recovery portal with information covering debris removal, rebuilding, health and safety, permits and other services for affected residents.
The county has also specifically identified overgrown vegetation on fire-impacted properties as a post-fire concern. In June, Los Angeles County officials directed departments to develop a coordinated strategy addressing hazardous vegetation and brush conditions in Altadena and other fire-affected areas.
County officials said many properties remained vacant or in various stages of debris removal, insurance resolution and rebuilding. In some cases, vegetation had become severely overgrown, creating concerns related to wildfire risk, illegal dumping, vermin and visibility for neighboring residents.
The county’s recovery information also notes that the Eaton Fire had a significant impact on Altadena and continues to require long-term recovery resources.
For residents rebuilding after the fire, vegetation and debris are part of a broader recovery process. County guidance addresses debris removal, hazardous trees and rebuilding requirements for affected properties.
Community groups continue cleanup work
The Altadena Talks Foundation says its vegetation cleanup initiative was created specifically in response to conditions following the Eaton Fire.
The foundation’s current program information says the effort has mobilized volunteers to clear overgrown properties at no cost to eligible residents. Its broader wildfire resilience initiative describes the work as a long-term effort involving residents, volunteers, nonprofits, businesses and public partners.
The organization has also continued seeking volunteers and donations to sustain the cleanup work, according to information provided by the foundation.
For the volunteers who participated Saturday, the work provided a practical way to contribute to the recovery while also observing the 9/11 anniversary.
Stephen Davalos of L.A. Works emphasized the community aspect of the project, saying the goal was to highlight residents coming together as neighbors and helping restore a sense of normalcy.
Toni Bailey-Raines of the Altadena Talks Foundation likewise pointed to the organization’s regular presence in the community and its continued need for volunteers and financial support.
More service projects planned
The Altadena cleanup was part of a broader half-week-long series of service activities connected to the 9/11 anniversary.
The effort began Wednesday at the Frank Hodgkins Memorial Training Center, where volunteers worked to beautify the facility used by firefighters, according to the information provided for the event.
After the Altadena brush-clearing project, volunteers were scheduled to continue service work Sunday at Barnsdall Art Park in Hollywood, with wildfire mitigation and additional brush clearance planned.
L.A. Works describes its 9/11 Day of Service as an annual effort to bring volunteers together in support of communities and people in need. Its broader programming includes projects related to disaster response, environmental work and community resilience.
The timing is significant for Altadena, where recovery from the Eaton Fire remains an active community effort. While large-scale government debris-removal operations have addressed fire-related material on eligible properties, local organizations continue working on the smaller-scale property and neighborhood needs that remain after the initial emergency response.
The weekend’s volunteer work therefore served two purposes: honoring the lives lost on Sept. 11 through community service and helping an Altadena neighborhood continue the difficult, long-term work of recovering from the Eaton Fire.
