After the Eaton Fire destroyed her 100-year-old cottage in Altadena, California, Margot Stueber is determined to demonstrate how quickly a home can be rebuilt. Partnering with architect Trinidad Campbell, Stueber is designing a new home that incorporates lessons learned from the fire. The new structure will be made entirely of cement blocks, a departure from traditional wood construction, to enhance fire resistance.
Stueber’s property was the first to be cleared by the Army Corps of Engineers as part of the recovery efforts. The expedited cleanup process was part of a broader initiative to clear debris from the Eaton and Palisades fires, which damaged over 18,000 structures in Los Angeles County. According to The Washington Post, the cleanup is part of the largest wildfire recovery response in modern U.S. history, coordinated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
The 68-year-old psychotherapist, who has lived in Altadena for nearly two decades, sees the rebuilding as a “radical renewal” for herself. She is using her insurance reimbursement and a disaster relief loan to fund the construction. Stueber hopes to complete her new home within a year to a year and a half, a timeline she believes is manageable given her age.
Stueber’s determination to rebuild quickly is intended to inspire her community. “If I can do it, people in Altadena can do it,” she told NBC Los Angeles. Despite the challenges, she envisions an open space on her lot for meditation and dance, remaining hopeful for a brighter future.
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