Over the last year, “Marketplace” has been checking in with business owners whose livelihoods had been destroyed in the Eaton Fire, the second most destructive wildfire in California history, according to CalFire.
Nineteen people died in the Eaton Fire and over 9,400 structures were destroyed.
Joey Galloway, a second-generation property owner in Altadena, lost a building in the fire.
“Marketplace” host Kai Ryssdal first met with Galloway in March. They talked about his two commercial properties in Altadena’s business district — one that had burned down, and one, just across the alleyway, that appeared practically untouched.
We went back to Altadena in mid-December to meet with Galloway again. There was some good news to share. In November, five businesses in Galloway’s standing building were able to reopen. But the bad news? Construction on his burned building is at a standstill.
“I've never been to this situation before, now I'm starting to realize how insurance operate. Just hurry up and wait,” said Galloway, about what’s holding him back from rebuilding.
Galloway thinks it’ll be another three to five years before the building can be rebuilt.
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