𝗙𝗜𝗥𝗘 𝗧𝗢 𝗙𝗥𝗔𝗠𝗘: Pacific Palisades’ First Home Rises from Ashes After Devastating Blaze

Pacific Palisades, CA — Tuesday, June 24, 2025 — Nearly six months after the catastrophic Palisades Fire scorched over 23,000 acres and destroyed thousands of structures, visible signs of recovery have begun to emerge. On Embury Street in Pacific Palisades, a home that was among the first to be demolished after the disaster is now rising again—possibly the first to enter the active rebuilding phase in the hard-hit neighborhood.

On Tuesday, Jorge Gurrola, CEO of JG Demolition & Construction Cleanup Inc., and Ram Miller, founder of Miller Construction and Development Inc., were on-site overseeing construction progress. Gurrola’s team completed the initial demolition and debris removal at the site back in February, following required clearances from the Environmental Protection Agency and successful asbestos and lead testing.

“This was one of the first projects we took on after the fire,” said Gurrola. “We hauled out eight truckloads of fire debris to Calabasas Landfill and cleared another 20 loads of concrete, delivered to certified facilities like Vulcan and AMH. All permits were secured through the City and County, and we made sure everything was done to code.”

Miller, who is rebuilding his own home after living there for 27 years, praised the speed and coordination of the rebuilding effort so far. “We got our permits approved in about three weeks,” he said. “JG Demo did a fantastic job on demolition and excavation. We started in May, and now we’re framing the second story. We should be done with all framing in about 60 days and hope to move back in within eight months.”

Founded over 16 years ago, Miller Construction and Development is known locally for its integrity, transparency, and craftsmanship in custom homebuilding. The company is now helping lead the charge in post-fire reconstruction.

JG Demolition, a Los Angeles-certified waste hauler and EPA lead-certified contractor, continues to support recovery efforts throughout the burn zone. With strict adherence to environmental protocols, the company ensures that debris is processed through approved channels in compliance with local and federal regulations.

The Palisades Fire, which ignited on January 7, 2025, was fueled by intense drought and hurricane-force Santa Ana winds. The fire destroyed 6,837 structures and claimed 12 lives before being fully contained on January 31. In the months since, cleanup crews, contractors, and public agencies have worked to stabilize terrain, restore utilities, and clear debris.

The rebuild underway on Embury Street stands as a milestone—one of the clearest signs yet that the long road to recovery is finally taking shape.