After receiving help from a fellow survivor of the Eaton Fire, the Williams family broke ground at the site of their grandmother's burned-down home in Altadena.
Thursday, April 23, 2026 6:14PMOn a block still dotted with burned-out lots left behind by the devastating Eaton Fire, the Williams family finally had a reason to celebrate this week as they broke ground on the first of their four lost homes.
A small cheer went up - "Start building! Let's go!
" - as relatives dug shovels into the patch of land where their grandmother's house once stood. The fire tore through the neighborhood, destroying multiple Williams properties and leaving the family tangled for months in stalled permits, unreliable contractors and bureaucratic delays. For more than a year, the family struggled to make any progress.
Then they met June Lujan - theand move back into her home after the disaster. A longtime contractor and project manager, Lujan immediately recognized the challenges the Williams family faced. With Lujan's guidance, the family secured permits in just 20 days, clearing the way for construction to begin. A new home is expected to be completed by the holidays.
Rebuilding after a major wildfire is often slow, costly and emotionally draining, said Lori Gay, president and CEO of Neighborhood Housing Services of Los Angeles County. She urged local agencies to speed up their processes.
"We need the government entities to do their job, we need plan-check to move faster," Gay said. "We're joining hands now - we're going to get our work done here. " The Williams family says the other three properties will soon follow, marking a turning point in their long recovery. And for them, the name of their new contractor feels like more than coincidence.
"We are glad that she's our Jun," Williams said. "My grandmother was born in June... and ironically, my father's nickname was also June. So there's something special in the name June. "
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