Rebuild:LA

When the firestorms of January 2025 raged through the Pacific Palisades and Altadena, they left 31 people dead and historic destruction in their wake. Recovery will be a long, uphill road, and rebuilding will take years and dedicated planning. This podcast takes a deep dive into the circumstances that led to the fires, how people can prepare for future wildfires - which are inevitable - and how Angeleños can come together to rebuild our beautiful city.

Rebuild:LA is the proud winner of the 2025 Award of Excellence from the Communicator Awards, the 2025 Silver W3 Award, and the 2026 Silver NYX Award for podcasting!

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Rebuild:LA

Rebuild:LA Episode 069: Can We Actually Build a Fireproof House? Gary Hendren of S.A.M. House Might Have Already Invented One

April 07, 2026 • MySafe:LA • Season 4 • Episode 69

0:00 | 37:17

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In this day of increasing climate disasters, it might be time to start thinking outside the wood frame box when it comes to building homes in the Wildland Urban Interface. At least that’s what Gary Hendren from S.A.M. House is hoping people will do when they’re ready to rebuild their homes in Pacific Palisades, Altadena, and Malibu. On this week’s episode, host Cameron Barrett talks to Hendren about the new building material he’s invented that has passed rigorous wind and fire tests. And it’s fabricated right here in California. S.A.M. stands for Sustainable, Alternative, and Modular, three things Hendren wants Los Angeles residents to keep in mind when building for the future.

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