MARINA DEL RAY, Calif. — After three neighbors lost their home in the Palisades Fire, they're relying on continuity to get through one of the most difficult times of their lives.

Dan Moriarty and his wife lived in their home for over 33 years, and over that time, he became friends with neighbors Frank Smiley and Randall Davidson. The trio all lost their homes in the fire and are waiting for the cleanup efforts to be completed before figuring out their next steps.

What You Need To Know

  • The Palisades Fire destroyed more than 6,000 homes

  • Rebuilding efforts are in Phase 2 as homeowners wait to see what is next

  • The estimated cost of the Palisades and Eaton Fires is estimated to be more than $250 billion, according to Accuweather

“Knowing what the problems are, the variables are, it’s just not gonna happen for quite a while,” Moriarty said. “And that makes you wonder, how many people will go back?”

While they wait to hear from officials when they can consider rebuilding their homes, Moriarty and Smiley moved into the same apartment complex in Marina Del Rey, while Davidson is close by in Santa Monica.

“We’re really fortunate to have our friends still with us and to land here,” Moriarty said. “To have the boats and the water, it’s at least somewhat calming.”

According to city officials, over 6,000 structures were lost or damaged in the Palisades Fire, making it one of the most costly wildfires in the country's history.

For Smiley, there is some comfort in having close friends going through a devastating time. 

“It’s great to have someone to commiserate with,” Smiley said. “And to touch base about where they are in the process, because it’s overwhelming.”

The trio have shared where they are at in the recovery process, and miss being able to spend time together on a moment’s notice.

“We could walk right out our front door and literally go, ‘Hey, glass of wine?’” Davidson said. “That, we don’t have anymore.”

Dr. Carissa Gustafson is a clinical psychologist and has worked with some victims of the Palisades and Eaton Fires. She says it’s important for the people who lost their homes to rely on each other after experiencing the hardships of losing their homes. 

“Accept that grief is a process, and to allow yourself to feel that when it arises, in addition to connecting with other people who have a shared loss,” she said. “So this is of course not just happening on an individual level, it’s happening on a large scale, and I think it makes a huge difference to be able to connect with others who are having a shared experience.”

For Moriarty, losing his home, the memories and where he and his wife raised their children is difficult to comprehend.

But, he’s glad he can turn to his close friends and neighbors while they wait to potentially move back to the street they called home for decades.

“Thousands of homes in the Palisades are gone, and three of them are ours, and that just sucks,” Moriarty said. “However, you have others that you can commiserate with, and speak with, and see around once in a while, and that’s, you’re not going through the pain yourself.”