HOA demanding $23,000 fee from homeowners who lost their properties in wildfires is suing those who don’t pay | 25 March 2026 | The homeowner’s association (HOA) of a wildfire[DEW]-ravaged community gave residents a $23,000 bill due within a month and threatened lawsuits if they don’t pay up. Residents of the La Vina community in Altadena were notified by the HOA on July 29, 2025, of the gargantuan fee, giving them 34 days to pay by September 1, according to the Los Angeles Times. Homeowners were forced to pay the bill to help repair damage caused by the Eaton fire last year. The January fires, which tore through ritzy LA neighborhoods, left at least 31 dead and decimated 57,000 acres of land. Altadena was among the community’s worst hit. Residents who did not chip in by paying the $23,614 bill were subject to late fees, a lien on their home, regardless of whether it was damaged, and 12 percent annual interest.