ALTADENA, Calif. (KABC) -- With thousands of homes lost during the January wildfires, some homeowners raced to start rebuilding.

But two homeowners in Altadena said they moved too fast and ended up sending tens of thousands of dollars to a man they later found out is not a licensed contractor. As the California Department of Consumer Affairs investigates, the homeowners are suing the contractor and have a warning for all.

Shelley Mallchock and her husband David get emotional when it comes to seeing their lot scraped clean, but an even bigger source of stress started after the Eaton Fire scorched their home.

David said he started looking for a contractor about three to four days after the fire. So less than a month after losing nearly everything, the couple signed a contract w

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