January 11, 2025 | Wildfire News Updates
Can those qualities survive devastating firestorm?
By Colleen Shalby, Melissa Gomez and Brittny Mejia Photography by Christina House Jan. 11, 2025
- In Altadena, the Eaton fire destroyed more than 1,000 structures and killed at least five people.
- The fire has upended a cherished way of life in the eclectic community, where residents are drawn to its solitude and sense of community.
- As Altadenans reel from the devastation, many wonder whether their rebuilt town will retain its soul.
For some, Altadena’s draw has been the seclusion it offers, nestled in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains, straddling the line between urban and wild. For others, it’s been the community where Black residents sought refuge decades ago amid the legacy of defunct racial redlining. And then there has always been Altadena’s sense of freedom and creativity that gave rise to an artists’ enclave and The Bunny Museum.
Whatever drew them, this unincorporated town north of Pasadena represented an alluring, magical combination of solitude and community for more than 42,000 residents, many whose families had lived there for generations in an eclectic mix of homes — from streets lined with small bungalow homes and neighborhoods of sprawling Spanish style and Colonial mansions amid graceful oaks.
Here, affordable home prices made ownership a reality. Neighbors checked in if they noticed a light on late. Full-moon parties were anticipated celebrations. Dozens jogged together on Tuesdays and Thursdays as part of a running group formed during the pandemic. In winter, residents visited Christmas Tree Lane, marveling at the lighted, drooping branches of the deodar cedar trees. The town council balanced progress with ensuring that gentrification wouldn’t force out long-time Altadenans.
But on Tuesday, the Eaton fire cut a brutal swath through the town, burning more than 1,000 structures and killing at least five residents. A cherished way of life is upended and residents are reeling in sadness. Old Altadena is gone and residents are left wondering: Can the remade town retain its soul?
VIDEO | 01:53A look at the devastation in Altadena 📷Play Video
In some parts of Altadena, entire blocks were razed. In others, scattered homes had burned while others were spared, leaving residents to reckon with whether they’d rebuild. In a cul-de-sac along Alta Crest Drive, where more than a dozen homes burned, neighbors wept together in the street. If no one else planned to rebuild, one neighbor later said, he and his wife might cut their losses and leave.
The rustic country club, known for its annual fireworks show, was decimated after more than 100 years. Buildings at the nearby public golf course were also gone.
The “Greetings from Altadena” mural on North Lake Ave. remained untouched, while so many essentials surrounding it went up in flames. The hardware store and the burger joint; the historic coffee shop; churches, schools and grocery stores. All lost.
Carrie Meyers, owner of Steve’s Pets store — a beloved institution — lost her home first. Then the fire ravaged her shop, killing the animals inside, including three cats, 25 parakeets and 37-year-old Pesto, her yellow-naped Amazon parrot.
Meyers is one of many who live and work in the area. In an instant, their livelihoods were taken. About 25% of the Altadena Town Council lost homes in the fire.
“I just don’t understand how an entire town can be reduced to rubble,” Victoria Knapp, council chair, said from a Pomona hotel room that has since become home. “Altadena is never going to look the same. Even when we rebuild, it’ll never be what it was.”
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