Six months after the devastating Eaton Fire swept through Altadena, California, the community reflects on the challenges and progress made since the disaster. The fire started on an exceptionally hot, dry, and windy afternoon, and grew quickly into a conflagration that burned for 24 days. It burned more than 14,000 acres, destroying over 9,000 structures and tragically taking 18 lives.
Prior to the wildfires, Altadena had around 42,000 residents. That’s because this historic area is acknowledged as one of the first communities in the United States, where black & brown families could purchase land, particularly homeownership. As families start to rebuild their lives, this deep fabric of history still sees the community through—helping the once-stereotypical insular enclave respond with extraordinary resilience.
The Jenkins family is just one of the thousands who lost everything to the fire. Her family and the McMillan family have lived within a two-mile radius of each other for generations. Four sisters from the Jenkins family each lost their homes in the blaze. Their story is representative of the individual human toll of the tragedy that has too many families still dealing with a cascading tsunami of pain and loss.
The Wood family, who have lived in Altadena for over 40 years, have chosen to stay and rebuild despite the extensive damage. Family member Ed Broussard told us that every member of his family is committed to rebuilding in place. They’re busy rebuilding their lives in the wake of the disaster.
To support families such as the Woods and Jenkins, nonprofit organizations have filled the gaps. To help expedite the rebuilding process, the Foothill Catalog Foundation is creating a catalog of pre-approved home plans to which fire victims can select from. Coupled with additional funding for small rental units, ensuring the capacity of families to return home faster, this initiative will relieve the hardship displacement can bring.
The Rotary Club of Altadena is working to make a difference by creating this fund. We will focus these federal funds on immediate and long-term relief efforts through disaster response grants. These relief grants are meant to help families begin to understand all it will take to start rebuilding after suffering an unimaginable loss.
Habitat for Humanity has worked with the Foothill Catalog Foundation to help restore homes across Altadena as well. This joint effort hopes to help give families more than a home, but a new community rooted in resilience.
Even with these new initiatives, the road to recovery is tough. As of now, just over 80 rebuilding permits have been issued since the fire, highlighting the slow process that homeowners face. Paula Kimberling is just one of the handful of homeowners poised to see a single shovel break ground on her new home. She has thus far navigated the permit process with flying colors.
The issues around insurance coverage have created an additional barrier to care for many residents. As Jenine Wood said, just because you have insurance doesn’t mean that you have the full cost of rebuilding insured. This feeling rings true for many of those who have the financial means to repurchase their homes outright.
Cynthia Sigler, a licensed architect based in Pasadena is collaborating with the Foothill Catalog Foundation. Together, they’re shining a light on how to make the permitting process more homeowner-friendly. Her knowledge to guide the survivors through the bureaucratic red-tape maze that can delay recovery efforts for years is invaluable.
