The Eaton Fires: The Loss of Life and Property, as Black Victims Start to Rebuild

January 7th, 2025, was the start of the most horrific, destructive, widespread disaster in California’s history. The National Weather Service issued a red flag warning for several areas due to the deadly Santa Ana winds. It was predicted that the wind would be between 50 to 80 mph and, some areas could see wind gusts up to 80 to 100 mph. That afternoon, with the combination of these high winds and the dry climate, multiple wildfires erupted in L.A. County. The Palisades fire decimated the community of Pacific Palisades and the Hurst fire in Sylmar in the northern part of San Fernando Valley. The Eaton fire started in Eaton Canyon in the San Gabriel Mountains and quickly spread to ravage Altadena and parts of Pasadena. Leaving families displaced and devastated by the damage caused by this fire.

What are the Santa Ana Winds?

These are dry powerful winds that are blown down the mountains toward the Southern California coast. When high pressure builds over the Great Basin, which is the high plateau east of the Sierra Nevada Mountain area, in cooler months, the high pressure pushes the air down the mountains and as the air travels through the canyons it becomes compressed, hotter, and drier. Once these winds reach Southern California, they can move at intense speeds of 40mph and sometimes gusts upward of 70 mph.

Damages done to Altadena

Currently, the Eaton fire has burned over 14,000 acres and killed 17 people, and 7,000 structures have been damaged or destroyed. These structures include schools such as Eliot Magnet Arts Middle School, Aveson School of Leaders, Loma Alta Elementary, and Noyes Elementary School all severely damaged by these wildfires. Zo Williams, author and radio host, and Pasadena/Altadena resident said, “I feel like my childhood is gone, the city will forever be changed by this horrific event.” Local businesses, that were staples in the community, have been destroyed. The Bunny Museum, Altadena Hardware Store, Fox’s Restaurant, Side Pie Pizza, and Little Red Hen Coffee Shop; decades of memories were erased within hours as this fire spread from structure to structure. Thousands of residents lost their homes as they were evacuating to safety.

Dr. William Syms, a resident of Altadena for over 40 years, lost his home. He was able to get his family to safety the night the fire started and when they returned the next morning only his chimney and his shed were still standing, everything else was destroyed. His parents have been residents of Altadena for over 45 years, their house was completely lost as well. CalFire has reported this is the second most destructive wildfire in California’s history. L.A. County supervisor Kathryn Barger said, “It looks like a warzone, I’ve never seen anything like it.”

Other structures that were devastated by the fires are the National Historic Register, Davies Community Center, Farnsworth Park, Theosophical Library Center, and Eaton Canyon Nature Center. The Eaton wildfire has left structures destroyed and so many families displaced. There were two houses of worship damaged in the fires: Altadena Community Church and St. Mark’s Episcopal Church. Members of each congregation express their sadness of losing the place they’ve worshipped at for years. Pastor Kervin Manning of Pasadena Church didn’t sustain damage to his church but, he and his wife haven’t been able to return to their home since they evacuated on January 7th. This horrific disaster has touched members of his congregation as seventeen families have lost their homes. He says in a passionate tone, “We are here for those members of our church, but we are also here for the community of Pasadena and Altadena walking with them through this devastation.”

***Pastor Kervin Manning of Pasadena Church***

His church has become a major distribution center for resources for families impacted by the fires. Although the loss of homes and businesses can be devastating, those things can be replaced, but the loss of lives cannot. So far there have been more than 10 reported deaths of which some of the victims have yet to be identified. The victims that have been identified are Erliene L. Kelley, Rodney Nickerson, Anthony Mitchell, Justin Mitchell, Randall Miod, Evelyn McClendon, Rory Sykes, and Victor Shaw who reportedly died in his bed holding a water hose. These are dark and trying times but, this city comes from a legacy of strength, determination, and perseverance. Altadena is known for its close community and ability to band together for the greater good.

Historical Black Neighborhoods & Legacies Burned

Veronica Jones, president of The Altadena Historical Society says, “Some of the homes that burned down were over 100 years old. This was a tight-knit community linked through generations and half the black residents were homeowners.” The Eaton fires destroyed thousands of physical structures, and they also burned an important piece of black history. The city of Altadena was one of the first places in Southern California where black families could buy a home. In the early and mid-1900s, America was under the dark cloud of overt systematic racism. One of these racial practices was called ‘Red Lining.’ This was a term created by a sociologist named John McKnight to describe a discriminatory practice in which banks and other financial institutions refuse to offer mortgages or offer worse rates to customers in certain neighborhoods based on their racial and ethnic composition.

**President of The Altadena Historical Society** **Veronica Jones**

Between 1916 and 1970 about six million African Americans left rural areas in Southern United States and moved to areas in the North and West. This became known as The Great Migration, with millions of African Americans leaving the segregation and racial violence of the South in search of better economic opportunities. One of the places many black families settled in when they came out West was Altadena. It was an area west of Lake Ave where many black families were able to find jobs, housing, and a better quality of life. From the 1930s to the mid-1960s black families weren’t allowed to have mortgages until The Civil Rights Movement and the Fair Housing Act of 1964. The combination of those things enabled blacks to become homeowners. The population of black families grew from 6% in the 1960s to over 30% in the next 50 years.

Some very influential and trailblazing black people called Altadena home throughout the years. Willa Beatrice Brown was the first black woman to earn both a pilot’s license and a commercial license. Jackie Robinson was the first black man to play in major league baseball. Octavia Butler, a world-renowned science fiction writer grew up in predominately black neighborhoods in Altadena and Pasadena. Charles White, one of the most important and socially conscious artists of the 20th century, lived in Altadena on Kent Street in 1959. Two of his most famous works are, “Our War”, and “Mother Courage II”. The city of Altadena named a park after him for his contribution and impact on society called Charles White Park. The city is Rich in history, linked by triumph, fueled by determination.

The Road to Recovery

To heal from a disaster of this magnitude will take time, strength, and patience. Residents will need emotional support, financial support, and assistance when it comes to filing claims and complaints. One of the nation’s leading experts, when it comes to fire litigation, is Gerald Singleton who has partnered with the NAACP. Together, they will represent clients and assist them with filing lawsuits. Mr. Singleton says, “After a disaster occurs sometimes, people don’t know where to go for resources the NAACP is on the ground guiding people in the right direction. They’ve also wanted to partner with us for certain lawsuits and we’ve just filed the first case today.” There are several resource centers around Pasadena, where residents can get food, toiletries, clothes, food, etc. Michelle White is the co-founder of the non-profit called ‘Neighborhood Servants and she has two resource centers set up for residents to get the supplies they need. These resource centers are both located in Pasadena: one is at 425 Sierra Madre Villa Ave and the other location is at Flintridge 236 West Mountain Ave.

***Co-founder of ‘Neighborhood Servant Michelle White***

President of NAACP-Pasadena, Brandon Lamar has started the Dena-Relief Drive. They are helping residents affected by the fires get day-to-day essentials. Brandon is very passionate about families from Altadena holding on to their property and their land. He says, “This is a close-knit community of black Americans who’ve had homes passed down through generations and we want to protect them for the generations to come.”

Community leaders of both Altadena and Pasadena say they are in this for the long haul, even when the cameras and media aren’t around, the work will continue. These are some of the most trying times in Southern California’s history. Thousands of families have lost everything. California civic leaders are under pressure to bring resolve to this tragedy. Citizens from around the state and country have donated food, water, clothes and toiletries, and offered financial assistance during these trying times. Pastor Kervin Manning says he’s unofficially calling this recovery process, “Operation Beauty will rise”. He quotes Isaiah 61:3, “Those who grieve in Zion to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes.” Pastor Manning and other Altadena residents have watched the prize possessions be reduced to ashes but, they have faith that the community will be rebuilt and restored to the beauty and love it was built upon.

Donation Information

https://kikay.shop/products/eaton-fires-donation