Tuesday, August 18, 2026

Eaton Fire Survivors To Leave Pasadena for Sacramento Seeking $25 Million Rebuilding Fund

A coalition of Eaton Fire survivors is scheduled to hold a news conference and bus send-off at the Pasadena Community Job Center on Tuesday morning before traveling to Sacramento to press state leaders for $25 million for a proposed rebuilding fund.

The Dena Rise Up Coalition said in an announcement released Monday that more than 100 survivors, residents, workers, faith leaders and community advocates would make the trip. The send-off is set for 9 a.m. at 500 N. Lake Ave.

The coalition is seeking the money for the proposed Community Aid for Rebuilding Equity Fund, known as the CARE Fund. The coalition says the fund would provide rebuilding assistance for lower-income homeowners and preserve affordable housing opportunities for displaced renters and working families.

“Recovery cannot be measured by promises. It must be measured by whether families can come home,” said Florence Annang, a coalition spokesperson.

Five fire survivors are expected to speak at the Pasadena event, along with Heavenly Hughes, executive director of My Tribe Rise, and Vlad Carrasco, climate justice director for the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights, according to the coalition’s announcement.

The Eaton Fire began Jan. 7, 2025, at 6:18 p.m. near Altadena Drive and Midwick Drive and burned 14,021 acres before it was fully contained, according to CAL FIRE. The agency’s incident record lists 9,419 structures destroyed, 1,076 damaged and 19 civilian deaths.

Gov. Gavin Newsom announced a separate proposal on May 14 for a $100 million disaster rebuilding fund as part of his revised 2026-27 budget. A state fact sheet described the proposed fund as helping homeowners secure construction loans, gain access to low-interest loans and reduce borrowing costs when insurance and other aid fall short.

A second news conference is scheduled for 9 a.m. Wednesday at Governor’s Mansion State Historic Park, 1526 H St., Sacramento, with arrival and media check-in at 8:30 a.m. and departure for advocacy at the state Capitol at 9:30 a.m. Coalition members plan meetings with state legislators and administration officials.

The coalition identifies its participants as My Tribe Rise, the National Day Laborer Organizing Network, the Eaton Fire Collaborative, the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights, End Child Poverty CA, Catalyst CA, the Pasadena Community Job Center, POP, LA Voice, the NAACP Pasadena Branch, EFRU, the Black Power Network and Altadena Rising.