Wednesday, January 29, 2025

Study: Black Households Disproportionately Impacted by Eaton Fire

CITY NEWS SERVICE

Black residents of Altadena were disproportionately impacted by the Eaton Fire’s devastation, both in the concentration of households within the burn area and the percentage of homes that were destroyed or sustained major damage, according to a UCLA study released Tuesday.

According to the report by the UCLA Ralph J. Bunche Center for African American Studies, the UCLA Center for Neighborhood Knowledge and the UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Institute, at least 2,800 Black households were forced to evacuate within a day of the Eaton Fire’s outbreak on Jan. 7, and a disproportionate number of homes damaged or destroyed were located in neighborhoods historically occupied by Black residents.

“Altadena’s Black community has long served as a symbol of resilience and opportunity in the Los Angeles region, but the Eaton Fire exposes how decades of segregation and the legacy of redlining practices have left Black households more vulnerable,” Lorrie Frasure, a professor of political science and African American studies who directs the Bunche Center, said in a statement. “The recovery process must acknowledge this historic legacy and the disparities stemming from it to provide tailored support that ensures the restoration and future of this vibrant community.”

The study found that 61% of Black households in Altadena were located in the fire perimeter, compared with 50% of non-Black households. Roughly 48% of Black households were destroyed or heavily damaged, compared to 37% of non- Black households.

Authors of the report suggested that “historical redlining practices” led to a high concentration of Black families in the areas of Altadena that were most impacted by the fire. They also noted that more than half of Black homeowners in Altadena are over age 65, and many could face additional issues such as insufficient insurance and “risks of financial exploitation” as they look to rebuild.

“The Eaton Fire has the potential to accelerate the decline of Altadena’s Black community, erasing generations of progress,” Frasure said. “Policymakers and relief organizations must act swiftly to protect the legacy and future of this historic community.”