Wednesday, January 7, 2026

One Year After the Eaton Fire, Altadena and Pasadena Mark Loss, Recovery, and the Work Still Ahead

One year after the Eaton Fire, politicians, pundits and local residents continue to push forward in the wake of the fire which left Altadena devastated

By ANDRÉ COLEMAN, MANAGING EDITOR

It was like a bomb going off, no other way to describe it,” Governor Gavin Newsom said. “And I was there just a few hours after the fire, and was there physically in the midst of the firefighting as I went up into the foothills and experienced firsthand what our first responders were dealing with.”

In the days that followed, entire blocks were transformed. Homes were reduced to foundations and chimneys. Vehicles were left burned in driveways. Power lines sagged. The smell of smoke lingered long after the flames were out, seeping into clothing, furniture, and the routines of daily life.

Within hours of the fire’s advance, community response filled the gaps left by the emergency. Churches, schools, and nonprofit centers opened as informal shelters.

Restaurants and local businesses donated food and supplies. Volunteers organized drop-off points for clothing, toiletries, and water. Residents used neighborhood groups and social media to track missing pets, offer spare rooms, and share evacuation updates.

Over the past year, Altadena’s recovery has unfolded in stages. Emergency housing gave way to longer-term displacement. Cleanup crews removed hazardous debris. Insurance negotiations, permitting, and reconstruction followed.

Some homeowners have since moved back into rebuilt houses, while others continue to navigate stalled claims, rising construction costs, and temporary living arrangements.

Still for others, the fire has come to represent racial divisions.

As flames closed in on homes in Black neighborhoods in parts of West Altadena, many residents received no evacuation notice and received almost no help from the fire department.

While 64 fire trucks were stationed in east Pasadena, just one truck was in West Pasadena at 3:08 a.m., according to tracking data published by the Los Angeles Times.

A July report said that six months later, one in five residents believes the Los Angeles County Fire Department deliberately let the neighborhood burn.

The fire destroyed homes that had been passed down by Black families through generations.

“Absolutely, we are coming back,” said Antoinette Raines. “We have premier Design/Builders like Kendra Mays, who has several houses under construction, with some coming back home within 70-90 days from now.

Weekly, I hear from many Black Altadenans that are determined to rebuild and get back home to Altadena.”

Meanwhile, local officials in Los Angeles and Pasadena were left asking if the tragedy could have been prevented.

“From the devastation of the Eaton Fire, we learned a hard but necessary lesson: even the strongest cities can be overwhelmed in the critical early moments of a large disaster,” said Mayor Victor Gordo. “Preparation cannot stop at city lines or rely solely on mutual aid that may not arrive in time. We must think and act regionally, investing in aging infrastructure, strengthening coordination across jurisdictions, and ensuring trained responders and resources are ready to move immediately. The Eaton Fire reminded us that preparedness isn’t an abstract goal; it is a responsibility we owe to our residents, our first responders, and to the lives and communities forever changed.”

The County has taken steps to streamline the permit process. Although the rebuilding process in Altadena has picked up in recent months, thousands of permits still have not been approved by the County.

“From the outset, I pushed Los Angeles County to move quickly,” said Supervisor Kathryn Barger, in an op-ed piece to Pasadena Now. “I focused on cutting red tape, waiving fees, and delivering direct support. As a result, the County has awarded more than $21 million in relief grants to households, businesses, and workers, and waived an estimated $120 million in permit fees in the Eaton Fire area. These steps have made a real difference, but they also underscore a larger national challenge.”

According to Barger, across the country disaster recovery too often relies on personal wealth to determine outcomes.

“We need stronger systems of disaster recovery support that give everyone a fair chance to rebuild, regardless of income or circumstance,” she said. “Recovery should not depend on whether a family has the financial cushion to endure prolonged displacement.”

Officials still have not announced an official cause of the Eaton Fire.

Video footage appears to show the fire igniting near towers owned by Southern California Edison. Edison International President and CEO Pedro Pizarro has said their equipment is “likely the cause” of the fire.

Thousands of people have filed lawsuits against the utility. Still others don’t have the money to rebuild, and will be faced out of the community.

“As we begin this solemn week, we recognize a hard truth: recovery looks different for every family,” said Gov. Gavin Newsom. “Many are rebuilding. Others are still navigating how and whether to rebuild. Some are still grieving the losses of loved ones that will never fade. We see you, and we honor you.

“California is listening and shaping our recovery around real needs — accelerating rebuilding, supporting mental health, reopening businesses, and pressing the federal government to deliver. Our commitment is simple: we will keep showing up, and we will keep doing the work.”