Tuesday, September 16, 2025

Pasadena Run Club Becomes Lifeline for Eaton Fire Survivors

After the deadly Eaton Fire displaced dozens of residents across Altadena and Pasadena in early January, the Pasadena Run Club has emerged as a vital support network for survivors, including its own members.

At least 12 club members lost their homes in the blaze, according to CBS News confirmed. Many initially sheltered in cars or with relatives before the club mobilized to meet urgent needs. Co-founders Ronnie Ferraz and Lidia Garcia led daily coordination efforts, checking on food, clothing, and lodging for newly affected members.

“Every day, we would learn that there was somebody new affected by the fire,” Ferraz said in an interview with CBS News. “Do they have food? Do they have clothes? Like, what do they need?”

The club’s grassroots response included supply drives and volunteer housing offers. The group has transformed from fitness collective to community lifeline.

Garcia, who co-founded the club alongside Ferraz, played a central role in coordinating aid and maintaining contact with displaced members, according to CBS News reporting.

Carl Walton, a club member who works as an Uber driver and massage therapist, lost his home in the fire.

“It literally burned up, right in front of me,” Walton said in the CBS News segment. He described the emotional toll of the disaster and the relief he found in the club’s support. “By running, I’m kind of putting everything to the side for a minute, and the hope comes from the people … that’s helped,” he said.

The Eaton Fire prompted widespread displacement and emergency response efforts throughout the region.

The Pasadena Run Club’s mobilization has drawn public recognition and underscored the role of local organizations in disaster recovery.

Reflecting on the club’s redefined mission, Ferraz told CBS News, “It’s much more of a community than anything else.”

For more, visit https://www.pasadenarun.club/