The residents of Altadena, California are beginning to come to terms with the heartbreaking toll of the Eaton wildfire that continues to rage in the mountains above the town. At least four people have been killed and over 5,000 structures destroyed as the blaze, fueled by intense winds, ripped through neighborhoods on Tuesday night.
Returning residents are faced with a shocking scene of destruction. On some blocks, five houses have been damaged while neighboring homes stand untouched. The seemingly random nature of the devastation has left the community reeling.
“Look at how random it is,” said local resident Carlos. “There’s homes standing right next to each other intact, and other folks have lost everything.”
Embers Ignite Homes Far From Fire Line
The intense winds on Tuesday night scattered burning embers from the wildfire across a huge swath of the landscape, sparking fires and destroying homes far beyond the main blaze. This accounted for much of the arbitrary-seeming destruction, with some houses erupting in flames while those next door survived unscathed.
Pasadena resident Alex Neuss expressed his shock at the extent of the damage. “You see this stuff on TV, but I’ve never seen anything like this up close,” the 36-year-old said. “I’m surprised how deep it got into the residential areas.”
Residents Overwhelmed by Scale of Disaster
For many living in the Los Angeles area, the sheer number of fires that have threatened communities in just the past 24 hours is hard to comprehend. A group of friends gathered on Lake Boulevard in Altadena said they were overwhelmed, with fires impacting their homes and workplaces from Pasadena to Santa Monica to the San Fernando Valley.
“I’ve seen really bad fires, but this is the worst I’ve ever seen,” said 28-year-old Harley. “My mom has been here 40 years, and it’s the worst she’s ever seen.”
Some residents expressed frustration at what they saw as a lack of preparedness and coordination from city officials in the face of the crisis. But even as faith in the government response wavered, many took heart in the courage of first responders and the support shown by neighbors.
Community Bands Together Amid “Apocalyptic” Scene
On Los Robles Avenue near the Altadena-Pasadena border, residents emerged to clear away debris and check on each other’s homes. The scale of the disaster evoked comparisons to the catastrophic 1994 Northridge earthquake.
“I lived through the 1994 earthquake, and this feels just as apocalyptic,” said Sherri Solinger, whose house survived Tuesday’s onslaught.
Solinger praised her neighborhood as a tight-knit and diverse community that was relying on one another to get through this crisis. Residents took turns hosing down each other’s houses to protect them from drifting embers, and emerged the next day to help clear downed trees and branches.
For Fidel Rodriguez, who has spent the last decade lovingly restoring his 1911 Craftsman home, the idea of losing all that work was almost too much to bear. His home made it through, and his focus immediately turned to helping his neighbors. “I feel sorry for everyone,” Rodriguez said. “I’ll be helping everyone.”
As the Eaton fire continues to burn out of control, and with months of fire season still ahead, Altadena residents are only beginning to grapple with the long road to recovery. But even in the early stages of this disaster, the community’s resilience and compassion are providing a source of light amid the ashes.
