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Last week, the Eaton Fire ravaged Carrie Myers’ residence. The North Lake Avenue pet shop, which she had acquired from her uncle over two decades ago, was also destroyed.
The concurrent devastation of her dwelling and Steve’s pet shop left her mourning the stark contrasts of the community that had been her entire life.
“Here’s the dilemma: There’s no one around,” stated Myers, 56. “Even if the pet store endures, I cannot sustain the business since no one resides here. Everyone’s departed.”
The Eaton Fire has scorched over 14,000 acres. A complete neighborhood block in Altadena was obliterated. The tally of ruined structures continues to climb into the thousands, yet the total scope of the devastation remains uncertain.
The unincorporated town situated above Pasadena is inhabited by more than 42,000 individuals. In contrast to other regions of Los Angeles County, where long commutes between home and employment are commonplace, many residents of Altadena live and work in quaint hillside communities. Reports from Kathryn Berger’s office reveal that nearly 10,500 local inhabitants will do so as of 2023.
The inferno has left numerous inhabitants wrestling with the challenge of rebuilding after their homes, sources of income, and neighborhoods were decimated.
Janet Lee’s family home was lost in a blaze. Close by, the street housing their beloved restaurant, serving the community since the 1980s, was engulfed in flames. Fair Oaks Burger, the Lee family’s “American dream” that began with their immigration from South Korea, has somehow managed to persevere while other establishments crumble.
Janet Lee, far left, declared that her family’s eatery, Fair Oaks Burger, represents their “American dream.” It stands as one of the very few restaurants still intact, yet with much of the community in ruins, she questions who will return.
(Courtesy of Janet Leigh)
It is among the rare eateries still operational in the locality.
However, Lee estimated that around 80 percent of the restaurant’s patrons have become homeless due to the fire that ravaged Altadena. It also took the life of a longtime customer.
She ponders who will return and sustain the business if they manage to reopen.
“How do you reconstruct when your whole community has perished?” asked Lee, 52, who began her restaurant career as a teenager.
“I sincerely hope people remain.”
Altadena Hardware has been a vital part of the community for over 80 years and has been under the ownership of the Orlandini family for the last 15 years. The residence of my parents and brother, who now co-manage the establishment, was spared by the blaze. Yet, their store vanished, leading to repercussions for their employees as well.
Rob Orlandini, 38, mentioned that the future of the store is assured, and it will be reconstructed. The timeline and method, however, remain ambiguous.
“It’s my source of income and my brother’s as well,” he remarked. “It’s astonishing how you invest everything you possess into your establishment only to see it vanish one morning.”
The Altadena hardware store was consumed by the Eaton Fire. (Colleen Shalby/Los Angeles Times)
(Colleen Shalby/Los Angeles Times)
Numerous businesses and educational institutions that were lost belonged to or were operated by local residents whose residences also perished. These include individuals running landscaping and childcare services. The proprietor of the dive bar “Rancho,” and the staff at Pizza of Venice, where devoted customers frequently visited.
A fundraising initiative has been established to garner assistance. Nevertheless, a week following the blaze, many who had strong connections to the local community were displaced and unable to revisit the area to evaluate the consequences and strategize next actions. The situation escalated.
Angel Bonka, 45, expressed it was her “aspiration” to settle in Altadena, where she and her spouse have been nurturing their daughter since 2018. In this community nestled at the mountain’s base, each morning Bonka’s routine included a stroll to her daughter’s elementary school, where she also found employment.
Her residence on Raymond Street was an unofficial extension of the historic Pasadena Waldorf School network, as she described. Their household was always welcoming.
Now, both venues are lost.
“My daughter has lost her school campus, and she has also lost her home,” Bonka stated, noting that the devastation was “extensive and vast, but
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also extremely near to home.”
Bonka mentioned that she and her spouse, who is retired, are seeking insurance for their residence while the school is attempting to determine how to remain operational without the K-12 campus, where at least a dozen staff members have become homeless. She indicated that a high school and kindergarten location nearby endured the inferno thanks to the dedication of teachers and families.
Currently, the family is residing in a prolonged-stay hotel, but they are uncertain about what the future holds.
Tiffany Hockenhull, 38, made a harrowing escape from her grandparents’ residence in Altadena back in the 1960s. Just hours before, her brother had sought refuge in his home on Calecita Street as the flames advanced. It seemed to be a safer option compared to where he was situated to the east. The fire then spread westward, showering “basketball-sized embers” down on her street and obliterating nearly every house, including her own.
“I have never run like this in my existence,” she expressed in astonishment. “It’s an experience I would never wish upon my worst adversary.”
He lost his residence three weeks subsequent to his mother’s passing.
Nearby, the elementary institution where she served as a leadership coach was also engulfed in flames. With schools closed, she currently has no earnings. It remains uncertain when, or if, he will be able to return to Elliott Arts Magnet Academy, which experienced significant destruction in the fire. For the time being, she is allowing herself to take in everything and remains hopeful for the community’s recovery.
“Once this healing journey starts and concludes, the rebuilding can commence,” she stated. “You know, we might even rebuild as we heal.”
Onlookers stop to observe the aftermath of a destroyed business along North Lake Avenue in Altadena.
(Christina House/Los Angeles Times)
Bruce Steele had a fondness for bees. He remarked that they possessed distinct personalities, much like one would describe a cherished pet. The 40-year veteran beekeeper has been nurturing them and conversing with them throughout his decades of work.
The inferno from last week obliterated 185 hives across the Altadena vicinity, including his personal hive. This unassuming ranch-style house is situated amidst a grove of oak trees, where he and his wife have resided for over 25 years, operating a bee pollination and honey production service.
Steele, 75, is mourning the dual loss of his refuge and his beekeeping enterprise. He is in the preliminary phases of contemplating how to rebuild, but he can hardly picture a life devoid of bees. His lifelong enthusiasm for beekeeping has served as his primary source of income for numerous years.
“At this moment, I am resolute in continuing my work. I can’t envision myself not pursuing it,” he stated.
“That’s a challenge to overcome.”