EATON FIRES - 1 Year later – A Retrospective
[Altadena, CA] The images are embedded into your psyche.
Instead of using their real names I will use use initials so confidentiality can be maintained. As a native of Los Angeles, I could never recall the winds which howled on January 7, 2025. Despite the winds the air was very clear, so I prepared to run my daily ritual of errands. They started around 10:00AM as my first stop was the Capital One Café in Santa Monica. As I was driving on the I-10 (Santa Monica Freeway) towards Santa Monica, once I passed the I-405 and inched closer to my offramp on 4th Street I could see very clear into the Palisades mountain and noticed the hillside was on fire. I thought, Wow!!!
Once I did my business in Santa Monica and arrived back home my routine continued. Later that evening I received a call from my dear friend LB who indicated power was out at her brother’s home (JB), which was in Altadena. He was recovering from an illness and due to the winds and fire which started in northeast Altadena, they needed to relocate to a hotel in downtown Los Angeles. Electricity was crucial as it was necessary to operate the health equipment he was using. The fires appeared nothing out of the ordinary and most assumed they would be contained. As most bedded down for a night’s sleep, all was still calm as nobody could anticipate what was to come.
As we awakened, the winds were still very brisk, so my immediate thought was to check on the fires. Over the night, they had erupted out of control and had turned into a major news event. I noticed on one of the tv channels reporters were on North Olive and Harriett focusing on homes which were burning down. I did a quick map check and realized this site was close to JB’s home.
As my morning continued one of my tasks was to get a haircut. So, at approximately 10:00AM as my barber was wrapping up, my phone rang and it was LB. There was anxiety in her voice as she stated, “Fredy we need to get to JB’s home to make sure everything is OK.” I told her I would be right there.
Approximately 15 minutes later I was picking her up at the downtown hotel JB had relocated. As we jumped on the Pasadena freeway and headed north you could see the plume of smoke. Switching to the I-210 west I was preparing to exit at Woodley. However, just as I approached the offramp I noticed a scurry of activity which turned out to be the Highway Patrol as they were blocking the exit. I and others behind me had to back up and continue west to the next offramp. After exiting and turning back towards Pasadena, we drove until we could exit. Even though we were in north Pasadena we noticed many intermittent fires; a home over there, another down the street. There was no organization on which properties the fire embers landed. So, not being able to enter the zone where JB’s home was, we headed to LB’s home in Pasadena which is east of Lake Avenue on Washington. Some fire debris was on the property so we cleaned up and hosed it down as best we could. After gathering a few items, we made the trek back to Altadena with the goal to get as close to JB’s property as possible.
As we snaked through the streets to get there the scene was apocalyptic as the fire had morphed into something neither of us had ever scene. LB’s anxiety grew, as did mine wondering had the fire taken JB’s home. People were out protecting what they could, despite the fire being no match for a common water hose. Again, the fires were very indiscriminate.
In my own thoughts I decided LB would not have any rest unless we could document JB’s property was safe. The reality we were dealing with was how are we going to break through the security line, which at this time had organized on Woodley. I continued to drive through neighborhoods looking for any possible openings. Time was running out. A break occurred as I was able to drive down Navarro Street and lo and behold, I found a parking spot a few feet before Woodley.
As much as LB wanted to see for herself if the property was still standing, I knew it would be next to impossible for her to make the mile walk to his home. Additionally, time was of the essence, and I would be required to nearly sprint to the property rather than normally walk.
My mission was simple – JB was incapacitated at the hotel. LB was stationed at the car. I was to be their eyes/ears so documentation would be required so they could see for themselves.
We agreed she would remain in the car and catch up on updates via her smartphone. As I headed west on Woodley, it was incredible to see the fires. Neighbors had formed hose brigades to battle the blazes. The fires offered no mercy as they were consuming everything in their path.
Finally reaching Lincoln Blvd. I turned north and many properties on the east side were on fire or had burned down. Jaunting towards Figueroa Street, there was a huge fire on the northeast corner. Nervousness set in as I was about a long block from JB’s home on Canyada. What would I see? Would the property still be standing?
Luckily the block had been spared. I entered the property making sure everything was OK. LB had already instructed me to grab a few things for JB – if I could get in! I called her and verified all was well and she guided me to the items needed.
I made it back to the car and debriefed her on the situation. It was later in the afternoon and we both were exhausted. I drove her back to the hotel. We accomplished what we set out to do. The fires continued to ravish Altadena. For the next several days all we could do was monitor the situation and wait for clearance to enter the property.
A few days later there was restricted entry and law enforcement was positioned at everything street and intersection. In addition to checking on the property my other concern was to remove any spoilage from the refrigerator since for over a week there was no power. Leaving my home in West Adams I made the journey but as I walked to Woodley and Lincoln, I was met by an officer who proclaimed he was under strict orders to prevent anyone from breaking the barrier and heading north. Almost immediately another person arrived and we pleaded with the officer for clearance, but his response was NO. The other person stated he had a business down the street and asked the officer if he could use an alternative entrance instead of where we were position. The officer shrugged and the man took off, so I said I’m following him. He knew the area, so we mazed through various buildings finally winding up on Lincoln past the barricades.
To my amazement fires were still brewing. I made it to JB’s home, and everything was OK. I completed my inspection, washed down his car and headed back. I felt good that I could provide him positive news that his property and belongings were OK.
I still could not fathom how the fire which started in Eaton Canyon swept southwest to decimate Altadena. The culprit was determined to be an SCE electrical tower, so I made a site visit to the base of the canyon where it is located. Still, just using JB’s property as reference, the winds moved the embers five miles.
JB was eventually able to get back in him home. Despite his illness, he attempted to recover from "this once in a lifetime" experience. His home was a dream come true and part of his retirement as his reward from an impeccable legal career. He did enjoy another birthday in March, but his illness proved too much to continue a normal life he had developed. In April he passed.
I honor his memory and life in sharing the experience of the historic Eaton fire.
In moving to Altadena, one of JB's fondest activities was visiting the iconic Christmas Tree lane on Santa Rosa. Despite the fires which have transformed the city, the trees miraculously survived allowing the 2025 celebration to keep the tradition and legacy alive.
Source: EATON FIRES - 1 Year later – A Retrospective
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