Six months have gone by since the Eaton Fire swept through Altadena, California, destroying the community’s rich history and heritage. The fire quickly ran diabolically rough-shod over a staggering 14,000 acres in only 24 days! Tragically, it killed 18 people and burned down over 9,000 buildings. Prior to the wildfires, Altadena was home to nearly 42,000 people. Right now, most of them are facing a daunting recovery from this latest disaster.
The Eaton Fire burned through families such as the Jenkins. They had lived within a two-mile radius of each other for multiple generations. The Jenkins family’s quartet of sisters lost their homes in the deadly inferno. This tragedy was the first of many painful separations they all experienced as laboring essential workers. They’ve all since been displaced, scrambling to get through an often daunting recovery gauntlet.
The Wood family has made Altadena home for more than 40 years. On the personal side, they have made the courageous choice to return and restore in their beloved community. Ed Broussard expressed determination regarding their recovery efforts, stating, “We’re not going anywhere. Everybody in our family is rebuilding.” This positivity is a testament to the unified resolve of the many residents committed to rebuilding their homes and community.
The rebuilding process has not been without its challenges. Homeowners such as Jenine Wood found out the hard way. Just having insurance doesn’t mean that there are adequate dollars to actually rebuild. “Having insurance is a good thing, but it’s never enough money to cover actually rebuilding,” she remarked. This uncertainty is echoed by many others who, like Sheila, are dealing with a complex insurance scene after a disaster.
The permitting process has only introduced more challenges for those looking to rebuild. Betts, a local resident, highlighted the frustration faced by homeowners, saying, “They’re now requiring you to submit an itemized list with pricing, which is nearly impossible in a home that’s been owned for over 40 or 50 years. It’s almost torturous.”
To date, Altadena has only done a little over seventy rebuilding permits. Yet, it will be a painful reminder of the slow progress many residents continue to experience. For at least a few residents, it’s the start of some light at the end of the tunnel. One story that should give hope to most homeowners features Paula Kimberling. She’s about to break ground on her new home after navigating the permit process and coming out the other end.
Local community organizations like Seeds of Peace are leading the charge to help residents get their properties back into a recoverable state. To that end, the Foothill Catalog Foundation is partnering with Habitat for Humanity. Combined, they are making the recovery and rebuilding process simpler by providing families with pre-approved home plans. Alex Athenson from the Foothill Catalog emphasized their mission, stating, “As everyone’s trying to become an insurance expert, a legal expert, and a building expert, the Foothill Catalog is trying to make that as easy as possible for as many homeowners as we can.” He further noted, “We can give homeowners a head start and get them as close as possible to rebuilding and construction as we can.”
The Rotary Club of Altadena has established an Altadena Library Support Fund to help out. This fund addresses both short and long-term relief needs through disaster response grants. This ongoing effort is a testament to this community’s resilience and dedication to supporting those impacted by the fire.
