Altadena marks Eaton Fire anniversary
Residents honor 19 victims and reflect on recovery
Residents of Altadena held a vigil marking one year since the Eaton Fire, gathering to honor the 19 people lost and the homes destroyed. Clergy displayed photos of the victims as attendees observed a moment of silence, laid flowers and lit candles. Organizers framed the event as both mourning and a step toward healing; Victoria Knapp of the Altadena Town Council praised the community’s “quiet, determined, compassionate” spirit as neighbors came together to begin turning the page on the hardest year in the town’s history.
Speakers included state and local leaders, survivors and performers. A state senator said the blaze “changed our lives,” while the Altadena Theater Company and local musicians provided musical tributes, including “Here Comes the Sun.” Students and residents recounted evacuation trauma, the shock of returning to charred neighborhoods and the slow, emotional work of rebuilding. One young attendee linked the community’s perseverance to “resistance in the face of global warming,” framing the fire within broader climate risks.
Frustration over recovery surfaced repeatedly. Several residents described protracted insurance disputes, delayed rebuilds and a sense that officials and companies have not done enough. Jilann O’Neill said she remained “in the rage phase,” criticizing state responses; Kristina Bell said her family is weighing whether to rebuild amid insurers’ disputed technicalities.
Officials and fire authorities outlined measures taken since the blaze—expanded vegetation management, upgraded alert systems and improved interagency coordination—and urged continued community participation in preparedness programs. Yet residents warned that measures require sustained funding, enforcement and transparency to be effective. Community groups stressed the vital role of mutual aid, from debris removal to housing searches, and called for long-term support for mental health, affordable housing and targeted aid for elderly and low-income residents.
Speakers pressed policymakers to center victims in recovery decisions and to invest in resilience: stricter building codes, defensible landscaping incentives and community-scale firebreaks were among suggested priorities. Calls for accountability included clearer recovery timelines, better communication about assistance distribution and data on unrepaired parcels to ensure equitable resource allocation.
