One Year After the Eaton Fire: Remembering, Rebuilding, Renewing
On January 7, 2026, community members gathered to mark one year since the Eaton Fire forever changed our lives. The anniversary event held at Fair Oaks Burger was not only a space for remembrance and mourning, but a call to action; a declaration that recovery without truth and accountability is not enough.
The gathering opened with a powerful prayer from Shimica Gaskins, President and CEO of End Child Poverty, grounding the space in shared humanity:
We gather today in the fullness and sacredness of our lives.
We witness across faiths, traditions, and beliefs tied by the powerful threads of our broken hearts.
Reach out to someone near you.
If you feel so called, take their hand.
These hands have been tested by fire.
They snatched photographs before they were taken by flames.
They buried loved ones.
Sifted through toxic ash and char.
Blessed our communities with meals and hope, fought for our neighbors, and lifted up Altadena in courage and through grief.
In the space between grief and courage we give thanks for the hands and hearts that have supported us and hold us now.
We bless those who walk beside us in our darkest moments.
Our gratitude is never ceasing for those who keep the flame of faith alive as we rebuild.
When two or more of us are gathered like we are today, God is with us.
As we stand together, we witness the pain, the questions, and the silence that follows loss.
We honor grief in all its forms, make space for sorrow and reflection, and draw strength from one another.
We pray to continue to have courage and face the days ahead.
We pray that fear never leads to inaction and that we turn silence into solidarity.
May this be one time of presence, our time of presence, reverence, and healing.
Together we breathe.
We bless, we build, we pray, amen.
One year ago, on January 7, 2025, the Eaton Fire ignited and forever altered Altadena and Pasadena. Over the course of 24 days, until it was finally contained on January 31, the fire claimed 19 civilian lives, injured nine firefighters, destroyed 9,414 structures, and damaged more than 1,000 others. The Eaton Fire is now part of our history, and its impact is still with us.
Recovery is not a moment. It is a long journey. And while the road back is difficult, it also offers a chance, and a responsibility, to build something better than what existed before.
The fire did not discriminate, and neither should our recovery. In the face of devastation, Altadena and Pasadena residents showed up for one another in real time: sharing resources, opening homes, feeding neighbors, and organizing mutual aid. That spirit of solidarity must now guide rebuilding efforts that protect everyone: homeowners and renters, workers and business owners, families across the economic spectrum.
No one should be left behind.
Our communities must remain inclusive, livable, affordable, and diverse, not closed-off enclaves shaped by speculation, displacement, or disaster profiteering.
A just recovery means comprehensive cleanup to protect public health; strong tenant protections; fair and transparent insurance practices; and real choices for residents deciding whether to rebuild or relocate. It means local people having the first opportunity to restore homes and businesses, preserving local ownership and affordability. It means economic justice: safe jobs, fair pay, and labor protections, along with real support for those who lost livelihoods, loved ones, and community institutions.
Altadena for Accountability (A4A), is calling for an independent investigation into the decisions, delays, and disparities that shaped the emergency response. A4A has formally petitioned California Attorney General Rob Bonta to intervene, arguing that L.A. County’s after-action report glosses over critical failures and clear accountability for delays and disparities in the emergency response. As California’s top law enforcement officer, it is his responsibility to protect the public interest, ensure transparency, and hold government agencies accountable.
A4A’s demand is simple and just: for Attorney General Bonta to launch and independent investigation into emergency response failures that led to 19 deaths in Altadena, including 18 in the historically Black community of West Altadena
Truth is not optional. Accountability is not political. It is essential to healing.
As we marked one year since the Eaton Fire, the message from Altadena was clear: remembrance and resistance go hand in hand. Our shared humanity must remain at the center of every decision. Government, nonprofits, developers, and philanthropy must be guided by a moral compass that values people over profit.
If we stay vigilant, demand accountability, reject exploitation, and lead with decency and care, we can emerge stronger, fairer, and safer than before.