Erion Taylor recalls that there was no official warning about the wildfire advancing towards the mountainous area of Altadena, California. Instead, she received a message from her neighborhood group chat: “We’re evacuating La Vina.”

“We quickly packed a few belongings and grabbed our important papers, thinking we would return in a couple of days,” Taylor, 44, who operates a nurse registry, reminisced. She, her husband Stephan, 42, and their three children left their three-bedroom stucco house they had lived in for six years.

While on their way to pick up her mother-in-law, a long-term resident of Altadena, “We could see the fire approaching from afar,” Taylor said.

She hoped that the charming and diverse town located 13 miles north of Los Angeles would be unharmed. But the next day, a neighbor texted her: “I’m sorry to inform you, everything has been lost.”

Taylor is still trying to process the loss.

“Our life completely revolves around Altadena. Almost everyone we know here has lost their home. Our children’s schools, ” Taylor shared. “Our community has been devastated.”

In the shadow of more glamorous surroundings

As of Monday, the fire driven by strong winds has consumed 40,000 acres around Los Angeles and has claimed at least 24 lives. The Eaton Fire, which devastated Altadena, is currently 35% contained, while the significantly larger Palisades Fire is 17% contained.

Altadena, a diverse working-class neighborhood in Los Angeles County, starkly contrasts with its more famous neighbor, Pasadena, located directly north, and the affluent Pacific Palisades area in LA. The town, which has about 44,000 residents, was a key location during the Great Migration, providing refuge for African Americans escaping the Jim Crow South in the early 20th century, seeking improved opportunities and an escape from systemic racism.

During this time, small business owners, artists, and activists thrived. Although the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Fair Housing Act of 1968 abolished the practice of “redlining,” through which Black individuals and other communities of color were denied housing access in certain areas, many people of color were drawn to Altadena during the 1960s and early 1970s.

Today, Altadena’s population is 18% Black (down from a peak of 43% in the 1980s), nearly 30% Hispanic, and about two-thirds of the residents are aged 65 and older, with a homeownership rate exceeding 70%, as reported by Altadena Heritage, which documents the town’s history and culture.

Stephen Steward, a long-time Altadena resident, states that what sets Altadena apart from Pasadena is its rich cultural diversity.

“There is a vibrant mix of Black residents, Armenians, Latinos, and Asians, showcasing a variety of cultures,” said Steward, 64, a retired state parole agent. “The area is a bit more rural than Pasadena—you can spot black bears, bobcats, and deer in your yard, and there are beautiful hiking trails offering stunning views of the Los Angeles skyline and the Pacific Ocean.”

“It’s a lovely little town,” added Steward, “with something appealing for everyone.”

The opportunities seized by the early residents resulted in stability and resilience—creating a middle- and upper-middle-class community within one of the most expensive housing markets in the nation. In Altadena, housing represents generational wealth; when it is lost, years of hard work, dreams, and aspirations are also destroyed.

Now, in the aftermath of the Eaton fire, many residents find the idea of rebuilding formidable, fearing that the essence of what made Altadena unique may vanish permanently.

Yet, some things are unwavering.

“We have always supported one another. That won’t change—I assure you,” stated Ron Carter, 70, a long-time resident of Altadena whose home was “miraculously” spared. “Especially now that we face such magnitude of loss.”

Recovering from catastrophe

Rebuilding after a disaster is a daunting task, but in Altadena, the incredible extent of the losses—both in physical structures and emotional toll—may complicate the process even further.

“Everyone has invested great effort into their homes and the community, both financially and emotionally,” noted Char Miller, an environmental analysis professor at Pomona College in Claremont, California. “This is their sanctuary, and they want to return, but for some, returning may not be an option.”

“I hope I’m mistaken,” Miller expressed.

According to statistics from Intercontinental Exchange, the median household income in Altadena stands at $93,135—significantly above the national average, yet still modest in the cost-intensive state of California. The average value of owner-occupied homes is $727,000, while Realtor.com shows the current median listing price for homes is $1.5 million.

“The home prices often don’t accurately reflect the reality of the community,” remarked Bryan Wong, CEO of San Gabriel Valley Habitat for Humanity, which aids the area affected by the Eaton fire.

“(Altadena) is well-established, meaning many homeowners have lived there for generations,” Wong explained. “For instance, someone who bought their house back in the 1960s for $32,000 isn’t necessarily rich; they just have a long-standing residency.”

Nic Arnzen, vice chair of the Altadena Town Council and a resident for 25 years, echoes this sentiment. He lamented that the collective grief shared by friends, family, and neighbors is becoming unbearably heavy.

“This feels like a nightmare I can’t awaken from. It resembles a war zone here,” said Arnzen, 59, who had to evacuate with his husband, two children, four dogs, a cat, and a bunny. Upon returning the following day to survey the devastation, he reflected, ”You used to wave to your neighbor and stroll down your street. But now, in less than 24 hours, all of that is gone. It’s just overwhelming.”

At this point, it’s unclear how many homeowners lack insurance or possess “underinsured” policies—those that do not cover the full cost to rebuild their homes. While homeowners with mortgages are obligated to carry insurance, many may fail to maintain their policies once lenders stop monitoring their coverage, leading to lapses or insufficient policies that don’t align with rising property values.

“We refer to those as ‘self-insured’ homeowners,” noted Firas Saleh, a director of product management at Moody’s, focusing on wildfire and flood risks. “This is a common issue in California.”

Moody’s data shared with YSL News indicates that 963 Altadena residents had coverage through the California FAIR Plan, often considered the last resort for those unable to secure traditional insurance. In contrast, nearby Topanga Canyon, which is more affluent and less populated, has nearly double the number of households enrolled in the FAIR plan.

Wong worries that financial challenges and lack of adequate insurance could hinder recovery efforts: “My greatest anxiety in all of this is whether we can restore the community to its previous state.”

“If you’ve lived in a house for generations and your financial situation is similar to a typical blue-collar family; the path to recovery feels unobtainable,” Wong noted. “You’re left with no option but to sell and move forward, and that’s truly heartbreaking.”

This reality is particularly tough to reconcile amidst the sorrow, said Arnzen, the vice-chair of Altadena’s council. He recorded video of the devastation in his area for worried residents before the National Guard limited access.

“The toughest part now is coming to terms with the uncertainty of whether our homes are still standing or what remains,” Arnzen remarked regarding their properties. “We completely understand why some choose to stay while others decide to go. I encountered an elderly couple at the evacuation center in Pasadena, and they told me they were moving to Arizona because rebuilding is financially unfeasible for them at their age.

“It’s just disheartening,” he expressed.

No Community Should Be Overlooked

Initial estimates indicate that the recent fires in the Los Angeles area could represent the worst disaster in California’s history. However, given the current situation faced by Altadena residents, comparing it to the 2018 wildfire that ravaged Paradise, California, near Sacramento, seems relevant.

Even after six years, many residents of Paradise are still in the midst of rebuilding, and a significant number have relocated. The current population stands at about one-third of the 28,000 residents before the fire, according to Moody’s. Additionally, Moody’s reported that Paradise has managed an average of about 500 properties rebuilt per year since the disaster. Choosing to stay may seem simple; the reality of that choice can be much different.

Dave Jones served as California’s state insurance commissioner from 2011 to 2019 and was an early advocate for linking climate risks with the homeowners’ insurance market. He stated that his former agency is urging insurers to expedite payments for fire claims.

“However, even with this encouragement, it will take time,” Jones indicated. He, like many others, foresees a shortage of labor and building materials due to existing constraints in the housing market, which may lead to those willing to pay extra receiving priority.

“There are numerous Black, brown, and Asian communities that have historically experienced neglect, redlining, and a lack of services,” said Lori Gay, CEO of Neighborhood Housing Services of Los Angeles County.

She mentioned that some residents of Altadena feel that emergency responders took longer to reach their area compared to adjacent, predominantly white neighborhoods like Pacific Palisades.

While this hasn’t been substantiated, if true, it wouldn’t be unprecedented, Gay added. “A significant part of our mission is advocating for equity,” she explained. “We recognize the history, and now it’s about finding ways to ensure that neglected communities receive the attention they need as we move forward.”

‘It’s Coming Your Way’

Factors such as a lack of rainfall, strong winds, low humidity, and abundant vegetation contributed to what Miller, professor at Pomona College and author of “Burn Scars: A Documentary History of Fire Suppression from Colonial Origins to the Resurgence of Cultural Burning,” describes as the “tragic perfect firestorm.”

“It was simply overwhelming,” Miller stated. “Even if they had five times the resources available that night—personnel and technology—nothing could have halted that fire.”

Climate change, however, has been a significant factor.

“It’s heartbreaking,” explained Jones, who is currently the director of the Climate Risk Initiative at the University of California, Berkeley. “The loss of life, casualties, the devastation of complete communities, and property loss are all direct consequences of our failure to shift away from fossil fuels and major greenhouse gas-emitting industries.”

He believes the situation is expected to worsen because “climate scientists warn that we are not making enough progress quickly enough” to move away from fossil fuels.

“As a result, global temperatures will keep rising, climate change will intensify, leading to more severe and extreme weather events,” Jones added.

Despite this, Arnzen observed that many people continue to dismiss the urgency of addressing climate change.

“It often seems inconvenient to discuss, particularly when it isn’t directly affecting you—when you’re not experiencing hurricanes, fires, or floods,” Arnzen noted. “But trust me, it’s headed your way.”

As climate risks increase, the homeowners’ insurance market stands as a primary area where Americans are feeling the strain.

Starting this year, private insurers in California have the authority to increase premiums to reflect climate anticipations. According to Jeremy Porter, head of climate implications research for analytics firm First Street, this is healthier for the industry, yet also indicates that insurance costs will escalate significantly overall.

In addition, regions identified as risky and costly to insure will likely witness a decline in property values, Porter added. “Southern California is facing disastrous occurrences that are rare but extremely damaging when they do happen, and is also continually affected by wildfire smoke.”

Frequent exposure to these climatic shifts can trigger “tipping points,” according to First Street, where residents may decide they have had enough of the conditions. “You will start to see people relocating due to ongoing exposure to these events and issues like wildfire smoke,” he told YSL News.

‘Help Them Heal’

Carter’s home in Altadena was one of three that survived in a neighborhood of twelve houses; the Eaton Fire “leapt” among them. Consequently, he has experienced a mix of emotions—joy, sorrow, tears, and survivor’s guilt.

“I feel broken-hearted. I cherish my neighbors. There are a plethora of conflicting feelings, knowing they’re happy for us, yet I feel sadness for their loss,” said Carter, who runs a public relations firm in Pasadena. The stark devastation has driven him to intense moments of prayer and anguish. “We will do everything possible to support them in finding restoration.”

Arnzen remarked that “there’s a unique comfort in knowing so many others are going through this alongside us. Strangers embracing each other because they share similar unspeakable suffering,” he said. “This unity propels me to serve during this challenging time.”

Additionally, Arnzen expressed hope that political dynamics won’t hinder progress, and that the outgoing President Joe Biden’s commitment to “spare no expense” will be honored by the incoming Trump administration.

“I will extend trust to President-elect Donald Trump to uphold that promise and recognize the grief we are enduring,” Arnzen stated. “And if he fails to do that, I will raise my voice in protest.”

Taylor’s mother-in-law’s residence narrowly escaped destruction from the fire. For now, her family remains resolute in their intention to rebuild in Altadena. They, along with their financial adviser husband and small business owner, are determined not to be pushed out of their community. While searching for a rental home temporarily, they found one in La Cañada, only to discover former neighbors already signing a lease.

“To be honest, I’m uncertain if we will be able to rebuild, but we are going to try,” Taylor said. “There’s an immense heritage here. This area represents one of the most diverse communities in Los Angeles. It is emblematic of what America ought to represent, what the world should look like.”