Residents Mourn the Loss of ‘Beautiful Altadena’ and Turn Toward Rebuilding

Altadena is not just any community – it has been a multicultural hub, filled with artists and creatives, architectural gems, natural beauty and delicious eats. Many families have lived in “Beautiful Altadena,” a moniker for the area, for generations, priding themselves on living within what could be described as one of the best-kept secrets of Los Angeles. 

The unique unincorporated community at the base of the San Gabriel Mountains will never be the same following the devastation and destruction from the Eaton Fire. 

“The history and the character of Altadena is gone,” said Kenneth Snowden, staring at the remains of his home. “There’s nothing that remotely identifies this as Altadena, and even though we will come back and rebuild, it’s not gonna be Altadena.”

Looking around, the entire neighborhood was unrecognizable – blocks and blocks of rubble and debris. It felt as though the community had been blown away in the wind alongside the ash and smoke.

As of Tuesday, at least 16 people lost their lives, and thousands of structures – homes, schools, businesses and places of worship – have been destroyed by the Eaton Fire. At press time, the blaze remains active with over 14,000 acres burned and only 35% containment.  

A Historic Multicultural Community

Snowden, who grew up in the area, has experienced multiple fires throughout his lifetime. Due to the smoke, he left Tuesday night before receiving an evacuation order, never imagining that that fire would reach so far down into the neighborhood.

He returned Wednesday morning to a “bad firestorm,” with “high winds, orange embers, debris, just blowing everywhere” and poor visibility, only able to see three to four feet in front of him.

Snowden lived in the house with his son and daughter but said 15 to 20 relatives throughout the city also lost everything. 

“I know nothing other than Altadena,” said Snowden. “You couldn’t pick a better place to grow up. It gave you everything a child needed – outdoors, support from your school, support from your neighbors.”

Snowden’s parents bought their first home in Altadena in 1962, when many African American families were starting to settle in the area. The city developed into a rare enclave of LA, where Black families could buy homes and accrue generational wealth. 

Although Black families began moving to the area in the 1930s, they were barred from living in certain areas, including nearby Pasadena, due to policies such as redlining. During the Civil Rights Movement, and with the passage of the 1968 Fair Housing Act, the city was one of the few places offering home loans to African Americans in LA. As a result, the Black population soared from 4% in 1968 to 27% by 1970, peaking at around 40% in the 1980s.

The affordability and diversity of the area made it a haven for activists and artists – including Science fiction writer Octavia Butler, artist Charles White, actor Sidney Poitier and hip hop producer Madlib (Otis Lee Jackson, Jr.), who lost his home and extensive record collection in the fire. 

Today, the community of Altadena is 58% people of color, more than 18% of whom are Black, according to census data. Before the fire, around eight out of 10 African Americans living there owned their homes – a number that is nearly double the national rate. 

A Community That Stands Together

Countless individuals, organizations, places of worship and businesses have opened their doors and provided aid to those displaced by the fires. 

On Woodbury Road, Pastor Dominique Frank of Refuge Christian Center COGIC, welcomed residents. Her father founded the church in 1977, and although no longer residing here, Frank grew up in the area. 

“I graduated Edison Elementary, it burnt down. Elliot Junior High, it burned down. Pasadena High School, it was burning, but I thank God they were able to put the fires out,” said Frank. “All of my alma maters have been impacted by this fire.”

Frank said many members of her congregation lost their homes, and one friend lost his father in the fire.

“His grandson kept begging him to come out, but he refused,” she said. “He lost his wife a few years back, so he’s just been existing in the home. I think he probably said, ‘this is my way out.’”

The center offered food, clothing, water and emotional support for those in need.

“So many people have broken down, and so many people think that they lost everything,” said Frank. “But I have to remind them – all is not lost, because you’re still here.”

Can Altadena Rebuild?

Lifelong Altadena resident Daisy Lee was unsure of the status of her home, though she believes she and her relatives lost three homes in the Eaton Fire. 

Law enforcement and the National Guard have barricaded the area, not yet allowing residents to return. Emergency personnel are still assessing the damages, clearing streets, turning off open gas lines and removing downed powerlines. 

“One thing I know for sure, Altadena is not gonna look the same,” said Lee. “It’s completely leveled. It looks like a war zone.” 

She was collecting essential items with her daughter and father, trying to address some immediate needs while figuring out what comes next. 

“Now we’re just thinking, where is she going to go to school?” said Lee, whose daughter’s elementary school was also destroyed. 

“Are we gonna stay here? Because it’s not like your house is gonna get built overnight,” she continued. “What’s gonna happen for the next six, seven months, while everything has to be restored?”

Many are questioning the future of the city – will those who lived here for generations return, or will the fires hasten gentrification in the area?

Going forward, Snowden hopes for quick federal assistance and wonders if his community will receive the same resources and attention as the wealthier Pacific Palisades.

“We don’t want the resources focused on Pacific Palisades and for Altadena to get overlooked,” he said.

Although Snowden has insurance, he feels for the countless others that do not. Already encountering difficulty filing for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) assistance, he knows the road to recovery will not be easy, but he is determined to rebuild and remain in the community.

“Everything that you see here, I can replace it,” said Snowden. “I can’t replace the character or the history of Altadena. If you don’t know it, you never will, because it’s never going to be the same.”