Altadena marks Eaton Fire anniversary with vigil of grief and hope

Vigil Held One Year After Eaton Fire in Altadena

One year after the wind-fueled Eaton Fire tore through Altadena, residents gathered Wednesday night for an emotional vigil. They mourned the lives lost and looked toward a hopeful future.

Community Reflection and Loss

The vigil included a moment of silence and embraces among neighbors still grappling with loss. Felipe Carrillo of Altadena said, “Today is actually the first time that I cried because it’s just so hard seeing the fact that our house and two other houses are the only houses for a quarter mile.”

Lindsay Lewis, who lost her home in the fire, expressed mixed emotions. She stated, “We are thankful we’re together and to be able to come out and be with our community but definitely an emotional day. Wishing we had more progress in that we felt like we could be back in sooner.”

Ongoing Challenges and Fire Response Issues

Twelve months after the flames destroyed large parts of Altadena, many residents still face financial challenges in rebuilding their lives. An after-action report from Los Angeles County cited weaknesses in fire response, including outdated policies, inconsistent practices, and communication failures. Most victims were in West Altadena, which received no warnings until hours after the fire had engulfed the community.

Personal Stories of Loss

Zaire Calvin, whose sister died in the Eaton Fire, shared, “You’re envisioning what happened to them, what their last breath was, what their last thoughts were, the panic, the fear.”

Many residents sought answers during the chaos. Lisa Troncoso Van Bennekum, who lost her home, called into ABC7 for information during the fire. She spoke with anchor David Ono, anxiously wondering about her home’s condition.

Reactions to Devastation

A couple who lost their home in the Eaton Fire are uncertain about returning to the neighborhood, but they remain focused on a brighter future. Reporter Leanne Suter informed Lisa and her husband on live television that their home and others on the street were gone.

Lisa said, “I think I was in shock. This isn’t happening… Now what? It’s gone. It’s all gone. It was just too much all at once.”

Signs of Resilience

For some, the pain remains raw, but there are signs of resilience. Eleven-year-old Alyssa Carrillo said, “I hope that everybody comes back to our community.” Anthony Lewis, who also lost his home, added, “A year ago was probably the worst day of our lives and now there’s hope on the horizon.”