Far from Hollywood's glamour, Los Angeles fire survivors feel overlooked.

 As Altadena residents worry about unequal resource distribution following the fire, concerns about insurance payouts and the risk of gentrification are also growing.

California


Inez Moore and her father, Michael Moore, stand beside the remains of their burned family home after the Eaton Fire devastated their neighborhood. Meanwhile, two massive wildfires threatening Los Angeles from the east and west continue to burn out of control in Altadena, California, United States, on January 9, 2025. (REUTERS)

In the once close-knit Los Angeles suburb of Altadena, where rows of tidy bungalows once nestled under the shadow of the San Gabriel Mountains, only smoldering ruins and the charred frames of burnt-out cars now remain.

While wildfires in celebrity enclaves near Malibu have captured global attention, a similarly devastating blaze in Eaton Canyon, north of Los Angeles, has wreaked havoc on Altadena, a community known for its racial and economic diversity.

For generations, Black and Latino families have called Altadena home, and in recent years, the suburb has also drawn younger artists and engineers from the nearby NASA rocket lab. They were lured by its small-town charm and proximity to nature, now tragically transformed.

Many residents expressed concerns to Reuters that government resources might be disproportionately allocated to high-profile areas favored by celebrities, leaving less affluent communities vulnerable to being undercut by insurance companies. These companies, they feared, might offer inadequate settlements to households unable to afford the legal battles necessary to contest fire claims.

“They’re not going to give you the value of your house... if they do, you really have to fight for it,” said Kay Young, 63, her voice trembling as she gazed at the smoking rubble of a home that had been in her family for generations.

Inez Moore, 40, whose family home in Altadena was destroyed in the fire, noted that communities like hers are likely to face greater financial hardship compared to wealthier neighborhoods. Many residents lack the resources or experience to navigate complex bureaucratic systems.

“Some folks are going to get less than they deserve, while others might end up with more than they actually need,” said Moore, a lecturer at California State University.

Moore, Young, and other residents also said they didn’t see fire engines in Altadena during the critical early hours on Wednesday when they fled the flames consuming their neighborhood. This absence has fueled resentment that their community wasn’t a priority.

“We didn’t get help here. I don’t know where everybody was,” said Jocelyn Tavares, 32, as her sister and daughter sifted through the charred remains of their home. Among the wreckage lay haunting reminders of a life disrupted—a child’s half-melted bicycle and a single, unscathed cup.

The Los Angeles County Fire Department did not respond to requests for comment regarding residents’ complaints.

REBUILD

After breaking out on Tuesday night, the Eaton Fire has claimed at least five lives and expanded to 13,690 acres as of Thursday night, devastating much of Altadena, a northern unincorporated community of approximately 40,000 people.

Altadena, which was predominantly white until the 1960s, saw an influx of African American families as urban renewal projects and new highways disrupted Los Angeles neighborhoods. For decades, it remained a relatively affordable area.

In the 1970s, residents reported paying around $50,000 for a three-bedroom home. Today, that same home would cost over $1 million. By 1990, nearly 40% of Altadena's population was Black. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the demographics have since shifted to 18% Black, 49% white, and 27% Hispanic or Latino.

Locals fear that gentrification may accelerate if long-standing families struggle to secure insurance payouts needed to rebuild homes purchased at lower prices decades ago.

Despite the extensive destruction, the community remains hopeful. Residents shared stories of close calls, childhood memories, and resilience in the face of disaster.

"There are rows of us that went to school together," said Young, gesturing to the scorched remains of homes.

Michael McCarthy, a 68-year-old clerk for the City of Los Angeles, credited a brave neighbor for saving his home. The neighbor stayed behind after others evacuated, using a hose to spray water on the roofs.

"I know this community will rebuild. Everybody knows everybody here, everybody loves everybody," McCarthy said. Preparing for his retirement, he added, "Well, I got a new job now, and that's putting all this back together and doing what I can for the neighborhood."

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