By Lita Sample
On January 8, 2025, in the very early hours, residents in Altadena, California got word that fires from local wildfire, the Eaton Fire, were in their area and they had to evacuate. That fateful and terrible day, 19 people lost their lives as they fled the fires. About 6,000 homes were burned and many more structures damaged by the ash that was caused by the fire.
In the 3,000 other buildings that were burned, 16 churches were also burned. At least 12 pastors in the area had their homes burned down or greatly damaged. In February, Zulma Zabala-Rivera and I visited the area burned by the fires. What we saw was overwhelming. It was over 60 square miles of homes, cars, and property that were burned beyond recognition. Many volunteers and organizations came to the aid in the immediate months following the disaster.
Now, eight months later, the damage is still very prevalent. Many of the houses in more affluent areas have been torn down, cleared of contaminants, and begun to rebuild. This is not the case in the lower income areas. There is an entire block that had not been touched. It has not even been cleared of contaminants. It looks as if the fire had just happened. Many people whose homes were spared, but still in close proximity to the fire were filled with ash and contaminants. Deep cleaning of the house of ash and contaminants, if not covered by insurance, could cost up to $10,000. Many people have tried to clean and clear their homes on their own, putting their health at risk.
During crisis, one organization has walked alongside their community and lent aid in many ways to the people who needed help the most. The Pasadena Community Job Center has been the instrumental in connecting day laborers to work needed by companies, organizations, and individuals. With the leadership of Jose Madera, Job Center Director, the Job Center provide training, connection, and validation for who they are as reliable workers and what they can do.
For many people, they have become family. When the Eaton fires swept through Altadena and Pasadena, they went to work. Initially, they cut down and moved trees and debris from the streets so that emergency and fire vehicles could get through and families could get to their homes. The Job Center set up a food distribution line to provide food for people displaced. The need was so great it now takes a large parking lot to load food into cars as they drive through, meeting needs for hund
reds and hundreds of families every day. Today, they still provide the drive through food is still ongoing every Friday as hundreds of cars of people still are struggling after the fires.
After seeing the need and talking to many from the Job Center, CBF Disaster Response has partnered with them to assist their work. CBF provided for the training for laborers to do safe fire remediation. CBF also provided Personal Protective Equipment for each of the participants getting trained, who have subsequently been hired to clear the homes for people who were unable to pay for it themselves.
In addition, the Job Center has been provided PPE – Personal Protective Equipment to hundreds of people and giving them brief overviews on how to use the items and keep themselves safe. They have been providing PPE at various locations across the part of Los Angeles County. This ongoing work continues, long after the fires have been extinguished and the news crews are no longer reporting. It is a tough and long road ahead to bring back the neighborhoods of Altadena. The Job Center will continue to provide training and PPE on into the future.
In addition to connecting with the Job Center and supporting their work, CBF Disaster Response has been able to connect to pastors in that area. Many local pastors continue to work with congregants who have lost their homes, been displaced, and are struggling. The Pasadena Clergy Community Coalition is an organization which brings together local pastors for the past 20 years.
As the fires were happening, the pastors not only lent support to their own congregants but also provided assistance to the broader community. First Baptist Church of Pasadena opened its doors to those who needed shelter. Many others provided food and clothing and met other needs.
During the 20th Anniversary Celebration of the Clergy Community Coalition, Rick and I were able to attend and hear the stories of encouragement and endurance of times that were not only so hard during the fire recovery, but also with the insurgence of ICE raids and detentions causing fear and unrest in greater Los Angeles. The Coalition is a large group of pastors who work together to provide for those in need in their community. Because of CBF Disaster Response, gift bags were given to all 80 pastors who attended the event, along with the Clergy Community Coalition staff who support these pastors.
Then after hearing about the 24 pastors who either had their home destroyed or their church burned or both, CBF Disaster Response was able to supply gift baskets to each pastor. It was a way to say we haven’t forgotten you and we are praying for you as you continue to walk this difficult journey of recovery. The stories we heard were heartbreaking, but the resilience in their voices is strong. They knew with God’s help, they will make it through.
We encourage everyone to stop and say a prayer for the pastors and people of Altadena and Pasadena as they continue down the road to recovery. We also encourage you to support CBF Disaster Response with your offerings.
Learn more about CBF’s Disaster Response here.