Nearly three months after the devastating Eaton Fire claimed the lives of seventeen Altadenans and destroyed over 9,000 homes and structures, the community continues to grapple with loss and unanswered questions.
Eight survivors, who had never met before, gathered to share their stories and the challenges they face in rebuilding their lives. Dalyce Kelley recounted the tragic loss of her 95-year-old grandmother, Dalyce Curry, known as “Mama Dee,” who died trying to escape the fire on January 8th.
“I’m not really sure who to blame. I just know I want my grandmother back,” Kelley said.
Jordan Mitchell, who lost his disabled father and brother in the fire, questioned the delayed evacuation response.
“He called over 12 hours ahead. By the time they got there, the house was already on fire,” Mitchell said.
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A worker from The Gas Company services a house that survived the Eaton Fire walks near a sign that reads ‘We love you, beautiful Altadena’ in a neighborhood where many homes burned on January 16, 2025 in Altadena, California. (Photo by David McNew/Getty Images) -
KTLA’s Chris Schauble (right) visits Altadena, California with victims of the Eaton Fire in March 2025. (KTLA) -
Residences destroyed by the Eaton Fire line a neighborhood in Altadena, Calif., on Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Noah Berger) -
Debris from a destroyed home is seen as a newly built ADU (accessory dwelling unit) stands behind after surviving the Eaton Fire, Sunday, Jan. 19, 2025, in Altadena, Calif. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
Danny Bakewell Jr., who lost three homes in the fire, expressed his heartbreak for those who lost everything.
“Things can be replaced. But people, when you hear about people passing, losing their life, my heart breaks for everyone who lost everything,” Bakewell said.
Kalani Ball and her family narrowly escaped the fire, but their home was lost. “When he came back, he just shook his head. We knew our house was gone,” Ball said.
Breanna Williams, who was adopted, lost vital information about her birth mother in the fire.
“Unfortunately, all of that burned in the fire,” Williams said.
Katie Valdes and her family evacuated their home, only to return to find it destroyed. “You don’t know what happened to your life. It was normal, and then all of a sudden it’s not normal,” Valdes said.
Monique King, owner of Fox’s Restaurant, an Altadena landmark, lost her business in the fire. “We didn’t lose family members. We didn’t lose any lives,” King said.
The Ball family is still living in a one-bedroom hotel room in Arcadia, struggling to move forward. “I just can’t go back,” Ball said.
The community continues to seek answers and support as they rebuild their lives. “Why and where were the firefighters in Altadena? That’s still got to be explained to me,” Bakewell said.
Despite the devastation, there is hope for the future. “When we do rebuild, I would just like Altadena to be the way that it was,” Ball said.
The Army Corps of Engineers recently performed debris removal on the Valdes’ home, and Katie Valdes is ready to make new memories, considering painting her new door -once she has one- yellow again.
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