TRANSBRATIONS: Documenting the Eaton Canyon Wildfire in North West Altadena, CA.

Today, from noon to 4 PM, I walked a loop through Altadena, starting at Fair Oaks Ave and Woodbury Rd, heading west to Lincoln Ave, then north to Altadena Dr, across to Fair Oaks, before returning to my starting point.
I felt lost, dazed, and confused.
Surveying the Eaton Canyon fire damage, the overwhelming scent of ash filled the air. The devastation was heartbreaking-gut-wrenching.
Along the way, I interviewed an older gentleman near Woodbury Rd for twenty minutes and later spoke with a group of women near Loma Alta Park.
A man handed me a business card, and another offered a flyer for debris removal.
Dozens of Southern California Edison crew trucks lined the streets, along with Amazon delivery trucks, LA County Sheriffs, a few National Guard vehicles, and maintenance workers trimmed trees.
Like me, several others were documenting, taking photos, and recording the damage.
Today was surreal. I've never seen Altadena this quiet, this still, and despite the ruins, it's still beautiful. A place that’s always been vibrant and peaceful now felt frozen in time.
A red car pulled up as I stood in front of Matilda Williams' home at 3232 N Olive. I turned to walk away until the driver stepped out, came around the back, and asked if I was okay and if I needed anything. An hour earlier, standing in front of my childhood home, I was sobbing and almost broke down in tears. But in that moment, I wasn’t lying when I told her, "I’m okay."
When she asked if I needed anything, I should have said, Yes-a loving and kind family, starting in April of 1978, would have been helpful.
I interviewed Jessa for five minutes with her two female companions, Katie and Heather, standing nearby. Our conversation continued after turning off the camera. I couldn’t help but notice how massive and calm the mountains looked, especially after all the destruction. She pointed out how the cleared brush made the peaks seem even larger. She mentioned that her friends owned the Ale House and that it had survived.
Jessa also described how horse owners leaned out of moving car windows, holding the reins to guide their horses to safety.
Looking across the street, I saw a little book stand where Bernard Adams once lived. I remembered an interview where one of Matilda’s daughters had mentioned that it had survived.
#eatoncanyonfire #altadena #california #alehouse #naturaldisaster #fema #brushfire #embers #sangabrielvalley #sangabrielmountains #mutualaid #writers #ashes

[@theCPRgals]

NAHSHON,
Thank you for sharing.
So many have lost so much!
It breaks my heart how my home looks now.
I am fortunate living on the south side of Pas.
So many friends live(d) in Altadena and have lost everything.
Stay safe.
And if you need help, ask for it!

[@CynthiaSiemens]

Beautiful people, wonderful efforts.