By Solomon O. Smith

California Black Media

The Eaton Fire has left a devastating mark on southern California, including the Black and Brown communities of Pasadena and Altadena, where homeowners are grappling with unimaginable loss.

Among them is Ruth Hopkins, publisher of The Pasadena Journal, the area’s only Black newspaper. Hopkins lost her family home and with it, over 60 years of archives documenting the rich history, culture, and lives of Black residents in the Altadena-Pasadena area. Her son, Jamal Dominique Hopkins has set up a GoFundMe campaign, for her and her grandson.

Six historically Black Churches in Pasadena and Altadena have been destroyed and the families of more than 200 of their members have lost their homes. Those churches are: Metropolitan Baptist Church (the Rev. Tyrone Skinner); Lifeline Fellowship Church (Bishop Charles Dorsey); Abounding Grace COGIC (the Rev. Thomas Burrell); Hillside Tabernacle City of Faith (the Rev. G. LaKeith Kennebrew); Community Bible Church of Greater Pasadena (the Rev. Jean Burch); and Morningstar Baptist Church (the Rev. W.H. Trotter).

The Eaton fire, fueled by unseasonably strong winds of up to 70 miles per hour, has consumed over 10,000 acres, damaged and destroyed an estimated 7,000 structures, and claimed at least 16 lives. Black and Brown families, many with deep generational ties to the area, are now among the thousands displaced.

So far 24 people have been confirmed dead in all of the fires ongoing in southern California.

Historically, Altadena has had a significant African American middle-class community compared to other parts of California. Currently, its Black population is 17.9%. Despite redlining policies that restricted Black homeownership in much of California, African Americans in Altadena Meadows, an unincorporated area of Los Angeles County, could secure loans to buy homes.

Jasmyne Cannick, an L.A.-based writer, media strategist and political commentator, released a list of Black families affected by the Eaton fire in Altadena and Pasadena. She also provided GoFundMe links the public can use to assist them.

A man stands at what was once the front porch of his home still decorated for Christmas. Many families have returned to sift through the ashes of their homes and recover what they could. Altadena, Wednesday, Jan. 8. Photo: Solomon O. Smith

“Those erratic wind gusts were throwing embers multiple miles ahead of the fire,” said Chad Augustin, Pasadena fire chief at a press conference. He said several firefighters from other places, including Sacramento and the state of Oregon, have come to the aid of the city.

Gov. Gavin Newsom announced that President Biden has approved a state of emergency in California and over 14,500 personnel are actively responding to the fire.

“We are putting all available resources behind fighting these wildfires, including leveraging local and federal assets. California has thousands of boots on the ground working to combat these fires,” said Newsom. “The state is leaving no stone unturned to protect California communities.”

For several days now, southern California has seen major fires, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, or CAL Fire. The Pacific Palisades, Eaton, and Hurst fires started last Tuesday. The Lidia and Sunset fires began on Wednesday, and the Kenneth Fire ignited on Thursday. As of this report, the Lidia, Sunset, and Kenneth Fire are fully contained. The Hurst Fire is 89% contained. The Pacific Palisades Fire is 17% contained and the Eaton Fire is 35% contained.

Evacuation notices had been issued, but a number of people decided to stay and fight for their homes. Garden hoses and shovels are the only weapons that most citizens were able to find to fight back embers from the burning remains of their next-door neighbors’ homes.

The Eaton fire is the second largest fire currently burning in Southern California.

An Altadena resident, Bruce, who did not want to give his last name, was watching his mother’s home and said he was prepared to do what he could to keep the house from burning down. He understands the frustration that some people have with the lack of water or manpower, but said he understands everyone is stretched thin.

Bruce’s family has been in Altadena and Pasadena for decades now, he says, and he considers many people in his neighborhood as part of his family.

“This is where we grew up at,” said Bruce. “It doesn’t even look the same anymore.”

Some Altadena residents like Bruce feel like the fire is a battle they are fighting on their own.

People stood on the roof of their homes, hoses in hand, dousing the rubble of their neighbors’ homes to prevent their own houses from suffering the same fate.

One man was in his neighbors’ yard with a hose, watering down a crumbling heap that was the remains of the house’s garage. The home had already been consumed by fire. An open gas line continued to spew a stream of blue flames; the heat from that leak could be felt several feet away.

This man declined to give his name but said that he was not willing to leave the damage yet. Eventually he was able to get some help from firefighters driving through and reporting on the status of the fire.

Haywood Micheal Ammons, a filmmaker and father of two boys, stayed behind to protect the only remaining structure on a property his family owns. Surrounding structures had burning gas leaks that could not be put out with water. Ammons and Kevin Bautista, another resident with a deep connection to the property, tried to use a hose to push back embers but there was no water.

Ammons managed to get firefighters to turn off the gas and put out hotspots.

The home remained intact, but the new additional unit built for his two sons and ex-wife is gone.

Ammons reflected on his relief and frustration.

“The damage is done,” he said.