Historic Black Community in Altadena Devastated by Eaton Canyon Fires
ALTADENA, Calif. — The historic Black community of Altadena, nestled in the San Gabriel Valley, is grappling with unimaginable loss after the Eaton Canyon fires tore through the region on January 7, 2025. The unincorporated community of 42,000 residents, a symbol of Black homeownership and middle-class stability, saw over 1,000 structures destroyed, at least five lives lost, and thousands displaced in what has become one of the most devastating wildfires in Los Angeles County history.
A Community’s Legacy in Ashes
Altadena’s Black population, representing 18% of its residents, has long cherished its role as a haven for families seeking opportunity and refuge from racial discrimination. Its roots date back to the Civil Rights Movement, when the community grew rapidly after the 1968 Fair Housing Act. By the 1970s, Black families owned homes at a rate nearly double the national average for African Americans.
The fire, however, has reduced this legacy to rubble. “It’s been a tough couple of days, but our family is making it through,” said Danny Bakewell Jr., president of the Bakewell Company and owner of the Los Angeles Sentinel. “Both my girlfriend and my son lost their homes, and the devastation is unreal for so many families—a lot of Black folks.”
Stories of Survival
Jamal-Dominique Hopkins, an Altadena native, lost his childhood home on Loma Alta Drive. His 81-year-old mother, Ruthie Hopkins, and his son, Joshua, narrowly escaped thanks to a swift evacuation led by Jamal’s brother. The fire also destroyed the family’s SUV, leaving Ruthie, a former editor of The Pasadena Journal, and her grandson without transportation.
“This isn’t just a loss for our family; it’s a loss for a community that has thrived despite challenges,” Hopkins wrote in a GoFundMe campaign to help his family rebuild.
For many residents, like Shawn Brown, founder of Pasadena Rosebud Academy, the losses extend beyond homes. Brown’s charter school, a pillar of the community, was also destroyed. Brown now works to rebuild while searching for temporary spaces in local churches—many of which were also damaged or destroyed.
Rising Fears of Displacement
Amid the devastation, concerns are growing about gentrification and the potential displacement of long-standing Black residents. The Rev. George Van Alstine of Altadena Baptist Church, whose bell tower is all that remains of his congregation’s historic building, expressed fears that rebuilding costs may force many families to sell to developers.
“Rebuilding here will be too expensive for many,” Van Alstine said. “We’re at risk of losing the very heart of this community.”
Brown echoed this sentiment, urging homeowners to resist offers from developers. “Stand strong, rebuild, and continue the generational progress of African Americans,” she said.
A Broader Crisis
The Eaton Canyon fires are part of a larger disaster sweeping Los Angeles County. With more than 12,300 structures destroyed, 24 lives lost, and economic losses nearing $275 billion, the fires are among the costliest in U.S. history.
While much of the media attention has focused on celebrity neighborhoods, the plight of Altadena’s middle-class Black community highlights the deeper impact of climate change-driven disasters on vulnerable populations.
Even landmarks have not been spared. The Mountain View Cemetery, where pioneering Black science fiction novelist Octavia E. Butler is buried, suffered fire damage. Butler’s work, including Parable of the Sower, eerily predicted climate-driven disasters like this.
Mobilizing Relief
In response, community leaders and allies are rallying support. James Bryant, a partner at the Cochran Firm, has spearheaded fundraising efforts alongside organizations like Prince Hall Masons and advocate Jasmyne Cannick. So far, nearly $100,000 has been raised to assist displaced Black families.
Hopkins’ GoFundMe campaign has garnered additional support to help his family cover temporary housing, medical needs, and other essentials.
The Spill App has also compiled a comprehensive list of affected families, coordinating donations and relief efforts. Supplies can be dropped off at Prince Hall in Los Angeles, providing immediate aid to those in need.
How to Help
Donations to Hopkins’ campaign can be made via GoFundMe. Supplies such as clothing, toiletries, and blankets are being accepted at Prince Hall, 9027 S. Figueroa St., Los Angeles, CA.
The road to recovery will be long, but the spirit of Altadena’s historic Black community remains unbroken.
