Maya Richard-Craven describes herself as “five generations Pasadena” because her family planted roots in the area roughly a century ago and has lived there ever since. Her relatives are involved to such an extent in local organizations, social clubs and volunteer groups, that, she said, taking a walk in nearby Altadena often means being waved down by someone who recognizes her mom.
But the Eaton Fire upended those customs, and potentially put their future in jeopardy, when it erupted in Altadena on Jan. 7. Fueled by an extreme windstorm that sparked several wildfires at once in different parts of Los Angeles and its adjacent counties, the deadly blaze spread quickly over some 14,000 acres and left a trail of charred debris in its wake.
Vast swaths of Altadena, a historically Black enclave, were ravaged, scorching the region’s infrastructure along with its rich cultural record.
“Altadena represented prosperity. It represented joy. It represented unity and Black excellence. And for that to all burn to pieces, it’s just absolutely devastating,” said Richard-Craven. “It’s like, if a history book just lit on fire. This is a history that is deep.”…