A professional chef, Daron Anderson frequently quips that he was “born in the kitchen”—a claim he interprets as literal and metaphorical. Until a few days ago, Daron and his mother resided at 295 West Las Flores Drive, where he was born at home.
He stood Thursday amid the burned remains of his childhood house in Altadena, a tight-knit community in northeastern Los Angeles, following the devastating wildfire that devastated the region.
He rummaged among the rubble in the hopes of finding his cast-iron skillets. “Everything significant in my life has been cooked,” he remarked, his voice shaking. These treasured culinary utensils are among the few surviving items from a terrible wildfire that has destroyed thousands of houses, displaced countless people, and claimed at least 16 lives.
What happened to the neighborhood Daron called home?
Daron’s friend Rachel’s house was in ashes at 296 West Las Flores Drive. He had attended innumerable family get-togethers in the nearby house number 281, but it was no longer there.
The story was essentially the same in his girlfriend Sachi’s apartment on Devirian Place, three blocks away. Daron remarked, “Everything we shared is just… gone.” In the shadow of the San Gabriel Mountains, the wildfire destroyed a whole hamlet.
Now, locals like Rachel and Daron search the wreckage for anything that might be saved. Daron treasured a lemon tree seed, a painting of his family crossing Abbey Road, and a few pots.
How Did the Fire Night Start?
With the Santa Ana winds howling across the streets, Tuesday began as any other windy day in Altadena.
At 6:00 p.m., Daron was outside, securing objects that might fly away. Concerned about her patio furniture, Rachel was removing her Christmas decorations across the street.
As the wind grew stronger, she said to Daron, “This doesn’t look good, does it?”
Both were unaware that a few miles away, one of the biggest wildfires in Los Angeles had just broken out. Their neighborhood will be engulfed in an uncontrollable fire by the dark.
How Was the Area Devastated by the Eaton Fire?
Over 14,000 acres of Altadena were destroyed by the Eaton wildfire, which also claimed 11 lives. It was just 15% contained by the weekend. In the meantime, five people were killed, and another thriving hamlet was destroyed when the Palisades Fire in west Louisiana scorched over 23,000 acres.
How Did Attempting to Evacuate During the Panic Feel?
Dillon Akers, Daron’s neighbor at house number 281, was 40 miles away working at a doughnut stand when he learned of the fire. His street was covered with smoke when he returned in a hurry.
Dillon recalled, “My uncle jumped the fence to save time.” “We were grabbing anything we could, including food, medication, and clothing.”
Dillon misplaced his keys in the murky darkness. “I found them blown against a fence after using a flashlight for thirty minutes,” he added.
Dillon and his mother were the last to leave their street at 12:30 a.m. As the area was engulfed in flames, they barely managed to escape.
When neighbors attempted to put out the fire, what happened?
Neighbors Larry Villescas and Hipolito Cisneros attempted to salvage their houses at 417 Devirian Place, a few blocks away. They quenched embers and flames with garden hoses to save their properties, including Sachi’s home.
The dry ground just resisted the water. Nothing was being done by it,” Hipolito remarked.
Up until the water pressure fell, their efforts appeared promising. Larry clarified, “We were making progress, but then the hoses ran dry.” Another house caught fire after an explosion nearby.
Police arrived with loudspeakers around 2:30 a.m. and ordered everyone to go right away. Larry saw his garage was on fire as he glanced back in the rearview mirror of his pickup.
In what ways did the fire permanently alter the community?
Once a thriving mosaic of connections and families, Altadena was now in ruins.
Residents would meet at The Little Red Hen Coffee Shop on their way to work and welcome one another. Those streets are completely different now.
“The big blue house that guided me home?” Daron asked, describing his first trip through the wreckage. Lost. Every landmark I was familiar with? Disappeared.
What Tiny Glimmers of Hope Persisted Following the Devastation?
Daron holds onto meager semblances of optimism among the destruction. Amazingly undamaged, he discovered vibrant plastic lawn ornaments at his sister’s burned-out property. He carefully removed them from the scorched ground and remarked, “These might make her smile.”
Only fragments of clay pots and a red brick chimney were left at his house. He could hardly pick up bits without them crumbling in his soot-blackened hands.
In the yard was a lemon tree, its fruit pleasant. Daron put some seeds in his pocket. He stated resolutely, “We can replant one if I can get a seed.” “It’s a means of beginning again.”
