In Altadena, Black Households Were Most Likely to Burn, Study Finds

Danny Robinson, who lost his home and antique car collection in the Eaton fire, returns to see the remains of his one of his cars, a 1966 Pontiac GTO in Altadena on Jan. 23, 2025.

The Jones family lost their home of 55 years on Altadena’s foothills. They were far from the only ones. The Eaton Fire that exploded in early January tore through more than 9,000 structures in the heart of Altadena, devastating a historically Black neighborhood that had persevered for generations through discrimination and, more recently, gentrification.

A new UCLA study confirms what many in the community already knew: Black residents in Altadena were most likely to see their homes damaged or destroyed, and they face a steeper financial climb to rebuild.

“The devastation in our community was a man-made type of situation [utility and evacuation failures] that probably could have been prevented,” said Adonis Jones, known as Coach AD, who is a well known mentor of young children in Altadena. His family just began the long winded process of wading through FEMA and insurance paperwork. 

“We knew we were the most affected.”  

Now that the flames have died down and residents can slowly sift through the ashes, the study found that Black residents were nearly 1.5 times more likely than their neighbors to experience major property damage. And Black victims were older and living in financial situations that will make it significantly harder to recover compared to the broader community.

The study used U.S. Census Bureau data mapped out against the areas that were hit by the fire to gain a greater understanding of the demographics affected. 

The numbers are stark: 61% of the city’s Black households fell within the fire’s perimeter, compared to 50% of non-Black households. Ultimately, nearly half of Black residents saw their homes reduced to rubble, far higher than the 37% rate for non-Black residents.

For many, the road ahead will be filled with obstacles — accessing insurance payouts, rebuilding costs, and the ever-present pressure of gentrification. But for a community that has fought to stay rooted in Altadena despite the odds, the fight for recovery is just beginning.

“It felt like from day one, they, emphasis on they, wanted us to sell and to leave, but we’re not going anywhere,” said Jones, who pointed out that when President Donald Trump visited LA’s fire scorched areas, he only visited the more white and wealthy community of Pacific Palisades.

The Jones family was one of 2,800 Black households lost to the Eaton Fire. (Courtesy of the Jones family)

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The Eaton fire, aided by hurricane-force winds, rained down embers like a storm over Altadena’s westside where most of the city’s Black and Latino residents lived. And, as Capital B has reported, despite this part of the town sitting in the fire’s direct path, they were the last to receive evacuation orders. Lawsuits and investigations into the exact reason why are now pending. 

“The notification system was horrible. We were sitting in the dark with no power all day, but my wife wanted to stay until we got notified,” Jones said. “When I could see the red sea coming over the mountains, I knew we just had to go, but a lot of people stayed.” 

The destruction in the community is staggering, and for many residents, it feels like the latest chapter in a long fight to hold onto a place they had already struggled to call home.

“I always tried to keep this place a secret because I didn’t want it taken from me,” said Cienna Benn, a graduate student at the University of California, Irvine, whose working class family was displaced by the fires. “I’ve done all I could to protect it. I know we all did.”

The study warns that as the community rebuilds, those already struggling to break into homeownership may find themselves locked out altogether.

By 1970, 70% of Black households in Altadena owned their homes — nearly double the rate of Black homeowners elsewhere in the county. A decade later, Black residents made up almost half of Altadena’s population. But then came gentrification. Property values climbed to well over $1 million, longtime families were pushed out, and by 2020, Black residents made up just 17% of the city. That number had started to tick back up in recent years. Then the fire came.

For the Black families still holding on, the financial weight of homeownership has been crushing. Using census data, the study found that nearly half spend more than 30% of their income just to keep their homes. Even more overwhelming, more than 25% dedicate over half their income on housing costs. By contrast, only about a third of non-Black homeowners in Altadena are considered cost-burdened, and 13% are in severe financial strain.

The share of older Black residents also adds another layer of vulnerability. Several victims interviewed by Capital B said the owner of their family home was well into their 80s. They built this community, but now they face a new wave of predatory practices. Some, in the middle of the firestorm, have said they’ve received phone calls from investors asking if they were willing to sell before the ashes had cooled.

If outside buyers swoop in and if longtime Black residents are pushed out yet again, residents and advocates worry that Altadena won’t ever be the same. 

“Altadena’s Black community has long served as a symbol of resilience and opportunity in the Los Angeles region, but the Eaton Fire exposes how decades of segregation and the legacy of redlining practices have left Black households more vulnerable,” said Lorrie Frasure, a professor of political science and African American studies at UCLA. “The recovery process must acknowledge this historic legacy and provide tailored support that ensures the restoration and future of this vibrant community.”

The post In Altadena, Black Households Were Most Likely to Burn, Study Finds appeared first on Capital B News.

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