Muhammad Akhtar, the owner of a new halal grocery and butcher shop in the neighborhood, said he used to pray at Masjid Al Taqwa on Fridays, and its existence reflected the diversity and inclusiveness of Altadena residents.
The support and compassion people have for one another is what makes Altadena most special, Akhtar said. The day after the fire ripped through the town, he said, many local customers called to check in on his business, EZ Halal Meat and Market, which was outside of the burn zone.
“Prayers to all,” Akhtar said. “All we can do is rebuild.”
Loss of arts, nature and community
Those living in Altadena are as proud of their quirky arts scene and cultural landmarks as they are of its diverse and welcoming nature. The Zorthian Ranch, an art junkyard established in 1946, was a commune and gathering place for artists and musicians, including celebrities like Andy Warhol and Bob Dylan. Most of the ranch, and the artworks inside, are now destroyed.
Nearly a dozen cultural institutions were lost in the fire, including the Bunny Museum, which houses a collection of more than 46,000 rabbit-themed objects, from stuffed toys to antiques and cookie jars. Opened in 1998, the museum held the Guinness World Record for largest bunny collection.
“A lot of people care about land, a lot of people have backyard animals,” said Christina Conte, who spent the past five years creating an urban homestead in Altadena. She recalled sightings of an alpaca and pigs.
In the sprawling oasis of her backyard, she cultivated native plants, grew produce and raised a flock of chickens. She held workshops on how to make medicinal herbs and brew kombucha; she homeschooled children in the neighborhood. She felt a kindred connection with other Altadenians.
Now, only a charred chimney remains of the only home she’s ever owned. Conte managed to drive away with her three young children and her dog just moments before the blaze reached her block.
“It was my safe space,” she said. “I saved up my whole life for it, and now we literally have nothing.”
Jane Parrott, a psychotherapist who has lived in Altadena for five years, described the mountain town as a “country city” replete with canyons, swimming holes and quaint local businesses.
“Once you go there,” she said, “you just want to stay.”
Parrott said it’s been difficult to process all that’s been lost, including an art studio she built in her garage. “It’s hard to imagine that my life is completely erased,” she said.
“It was our dream to live here,” said visual artist Courtney Lotfipour-Tindall, who began renting in the community with her musician partner last October. “You’re close to the city, but you can also go to the mountains and go hiking.”
Within two months of settling in, Lotfipour-Tindall and her partner had gotten to know 75% of residents on their street, she said. They felt at home in a community of creatives. A friendly stranger once told Lotfipour-Tindall that Altadena is “a town on its way to nowhere,” a metaphor she found apt.
“I’ve lost every single piece of artwork I’ve ever made,” Lotfipour-Tindall said. “We’re not rich people, but what we lost were mementos of our life.”
Salomón Huerta, 59, also an artist, was at his studio when his wife noticed the fires hit his block and was forced to evacuate. He later found out via video his house was gone. He said he lost his old archives. “The art that I was collecting from other artists — that cannot be replaced,” he said. Huerta, who is from Tijuana and has been in the U.S. since he was a small child, had been raising money to do a ceremony in Oaxaca after he and his wife got married last year.
Altadena residents worried about the cost to start over
Joelle Fortune-Simmons’ family lives in the home her husband’s family has owned for 47 years. The dwelling was so important to her mother-in-law that Fortune-Simmons had to plead with her to leave it as the fire grew closer.
“She kept saying, ‘I’m gonna save my house,’” Fortune-Simmons said. The family attempted to stave off the flames with garden hoses, but they had to flee. Soon enough, their home was gone. She is resolved, however, to rebuild in Altadena when the time comes.
But some displaced residents might not get a chance to start over. With the fires wiping out a significant share of L.A.’s housing supply, rental prices in the city are already spiking — a common trend following natural disasters.
Related News :