At the little market that buoyed Altadena’s heart, community looks back at fire’s impact

Jose and Sandra Valenzuela, owners of Altadena’s Grocery Outlet, looked out over the standing-room-only crowd at their market on Wednesday.

In the months following the deadly Eaton fire, the little store became and remains a de factor town square. Initially, it was a hub for disaster relief and on Wednesday,  the first anniversary of the deadly fire, it renewed its role as a place where many can gather and simply be together in the face of the sweeping hardship of the fire.

“This store isn’t just where we work — it’s part of our life and our community,” Sandra Valenzuela said. “After the Eaton fire, we saw firsthand how much people leaned on one another here, not just for essentials, but for reassurance, familiarity, and connection.”

The Valenzuelas said hosting the one-year commemoration of California’s second most destructive wildfire at their store felt like honoring “both the resilience of the community and the relationships that carried us through that time.”

“It’s a way to acknowledge what was lost, recognize how far we’ve come, and hold space for reflection together as a community — in a place that could offer familiarity and connection during a time of uncertainty.”

They came, more than 1,000 strong, to this place, in this time, on this day, with what one Altadena leader said were “open but still broken hearts.”

Artist Keni Davis of Keni Arts, 75, set up shop near the sidewalk of the store. His 50-year-career now centered on documenting his hometown post-fire, Davis lost his home of 38 years, his arts studio and most of his and his daughter Kenturah’s works in the fire. He’s since painted the rubble and ruins of local landmarks, creating his “Beauty From Ashes” series.

He was at the anniversary gathering to be an ambassador of the Lord, he said, to show that hope and goodness can flourish out of so much darkness. Davis will give away the prints he creates at the event.

Knapp, brought to tears seeing a sea of cellphone lights across the store lot, said the first anniversary had been looming large in town and will, no doubt, be triggering for a lot of Altadenans.

“I‘m hopeful that as we come together as a community, we will turn the page on what this disaster took from us, and move forward in our recovery and rebuilding,” she said. “And we are turning the page.”

Victoria Knapp, outgoing chair of the Altadena Town Council, bookended the event with two themes: “Altadena Forever” and “Altadena Strong.”

“Altadena showed the world exactly who we are,” Knapp told a crowd that included state leaders. “This spirit, quiet, determined, and compassionate, is the essence of Altadena.”

The Community Coalition for Altadena Recovery (CCAR) organized it all, with19 clergy leaders naming each person killed in the blaze, songs and poems, and food from local favorites.

Dignitaries on hand included District Attorney Nathan Hochman, Pasadena Mayor Victor Gordo, state Sen. Sasha Renee Perez, Assemblymember John Harabedian and Judy Matthews, president of the Altadena Chamber of Commerce.

Supervisor Kathryn Barger formed the coalition that is made up of representatives from the Altadena Town Council, Altadena Rotary Club, Altadena Heritage, Altadena Historical Society, Altadena Chamber of Commerce, and the nature preservation group Altadena Wild.

Barger addressed attendees who wore red shirts printed with their demand that Attorney General Rob Bonta investigate the Eaton fire, said she wants accountability too.

“You have a right to know what happened,” she said, to applause. “Make no mistake. Today is only one day moving forward. I will be here with you each and every day to make sure that the bureaucracy does not prevent you from rebuilding.”

That sentiment was welcomed by Megan Gerig and Gabriela Caparco, founders of Altadena for Accountability, a coalition of groups demanding the investigation.

“We need an investigation with actual teeth since the McChrystle Report from the county was not able to compel some agencies to report to them,” said Gerig.

While they remain in fighting mode, the two Altadenans said “there is something about gathering with people who understand exactly what you went through that is healing and helpful.”

“The outside world thinks we should be over this, that we’re all back, and we’re not,” Caparco said.

Nic Arnzen, incoming chair of the Altadena Town Council, said he was gratified to be among people with no agenda but being together, who knew what the past year has been like: “You’re angry and then you’re happy, scared and then hopeful,” he said. “I have never felt less along than I do right now.”