On New Year’s Day, approximately 700,000 people on Colorado Boulevard watched the Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, California. As they marveled at the vibrant floats and reveled in the energy of the marching bands, I couldn’t help but feel a deep sense of pride in our community. It celebrated hope, renewal and togetherness—a perfect way to kick off 2025. This year’s theme was “Best Day Ever!”
Less than a week later, January 7 was the worst day for many in Altadena (Pasadena’s northern neighbor). The Eaton Fire forced thousands to evacuate and many learned that their homes had burned down. It’s shocking to see your backyard on the national news and realize that many have lost their family homes or businesses.
My family lives less than one mile south of the Altadena-Pasadena border. When local authorities ordered my neighborhood to evacuate, we spent three nights away from the comforts of home while the brave firefighters tirelessly worked to extinguish this hellish nightmare.
When the evacuation order was lifted and it was safe to return to our residence, the sight of thick smoke looming over the San Gabriel Mountains was a sobering reminder of how quickly circumstances can change. I thank God my family is alive and we still have a home. Yes, some minor property damage caused by the roaring Santa Ana winds that was the catalyst for this disaster, but our fixer-upper challenges pale compared to the thousands going through so much worse.
My heart sank and grieved as I thought of our dearest friends and other families who were forced to flee their homes, leaving behind everything they’d built and accumulated and then realizing that what was left was nothing but memories and ashes.
I wept when I heard that the Altadena branch of BRYAN’S Cleaners & Laundry did not survive the fire. A deep sadness overwhelmed me when it finally registered that friends lost homes and my place of employment said farewell to a location that served Altadena’s residents for 65 years. The building may be rubble, but the sign facing the street still stands unscathed. While television reporters broadcast the news of the Eaton Fire underneath BRYAN’S resilient sign, phone calls, emails and text messages came pouring in when friends were shocked to see the company I work for “make the news” with free advertising. Any publicity or bad publicity is better than no publicity at all.
This fire wasn’t just a distant tragedy; it hit close to home. Many of our customers are among those affected and seeing their distress as they walk through our doors with garments damaged by smoke reminds me of how interconnected we all are. Some in our community are new customers who are now homeless, displaced and in emergency housing while they navigate a plan to put their lives back together. When their home succumbed to the fiery blaze, they also lost a washing machine and dryer; they needed us not only to receive their garment care needs but also to provide a listening ear as they verbally processed their pain.
It can be demoralizing to go from celebrating with roses and a clear blue sky to mourning with ashes and smokey haze in less than a week. The Altadena-Pasadena community is so tight-knit and inter-connected that it would not be overstating it to say that everyone knows someone who has been affected by this tragedy. Yet amid the devastation, I’ve been deeply moved by the resilience and generosity of our community. From volunteers delivering meals to firefighters risking their lives, we are witnessing acts of kindness that remind me why this part of the Northwest San Gabriel Valley is so special.
