
From providing immediate assistance to victims to helping facilitate the long-range planning and recovery efforts, Altadena’s neighbors to the south are the first to lend a hand.
For Pasadena and Altadena residents, they have traditionally lived as one big city. But reality is that the City of Pasadena operates as one city with government oversight performed by the Pasadena mayor, city council and city manager.

While Altadena is an unincorporated part of the County of Los Angeles with its control and oversight under the jurisdiction of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors with input from the Altadena Town Council.
On Tuesday, Jan. 7, it was the City of Pasadena under the direction of Mayor Victor Gordo and Councilmembers Justin Jones, Tyron Hampton, Rick Cole, Steve Madison, Jess Rivas, Jason Lyons and Gene Masuda, and Pasadena City Manager Miguel Marquez, who stepped up, not only to provide aid for the Pasadena residents but also provide assistance to the residents of Altadena who were devastated by the Eaton Fire.

“Originally when the fire first started destroying homes in the easterly portion of Pasadena we were going to set up a rescue shelter at Villa Park, but as the fire grew we quickly realized that the Villa Park Facility was going to be too small,” stated District 3 Councilmember Jones.
“So, with the support of the Miguel (the city manager), we quickly pivoted to open up the Pasadena Convention Center to provide a place to sleep, medical treatment and food for the thousands of Altadena and Pasadena residents who were displaced by the fires.”

The Eaton fire was devastating for both Pasadena and Altadena residents alike, but Altadena lost the bulk of the buildings and home in the fire with home losses adding up to almost 7,000 homes while Pasadena homes lost was slightly under 200 as of recent reports.
But the division of Altadena and Pasadena’s border lines was quickly ignored when it was time to move into action. Councilmember Hampton said that it was the Pasadena Fire Department and the Pasadena Police who were first on the scene to provide resources to fight the fires assisting the Los Angeles County Fire Department, which was quickly overwhelmed by the high winds and fast-moving flames.

The relationship between Altadena and Pasadena is nothing new. Children in Altadena attend schools under the jurisdiction of the Pasadena Unified School District and the five schools destroyed by the fires are all in Altadena.
“In this community we don’t make very large distinctions between Altadena and Pasadena. We all grew up together, we all went to school together, and when families who lost their homes in Altadena reached out to family members for shelter it was their family and friends in Pasadena who opened their doors and welcomed them in. We really are one big community,” said District 1 Councilmember Hampton.

Mayor Victor Gordo wrote in a statement, “In the wake of the Eaton Fire we come together as a community to grieve the profound losses we’ve endured. We mourn the lives lost, the homes that held a lifetime of memories and the cherished places that have been the heart and soul of our neighborhoods. These losses are deeply personal, and my heart is with every single one of you who is hurting today.”

Mayor Gordo, Councilmembers Jones and Hampton, and District 2 Councilmember Cole all poured praise on first responders who “rushed towards danger, putting themselves on the line to save lives and protect the community.”
The city council also recognized the extraordinary work and support provided by the thousands of volunteers who leaped into action to support both Pasadena and Altadena Victims of the Eaton Fire with pop up food and clothing giveaways across the region.

Both the mayor and the councilmembers recognize that the recovery efforts are going to take quite some time but wanted to assure everyone that the City of Pasadena was committed to the long term rebuild of Altadena, with a particular effort in trying to ensure that the diversity of the community was maintained.
“Altadena and Pasadena’s recovery are tied together. Our kids all attend the same schools Altadena residents’ shop in Pasadena and are a vital part of our economy just as Pasadena is a vital part of Altadena’s economy. We are intertwined,” stated Jones.
“What has impressed me the most is the outpouring of support that Pasadena and Altadena residents have shared with each other. You only have to look at the fact that in some cases a resident’s entire house had burned down but he remained on his block hosing off his neighbor’s house, working to try and save it. That is the spirit of community people in Pasadena and Altadena share,” noted Hampton.
Pasadena can also play a major role in the rebuild of Altadena. Jones pointed out that “throughout California water is the critical resource.” Altadena is serviced by several smaller water providers including Lincoln Water, Rubio Water, Kinneloa Water and a few other providers including Pasadena Water and Power.
“But Altadena is going to need an entirely new water infrastructure, a new and more modern infrastructure capable of fighting wildfires such as the Eaton Fire. We will certainly play a role in working with Altadena to ensure that this new infrastructure is capable helping Altadena to rebuild and recover,” Jones said.
Another critical part of Altadena’s recovery is going to be the clean-up efforts which will be led by the federal government and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The opt-in program is going to be critical part of both Altadena and Pasadena’s recovery efforts. A six-month opt-in program is going to drive the Altadena and Pasadena’s recovery efforts.
More information from the opt-in program will be coming to residents effected by the Eaton Fire, the Pacific Palisades, and anywhere else that homes where affected by the fire.
The County of Los Angeles and County Supervisor Kathryn Barger will be leading the efforts to clean up and rebuild Altadena, but based on the City of Pasadena’s leadership, Altadena residents and business owners can be assured that Mayor Victor Gordo and the entire Pasadena City Council will be on hand to make sure Altadena returns bigger and better than ever.