One year since Los Angeles fires, Altadena residents honor victims

Residents of Los Angeles's Altadena gathered on Tuesday night (January 7) to mark one year since the Eaton Fire, holding a vigil and observing a moment of silence as clergy on stage held photos of those residents killed.

Victoria Knapp, chair of the Altadena Town Council executive committee and the vigil's host, praised what she called the community's "quiet, determined, compassionate" spirit as residents came together "to acknowledge what was lost and together to begin turning the page on the hardest year in Altadena history."

California state Senator Sasha Renee Perez told the crowd that the fire "changed our lives" and said Altadena lost 19 people, "our parents, children, friends and neighbors."

The Altadena Theater Company performed, including the song "Here Comes the Sun," while student and local resident Paulina McConnell, whose family lost its home, said the community's strength included "resistance in the face of global warming."

Some residents also voiced anger and frustration over insurance disputes in the wake of the fire. Jilann O'Neill said she was "in the rage phase still," criticizing state officials for not doing enough, while Kristina Bell said her family was struggling with whether to rebuild amid what she described as insurance companies "playing a game" with technicalities.

Carlyn Couch said the losses still hurt a year later, calling it "more than just stuff," and adding that she felt she "lost a piece of my heart" when her house burned.

Production: Alexandra Sarabia, Alan Devall, Andrea Rodriguez/Reuters