California has been recently rocked by devastating wildfires, particularly the Eaton Fire and Palisades Fire, which have left countless residents reeling from loss. Among those affected is 97-year-old Irene Nelson, who found herself displaced after losing her home of over 50 years due to the Eaton Fire.
From the couch of her temporary hotel room in Hawthorne, Nelson expressed her disbelief at the situation. “It's just too much. It was just entirely too much. I just shook. I still can't believe it,” she said. Her home, which she had purchased with her late husband back in the 1960s, was one of the first for Black families moving to Altadena, California, at the time. It was more than just bricks and mortar; it held decades of memories, including 19 fruit trees and lovingly tended gardens.
Describing her loss, Irene lamented, “I lost my house after all these years.” She very much cherished her residence at the corner of Fair Oaks Avenue and Pine Street, where only her chimney now remains amid the ruin of what was once her cherished home. “It’s just an awful thing to happen to anyone, to lose everything you've worked hard for for so many years.”
Reflecting on the family's legacy, her son Norman Nelson highlighted his late father’s dream of raising their family within the Altadena community. “His focus was, we're going to have a family here in this community,” Norman shared. The family owned the property and built their lives there, creating lasting bonds with their neighbors and the land itself.
Tragically, the fire indiscriminately razed much of their block, leaving it littered with the remnants of homes reduced to ashes, save for standing chimneys like the one left on the Nelson property. But for the Nelson family, the story does not end with loss. Despite the overwhelming devastation, both Irene and Norman remain hopeful about their future.
“That’s our plan for the future. It's getting over the shock, stand up, dust ourselves off, understand the tragedy did happen and we can overcome it together,” Norman said, embodying the resilience of his family. Irene echoed those sentiments, expressing her desire to return to her home and heart: “I’d love to go back, I hope and pray I can go back, and I just know everything's going to be all right.”
The aftermath of the fires has left the community grappling with grief and uncertainty, yet the spirit of recovery shines through the devastation. Residents affected by the fires are banding together as they work to rebuild their lives and neighborhoods, driven by shared experiences of loss and hope.