It’s paradoxical. The site has been ravaged by fire, yet everyone is smiling.
“Mommy! Papi!”
Voices calling out to Kiseon Lee (81) and Jeongja Yoo (75) echoed throughout the area. The couple warmly embraced those who addressed them as if they were their parents.
At 1 p.m. on February 6, the parking lot of Fair Oaks Burger in Altadena was bustling with around 500 residents. Having run the burger joint for 38 years, the Lees hosted the Altadena Wellness Event that day to support residents affected by the wildfire. Community activist Susan Park helped promote the event through social media. The couple prepared and distributed 1,000 homemade chicken tacos to the residents.
Although Fair Oaks Burger miraculously escaped the flames while everything around it was reduced to ashes, the restaurant remained closed due to water and other utility issues. That’s why the couple had to prepare the tacos at home instead of using the restaurant’s kitchen.
“There’s a saying that a close neighbor is better than a distant relative,” said Yoo. “The residents of Altadena are not just our longtime customers but also our neighbors who share this community with us.”
Across the street, an elderly white woman who had lost her business to the wildfire approached Lee and Yoo and said, “I’m so happy to see you both again, and I truly hope you reopen. I can’t wait to eat your burgers again,” offering words of encouragement.
This event was organized to help Altadena’s community get back on its feet. It was meaningful as the first relief event initiated by the private sector in the area since the wildfire.
Upon hearing that the Lee and Yoo were hosting a support event, seven nonprofit organizations—including World Food Bank, Altadena 2030, Feed the Children, and World Class Kitchen—joined in to provide essential supplies such as canned food, water, snacks, clothing, and hand sanitizer.
Officials from Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and Small Business Administration (SBA) were also present, offering assistance with compensation claims and job counseling.
Lee said, “I want to reopen, but all of our longtime customers have lost their homes. Even if we resume business, I don’t know if they’ll be able to return.” He added, “Despite the dire situation, our neighbors were even happier than I was that our restaurant building didn’t burn down.” This deep connection with the community is what drives the Lees to support and rebuild together.
Susan Park, who planned the event, emphasized, “Altadena doesn’t have its municipal government, which has delayed recovery efforts. LA County, which oversees this area, has been slow with follow-up measures, and support from the nearby city of Pasadena has also been lacking. That’s why residents are continuously finding ways to help each other on their own.”
Although the Lees are struggling due to the restaurant closure, they are committed to the value of coexistence. Despite shutting down operations, they continue to pay salaries to their five full-time employees.
“They’re not just employees; they’re our neighbors, and they all have families,” Lee said. “It’s tough, but we’re still paying their wages. Many of them have worked here for decades, and we’ve shared our lives. We can’t turn our backs on them during difficult times.”
The volunteers distributing tacos that day were none other than Lee and Yoo’s two daughters and the staff of Fair Oaks Burger.
“Most of the people in line here today have been our customers for years,” Lee said. “We’re the ones who are grateful that they consider us family.”
Strong bonds allow people to smile even amid ashes. The wildfire couldn’t break the spirit of the community. With that strength, Altadena is rising again.
BY KYEONGJUN KIM, HANKIL KANG (kim.kyeongjun1@koreadaily.com)
