Paul Kim, the head of construction firm PMK, shared haunting photos from his phone. In the images, thick gray smoke obscures the ruins of what were once homes—now reduced to unrecognizable ashes.
“I thought I’d be back soon, so I only grabbed a few socks,” Kim said. “But when I returned, everything was gone. My mind went completely blank—I didn’t know where to start.”
Kim, who lost his home overnight, is now staying with his son. Thinking about his old neighborhood leaves him heartbroken. “It’s too painful to even consider going back,” he shared. “The peaceful community I once knew is entirely gone.”
The scars of the fire remain vivid across Altadena, one of the hardest-hit areas. On November 13, the intersection of North Altadena Drive and Gafias Drive bore witness to the devastation. Just days earlier, on November 8, fierce winds carried ash through the air under an apocalyptic gray sky. Now, the silence is deafening. Only the skeletal remains of homes hint at the lives that once thrived here. The clear blue sky seems indifferent to the desolation below.
An elderly man sifted through debris with a pickaxe and shovel. “This was my daughter’s house,” he said. Jose explained, “She’s struggling too much to come here herself, so I came to find anything left—maybe photos or valuables. The living room and master bedroom used to be around here.”
![Two Palms Nursing Home: Morning of the 8th (left) vs. the 13th (right). [Sangjin Kim, The Korea Daily]](https://www.koreadailyus.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/KakaoTalk_20250115_152400670-1.jpg)
Driving further into Altadena, the destruction grows more apparent. Near Washington Boulevard and Del Rey Avenue stood Two Palms Nursing Center, a home for the elderly. Just six days ago, the area was unbreathable without a mask, engulfed in flames and chaos. Now, the site is a skeletal frame of charred steel, a stark reminder of what was lost. Broken wheelchairs, hospital beds, and splintered wood are strewn across the grounds.
Nearby, the McDonald’s in Altadena suffered shattered windows and scorched walls, scars left by the relentless fire. The Avenson Charter School is no more, reduced to rubble. Beyond the chain-link fence, a lonely basketball hoop and school sign stand as faint markers of the schoolyard where children once played and learned.
One passerby, when asked for an interview, declined with a heavy heart. “I can’t talk right now,” they said. “It’s unbearable to think how quickly this once-bustling neighborhood turned into this.”
Altadena is home to many Korean Americans, along with other nearby areas like La Crescenta and La Cañada. Pacific Palisades, another fire-stricken area, is known for its Korean residents, including former MLB player Chan Ho Park.
According to real estate information from Chicago Title, approximately 150 homes in Altadena and 130 in Pacific Palisades are believed to be owned by Koreans, based on common surnames like Kim, Lee, Park, and Jung. The actual number is likely higher, as this estimate only accounts for major Korean surnames.
Amid the ashes, signs of recovery are emerging. At the intersection of Woodbury Road and Fair Oaks Avenue, Fluffy’s Tacos, a Mexican catering business, set up a tent to provide free tacos for firefighters and residents. Nearby, piles of relief supplies—water, clothing, and canned goods—were stacked for evacuees. Rafael Rodriguez, the owner of Fluff’s Tacos, encouraged residents to take what they needed. “We hope this food and these supplies can offer even a small amount of comfort,” he said.
The Pasadena Convention Center has been designated as a shelter for Eaton Fire victims. According to the Red Cross, approximately 600 evacuees are staying there as of November 13. To ensure the victims’ privacy and peace, public and media access is strictly controlled.
FEMA staff were also on-site, guiding victims through the process of applying for government aid and providing critical information. Teresa, who met with FEMA officials, said, “My family lived in the same neighborhood, but two of our houses burned down. We’ve lost everything but the clothes on our backs. I don’t know how we’ll recover from this.”
Altadena’s road to recovery is just beginning, but for many, the scars—both visible and invisible—will linger for years to come.
BY YOONJAE JUNG [jung.yoonjae@koreadaily.com]
