What has life been like for the Eaton Fire survivors since the devastating fire? This series invites survivors to share their stories, their challenges, resilience, and hopes for the future.
~ The Editorial Team
Lisa Rickard (Photo – Justin Rickard)
“The work of the mature person is to carry grief in one hand and gratitude in the other”
~ Francis Weller
This quote has guided me every day since February 20, 2024, when my husband of 46 years and the love of my life passed from this earth much too early; he had just turned 70. Then, on January 7, the wildfires hit and incinerated my home and everything I treasured—all the beautiful mementos from our adventures together with family and friends.
By Lisa Rickard
Just three years ago, I moved to beautiful Altadena from Washington, D.C. with my husband and settled near my younger son, Justin, and his family. I bought a mid-century home and added a gorgeous outdoor area to entice my East Coast friends—and, most importantly, my son Jack, his wife, and my two young granddaughters—to visit frequently. We spent two lovely Christmases there with my husband. We created new memories and celebrated our old traditions. I had trucked many, many boxes of holiday decorations out here. (Downsizing Christmas and other holiday décor was not an option for me!) The loss of those things has probably hit me hardest after the fires. They carried so many joyous memories.
Yes, I am thankful I escaped the fires unscathed and that my son’s home in Altadena survived with very little damage. I thank God for that blessing every day. But the grief of losing my spouse, my home, my church (St. Mark’s), and most of my hometown can, at times, be all-consuming.
I am not one to wallow in self-pity. After the fires, I quickly moved into an apartment in Monrovia. My chocolate lab doesn’t seem to mind the four-story walk down for our 11:00 pm outings as much as I do. And we both love our early morning three-mile walks through Old Town Monrovia while enjoying the spectacular mountain views. They center me. But if I never have to drive on the 210 again, I would be ecstatic.
I make at least one daily trek back to Altadena and Pasadena. I am rebuilding my home, and I am so fortunate that my son is a contractor. His company, HighgroundLA, has already poured my foundation and framed the ADU. Many of my neighbors are rebuilding as well, and we are all closer today (thanks to WhatsApp) than we were before the fire–another bright light in my life.
What has given me the greatest sense of community and “service above self” is the work I’ve been doing with the Altadena Rotary. We have raised over $1 million in donations and, as President-Elect, I am honored to chair the “Restore Altadena” Committee. We are providing grants to local nonprofits of all types that are assisting fire survivors. This work is deeply rewarding, and I’ve formed strong bonds with so many others who are pitching in to rebuild our community.
I would be remiss if I didn’t give a shoutout (or more like my eternal thanks) to the Army Corps of Engineers, who worked tirelessly for months with smiles on their faces, the Altadena Sheriff’s Department, which has been such a steadfast partner these past months, our Town Council (chaired by the energizer bunny, Victoria Knapp), and our L.A. County Supervisor Kathryn Barger. We are lucky to have Supervisor Barger as a leader.
Altadena is not just what once was a beautiful location on a map. We are a diverse, tight-knit community that will rise like a phoenix from the ashes. We are beautiful in heart, mind, and soul.
Lisa Rickard retired three years ago as an attorney in Washington DC and moved to Altadena. She has two grown sons, one on each coast, and three beautiful grandchildren.
Are you an Eaton Fire survivor?
We invite you to share your story, where you are now, what you’ve overcome, and what lies ahead. Your experience can inspire others and help our community heal and rebuild together. Please leave a comment below with your name, email, and a brief description of what you’d like to share.
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It’s nice to see people bouncing back and rebuilding so much quicker than people initially thought would happen.