Photo Essay: Documenting the Loss of My Home After the Eaton Fire
By Vera M., Westridge School
•
April 15, 2025
March 6, 2025. It’s almost one month after the Eaton fire that destroyed my home and thousands of others. In that time, I’ve learned that grief makes good art. A week ago I drove up to Altadena with a film camera and took photos of my house. It felt oddly therapeutic. Standing in front of my house, my town, the place I loved, documenting loss instead of joy and happiness.
The only two things, rusted file cabinets, remain in what used to be the State Farm office.What used to be the Ace Hardware on Mariposa, has now been reduced to nothing but ash, brick, and steel.The only thing left of my house, the scaffolding from our construction project. The scaffolding is rusted and bent in several areas due to the heat of the fire.My mother stands on the back patio looking at the pit of ash that used to be our house.The pear tree that used to be outside of my room. At this time of year, the tree would’ve been in full bloom, but the fire had burned the branches bare.The sign that was posted outside my house 48 hours after the fire.My neighbor’s half-burnt oak tree used to be in their backyard.
This story was originally published on Spyglass on March 6, 2025.
