By Jarret Liotta, contributing writer
Providing a venue to share their deep concerns and even deeper losses, a community town hall forum at New Revelation Missionary Baptist Church in Pasadena on Friday night aimed to give Eaton fire victims some answers as the recovery process inched along.
Nikita K. Dove of Altadena lost the home she and her husband, Robert, owned for 50 years, along with the irreplaceable photos and mementos they’d kept of their two deceased children.
“To have such a devastating thing happen to us was overwhelming,” she said before the program, which was organized by L.A. County Supervisor Kathryn Barger. The event featured questions and answers with a panel that included L.A. Fire Chief Anthony Marrone, L.A. County Sheriff Robert Luna, and representatives from county and federal agencies, including FEMA.
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“You would never, in your wildest dreams, think you could make up such a nightmare,” Robert Dove said.
“We’re just trying to find out, what’s the next step?” Nikita said.
Later, she became very emotional before a crowd of about 150 people in attendance, asking Barger why the couple wasn’t notified to evacuate, despite Robert being handicapped, and how they are supposed to heal from the loss.
“It hurts so much to know that one day something can just take away all this and it’ not here anymore,” Nikita Dove told Barger, weeping openly. “Where’s the support for that? How are they gonna help us with that inside hurt?”
Barger sought to comfort her, with panelists recommending that she and others seeks mental health resources through 988 Lifeline and the CalHOPE “Warm Line.”
“I hear you and I’m sorry,” Barger said, holding her hand. “And I’m sorry to your husband.”
Moments earlier Barger received applause when she explained that she was late to the forum because she had been with President Donald Trump, who flew in on Friday to tour fire devastation in Pacific Palisades. Trump toured fire damage in the seaside community and sat in on a fire briefing, which Barger participated in, at a fire station there. He did not include Altadena, devastated by the Eaton fire, on his itinerary.
“I think you all understand why I had to be there,” she said. “I had to be a voice so this community was not forgotten … I felt it was important for me to go and be a voice to the president of the United States, to let him know to not forget Altadena and to not forget Pasadena.”
“And while I know many of you might be disappointed that he did not directly come here, he has made a commitment that he is going to come here,” she said, “and I’m making this pledge, and I told him that we are in this together and I told him that the people of Altadena reflect exactly the people he promised he would not forget if elected President.”
“We have a lot of work to do but we’re gonna do it together,” Barger said, “and I’m gonna get the president out here,” she said, so that residents can share firsthand their experiences.
Barger also said she was going to have an “outside party” investigate exactly what happened with the Eaton fire, separate of the department’s official review.
“I make a pledge to you all now, we’re going to get answers,” she said.
Altadena resident Paula Boyd asked why so many houses throughout the African-American community were taken by the fire, while the city was able to save both Pasadena’s Hastings Ranch neighborhood and the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
“But they were not able to save our community,” she said, asking when officials could explain exactly how and why firefighting resources were distributed as they were.
Speaking after the forum, George Hurtt, pastor with New Revelation, said rumors have circulated about possible discrepancies in the fire response and, ultimately, need to be looked at.
“Right now people should guard against emotions, making judgments or saying there’s anything racist going on, but they shouldn’t ignore it at the same time,” he said.
“I believe it’s too early to make any strong, intelligent assessments, but it is safe to ask questions … and then give the proper parties time to answer those questions,” he said.
Ultimately, Hurtt said, if answers are not forthcoming, the community will need to demand those answers.
“You deserve answers, and you shouldn’t have to wait a long time,” L.A. Fire Chief Anthony Marrone told the gathering.
“I know you are suffering and for that I am deeply sorry,” he said, stating that he was ultimately responsible for everything that goes on in his department.
Robert Luna, L.A. County sheriff, shared statistics and thoughts with the forum.
“You absolutely matter to each and every one of us … We’re going to do everything we can to walk you through this as a community,” he said.
Luna said that while there are 17 identified victims of the Eaton fire, there are still 15 people unaccounted for, with investigations being conducted through the department’s homicide division.
He said there have been 41 arrests, many for burglary and entering the curfew area.
“It was amazing to us how many people we stopped in the curfew area who had narcotics on them, or guns,” he said, warning residents to be wary and to report any suspicious activity.
Mark Pestrella, director of the Department of Public Works, said his department is already at work getting utilities back in place, after which there will be tests for toxins, followed by removal of debris.
“We have been actively putting back that infrastructure,” he said.
Speaking on behalf of the Army Corps of Engineers, Col. Eric Swenson estimated that the full cleanup of the region, through their Private Property and Debris Removal Program, would take about 18 months.
“We’re gonna work around the clock … We brought in the A-Team for this,” he said, “and I am here to help you recover from your worst day.”
Swenson explained that, once the forms were available, everyone would need to sign a “Right of Entry” form in order to allow workers onto their property to remove debris and downed trees, along with six inches of topsoil around burned structures.
“The phoenix will rise from the ashes,” he said. “I assure you of that.”
Jarret Liotta is a Los Angeles-based freelance writer and photographer.