February 23, 2025, 4:17pm
ALTADENA, CA – Mike and Susan Christensen have returned to the burned home several times in the past six weeks. Every time they find something new – and every little thing feels like a victory.
“We found one of our youngest daughter’s ceramics. The ceramics are perfect because they burn so well,” Mike Christensen said with a laugh.
But the couple also remembers other completely burning, such as Susan Christensen’s handmade quilts and wedding dresses, and Mike Christensen’s mission journal.
They think about everything they left behind when the Eton Fire was evacuated on January 7th, when it began burning near the canyon of the national forest land. They thought they would come back, like in other times in the past.
However, strong winds and dry conditions caused fires to cried out across Altadena and Pasadena, California, damaging or destroying more than 9,000 structures in these suburbs of northern Los Angeles.
That same day, the Palisade fire began west of Los Angeles, eventually damaging or destroying more than 6,800 structures in the Pacific Ocean and parts of Malibu.
Homes, shops, schools, banks, churches and more were on fire. These communities have long established roots, and residents were proud of their history. The US Army Corps of Engineers began cleaning up the pieces on February 11, and government leaders have explained that different phases of cleanup are happening simultaneously.
Susan Christensen knew her home had disappeared at the beginning of January 8th, but they didn’t see it burn, so she didn’t burn those images in her mind. “So when we got here it was like standing on a grave. It was already gone.”
Around Christensens’ house is a house burned out with only brick chimneys protruding from the grey and black tiled rubber. Christensens points out their fireproof safety where their important papers are preserved, and they say they have good insurance.
Shortly after the fire, “We felt better, and it’s been like that ever since,” Mike Christensen said. “It’s very inconvenient, but it’s going well.”
Susan Christensen added: “We had to work right away. We have other people who are worried, but even today we are looking after them on our behalf. We are It’s okay, but they haven’t been that good, so that was the hard part.”
“It’ll still be our home.”
The grass is beginning to grow again on the burned grass in the Palisade district, in the burned grass around the homes of Matthew and Wendy Garf. Returning to the site on Saturday, February 22nd, Garf pointed to a single ashes-bearing area to a blackened food can, part of the food storage. Elsewhere, the twisted metal shape remains all of the equipment.
They don’t know if the internal documents survived the flames. It is somewhere under the ruins of the two stories of the house. Matthew Garff knows that all his father’s letters about his mission are gone. He read them frequently over the years. A strong call came when Garf told their son he was on a mission about fire.
Ash and tile ble fill the lot of almost every house on the block. Matthew Garff admitted it was a harsh scene. Wendy Garff said it can feel overwhelming, but it feels good to go back to the site at the same time. And they feel the pull to stay, to continue their lives here where the children grew up.
They feel hopeful. “It’s still going to be our home,” she said.
Matthew Garff recently found two unharmed ceramic bowls inside the tile rub, hoping that each of his children could have three or one. But then he finds a fragment of the bowl and tells him that she wants to glue it together as he says that she breaks and it’s even more beautiful to undo.
“That’s this testimony of this whole thing,” Matthew Garff said. “I believe that one day this community will be restored and that it will be beautiful.”
Wendy Garff felt something was coming for weeks. She could never shake up the urge that she could probably lose everything one day. But at the same time, she felt she was fine.
“The Heavenly Father prepared us in so many different ways,” she said.
For the days before the fire, she organized and cleaned the entire house, filling her fridge with food for upcoming Relief Society activities.
She initially wondered why she spent that time cleaning to see her house burning out. “But somehow I feel sanctified. I feel like I’ve left it at its best, and God knows it.”
They are connected to each other
Mike Christensen is a bishop of the Pasadena district and serves in Pasadena California stock. In addition to burning homes, many other families are evacuated to their homes and neighbours due to various levels of damage.
Susan Christensen said the ward was even closer through this. “We’re surrounded by really good people, and that made us feel more connected to each other. We depend a lot on each other.”
Pasadena Bishop Darren R. Baker spoke about the proximity and the pastor taking place in the ward. “One thing we learned quickly is that there is no way the church can function without the contribution of so many people.”
The whole ward is looking for each other, whether someone is officially assigned to another person as a sibling or sister’s sister. “We are trying to emulate the Savior as he does.”
His wife, Amanda Baker, spoke about it, and they sat together in their historic ward building. They were recently able to return to their home.
“There are many challenges that can occur in people’s lives, where you can empathize and help them,” she became emotional. “We all go through this together, so we all know exactly where people are. We can do exactly what Christ wants us to do. Together , and it was just beautiful.”
Rely on faith and prayer
Garf said that whenever the Palisades of the Pacific Ocean can meet together it is healing.
Taylor G. Mammen, Bishop of the Pacific Palisade Ward, said ward members have received paperwork, telephone, website, institutions and emails. Find apartments and serve them. Buy new clothes and supplies. The president and stake services coordinators of the Stake and Ward Relief Society have always worked to help.
“It was incredible that the ministers have done to each other,” he said.
Bishop Mammen expects it will take several years before things feel like they are back to normal.
“It’s not very exciting at this point. It just feels hard and it’s going to be so long,” he said. “At the same time, I’ve heard members express more faith than I expected from them. … People are because none of us have any choice than relying on faith and prayer. I feel close to the spirit and the Savior.”
Elder Mark A. Bragg, 70 and president of the Church’s Western North American region, grew up in the Los Angeles area, not far from the Palisade fire. He said he saw “an incredible effort to serve each other and keep them busy with the cleaning and reconstruction process.”
Members quickly gained long visibility and began taking necessary steps to begin reconstruction while the fire was burning, he said. Individuals and families feel an urgent feeling and work hard to ensure that everyone has the help and resources they need.
They are gently moving forward in providing the help they need to their community. “I was impressed with the kindness.”
Elder Bragg is also impressed by how well humanitarian institutions interact with the community and support them in meaningful ways. And the church works in many ways to support recovery efforts.
Love, generosity, kindness
Christina Camling of Pasadena District lost her home during Eton Fire and faced the death of her husband in August 2024.
However, Kamiling told the church news that she was able to deal with everything because she has the ability to handle things quickly and focus on what she should do – perhaps it’s in survival mode It’s a form, or perhaps it’s a positive outlook, but she said, but she is grateful for the gift.
“I’m trying to make the most of this situation, but I know that other people are treating it differently,” Camilling said. Recently she was with someone who was overwhelmed and hoped that no fire would occur. Camilling said prayers in her heart for her friend at the moment.
“I was praying next to her, God gave her the light, and she was praying next to her to be grateful and inspired,” she said. “All we need at times is that little thing to take us all day long. It can be a moment.”
With that prayer and every effort she makes to help someone else, Kamiling feels better herself, as if her load is lighter. Faith is the most important thing, she said.
Church members across California, who suffered losses and rebuilt after previous fires such as Malibu and Paradise, reached out to those affected by the fires in Pallisad and Eton, to provide hope and advice. .
Some of the advice that Wendy Garff doesn’t focus on building a home without forgetting to build young people is to strengthen and strengthen them during this period of upheaval and uncertainty.
Mike Christensen spoke about the outreach and support he received. “We felt that kindness, generosity and kindness.”
