Photographer shares images from his hometown of Altadena, devastated by Eaton fire

I’ve been covering major fires for 30 years, but the Eaton fire in Altadena has surpassed them all.

I was lucky enough to grow up in Altadena, a beautiful community in the shadow of the San Gabriel Mountains.

Seeing literally 1000-plus homes burn in the immediate area I was so familiar with is heartbreaking.

I don’t believe the magnitude of it has hit me yet.

I saw many homes today, which at one time many years ago, I had so many friends living in with their parents.

So many of them are just a pile of ashes now.

It was tough and heartbreaking calling a few of them to let them know their childhood home with so many memories were now gone.

All the streets and avenues I rode hundreds of miles on my bike and skateboard are now unrecognizable.

Block after block, street after street, nothing but complete devastation.

I’ve always been objective in everything I’ve ever covered in my photojournalism career, but this one has been extremely personal.

My hometown.

Also see: These are landmarks and businesses destroyed by LA County fires

 

Will Lester has been a photojournalist for the Southern California News Group since 1998.