'We’re Not Selling': A Family’s Fight to Rebuild After the Eaton Fire
Whether called Gigi, Big Mama, Madea, Papa, or Granddaddy, grandparents have long been the backbone of many families in the Black community. After the catastrophic Eaton Fire of 2025, some grandparents are determined to preserve their family’s legacy and memories, despite overwhelming odds.
Earl and Renee Peoples, longtime residents of Altadena, had lived in their home for 40 years. Wildfires were a fact of life in Los Angeles and its surrounding areas, so when the Eaton Fire began burning on January 7, the Peoples—already relying on a generator due to precautionary power shut-offs—were not initially alarmed. They received little warning about the fire’s severity and proximity. When they decided to evacuate, they assumed they would return home once the fire was extinguished, and life would resume as usual.
But this time, Mother Nature had other plans.
When the Peoples returned the next day, they found their home reduced to ashes.
“We thought the Lord was going to let us come back to our house, and it would still be standing. So we didn’t take a lot of stuff,” says Mrs. Peoples, reflecting on what she would have taken had she known the fire was imminent.
“The antiques… how are you going to replace those?” she says, tearing up.
Having only managed to grab their passports, insurance documents, and a few items of clothing, Mrs. Peoples remains remarkably composed.
“God is good. God has been awesome,” she says. “Our church family has reached out to us, and people have come out of the woodwork to pour love on us.”
Though she stays strong, she admits her grandchildren are taking the loss much harder.
“They’re not handling it like I am. That’s the only house we knew,” she explains. “Our grandkids came up to see it and called me crying, saying, ‘MiMi’s house is gone! MiMi’s house is gone!’”
Not only was their home destroyed, but many others in the neighborhood were as well, attracting buyers eager to acquire their property.
But the Peoples aren’t budging.
“It won’t happen,” Mr. Peoples firmly states when asked if they’d consider selling the property, now reduced to rubble.
For the Peoples, rebuilding is the only option to ensure that their children and grandchildren continue to experience the legacy of Altadena and the home where so many cherished memories were made.
“We grew up there. All the good times we had are there, and I can’t imagine going to another neighborhood and starting over when I can rebuild and stay put,” Mr. Peoples says.
The proud grandfather is also focused on the long-term impact of keeping the family home in the family. “It’s all about being with them and letting them develop the same memories we did in the house. Our time is coming, but their time is now.”
The family home has always been more than just a structure; it has been the cornerstone of their lives, a place where all ages have found a sense of belonging in a close-knit community.
“All of our grandkids and the teenagers know how to get there… how crazy those little girls are about the neighborhood, the park… that’s where it’s at,” he says. “My neighbors and my neighborhood. We’ve been there so long, raising our kids and great-granddaughters. They’re all disappointed we no longer have that house. Everybody grew up there.”
“That’s why I’m going back,” he concludes.
Altadena serves as a reminder of the challenges Black families have faced in achieving homeownership amid decades of systemic discrimination. During the Great Migration in the 1930s, Black families began moving to the city, but homeownership didn’t become a reality for many until 30 years later. The passage of California’s Fair Housing Act in 1963 and the federal Fair Housing Act in 1968 finally prohibited housing discrimination based on race, national origin, or ethnicity.
For the Peoples, their home has been more than a physical space. It’s where kids were raised, memories were made, and Mrs. Peoples homeschooled two of their granddaughters, ages 5 and 6.
“The oldest one was upset because she said, ‘I don’t have any books,’” Mrs. Peoples recounts, describing how the fire’s aftermath has impacted the youngest family members. Their six-year-old granddaughter was especially devastated by the loss of her favorite toy, a purple LeapFrog dog named Violet.
“She’s had that at our house since she was born and could not believe I didn’t rescue it,” Mrs. Peoples says. “That really upset her. I told her I could get her another one, but she wants the ‘dirty Violet.’”
While homeschooling in their Altadena home is on pause, their granddaughters’ education hasn’t stopped. Thanks to their church community, the girls now have new classroom essentials like crayons, pencils, and books.
“It humbles me how good God has been to us through this whole thing. The outpouring of love is unbelievable,” Mrs. Peoples says.
To support the Peoples as they rebuild, visit their GoFundMe.