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Ashes and Rebirth: Grief, Loss and Recovery from 2025 Eaton Fire
12 Jun 2025
At Mountain View Cemetery in Altadena, we’ve seen plenty of change over the generations—both in the lives of the families we serve and in the land itself. Even before Echo Mountain burned in 1905, Altadena’s story is dotted with ashes and rebirth. Every few decades, natural forces conspire with the flames to take homes, possessions, and lives – in 1973, 1993, and 2009 to name some occasions. But none have come close to the scars left by the Eaton Fire of 2025, when startlingly high winds breathed onto sparks and drove embers into a fury through the San Gabriel foothills on the night of January 7. The blaze tore through brush, backyards, and memory itself. Lives were lost. The entire community is suffering still.
Wildfires like the Eaton Fire don’t just destroy—they displace. Homes, habitats, routines, and stories are all forced to begin again. For those of us with a long career in the death care profession, especially where we offer cemetery services in Altadena, we saw the fire brush up against the edges of where people come to remember, where we ourselves come to remember. And that changed things. We were helpless to see historic trees planted by our flesh and blood long at rest ignited like candles in that fearful night. Day brought the fire right up against our chapel building adjoining what was once the Brown family home. Only the bold efforts of a few staff members kept it from destruction.
We feel fortunate to have the support of a grateful community, with individuals who credit this historic place with serving as a firebreak that saved their homes. The flames destroyed nearly all the homes just above the northern edge of the cemetery, and came so close to some of the oldest grave markers and family plots.
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Mountain View Mausoleum, a landmark for many local families planning cremation or traditional burial services, stood unharmed—but the smoke curled just overhead for days. Remediating that smoke damage is taking far more time than we hoped. For the patience you may have afforded us, we thank you, and ask that you keep holding on until we can reopen safely.
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For families navigating grief and wildfire recovery in Altadena, Mountain View will remain a steady presence—a place for reflection, ritual, and connection. Whether they’re pre-planning funeral arrangements or simply walking the grounds to find comfort, visitors often say this is where they start to feel whole again.
Many people who have visited Mountain View Cemetery tell stories of ashes and rebirth through the decades. Today, you can still walk through time —just past the old bench—and see something surprising: only a few trees were lost to the fire, and some of our lushest spots remain here for you to enjoy. They are a quiet reminder that recovery happens over time.
This healing isn’t just about plants. We’ve seen it in people. Some come alone, some with family, some with grief counselors or hospice chaplains. They come because they need a space to face loss without platitudes. A visit to Mountain View offers the chance to feel what’s real and begin again.
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We see more than headstones here. We see resilience. As providers of grief support and funeral planning services, we’ve learned that moments of mourning are also moments of strength—especially after disaster. The work of remembrance is ongoing.
If you’re looking for a place of reflection after wildfire, loss, or long-held sorrow, we invite you to walk with us at Mountain View. A few trees still carry their blackened bark. The soil still remembers. But so do the people. We tell stories of ashes and rebirth. And we’re still here—fifth generation and counting—ready to listen.
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photos above featuring Fire Emergency Services personnel by Capt Johnny Chau, 452nd Air Mobility Wing. The appearance of U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) visual information does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement.