L.A. Fire Survivors Fight Foreclosure & Demand Justice in Altadena

Filmmaker Andi Matoner states that Southern California Edison (SCE) was responsible for starting the Altadena fire. SCE failed to turn off power despite raging fires and high winds, and a dormant power line, which should have been removed, was activated by a live wire, igniting uncleared brush. While SCE accepted responsibility, they are delaying compensation until the following year, leaving affected families in financial limbo.

Andi Matoner states, 'Southern California Edison actually started the fire... they didn't turn the power off even though the Palisades and Malibu fire was raging all day... they had a dead line that was supposed to be dormant for years that they were supposed to take down that they didn't take down and it was activated by colliding with a live wire and the brush that they had not cleaned ignited.' She adds, 'They've accepted responsibility, but they won't pay until next year.'

Altadena holds the second-largest percentage of Black homeownership in the country, with 60% of the fire-affected homes belonging to Black families. This community was built through redlining, and residents now feel they are being forced out due to the fire's aftermath. The delay in compensation from SCE means 61% of families face a housing crisis and potential foreclosures, threatening generational land ownership.

Amy Goodman notes, 'Altadena represents... the second largest percentage of black home ownership in the country.' Heavenly Hughes confirms, '60% of ownership within the black community was homeowners.' She adds, 'We feel like we're being forced out... and not really getting the support... to preserve and protect our black and brown community.' Andi Matoner states, 'Over 61% of Altadena families are going to face a housing crisis in the next 2 months. They're going to lose their homes.'

Developers are acting as 'vultures,' approaching distressed homeowners with low offers for their land, exploiting their hardship and lack of information about the true value of their properties. Additionally, many residents, particularly on Westside Altadena, had their insurance policies dropped four months before the fire, or their long-standing insurance companies (like State Farm) are refusing to pay out claims, demanding upfront payments from families who have lost everything.

Heavenly Hughes describes 'predatory behavior happening now. I call them vultures. It is the developers who are coming and buying up the land... offering pennies on the dollar of what this land is worth.' She also notes, 'On Westside Altadena, 4 months before the fire, many homes they were dropped' by insurance companies. 'Some folks have been paying insurance premiums for 20, 30, 40, even 50 years. And now when it's time to pay out, they're not doing it.'