Support the deGroot Family's Recovery
Hello my name is Christopher deGroot. My mother, father, and I lived in Altadena at 836 East Mariposa Street and our home has been completely destroyed by the Eaton Fire on the morning of 8 January 2025. We are safe, but devasted by this immense loss. A lot was lost that day, and I struggle to even begin to describe everything...
We never received or were issued a level 3 mandatory evacuation order or level 2 "Be ready to leave" notice for our immediate zone (ALD CALVERAS) the night prior. Our power went out, and all I had was the Watch Duty updates on my phone. I had stayed up all night monitoring the fire, and watching the property. Conditions outside significantly deteriorated around midnight and with the winds shifting and increasing, the smoke became blinding, obstructing any visual of the mountains or any flames whatsoever. I continued my inspection rounds of the property through the night and early morning, inside and out. I finally decided to wake-up my 78 and 79 year-old parents and evacuate at approximately 4:00 am Tuesday, when I spotted embers flying past our property. Still, at this time, neither a level 2 or 3 evacuation order was issued for our zone in Altadena. As we evacuated, trees and structures south of our location were already on fire. Only at 5:50 a.m. a mandatory evacuation order was issued for our zone, and it was at this time I suspect the building, our home, was already engulfed in flames. By this time, we were at a Pasadena IHOP, with many other evacuees, trying to grapple with what was going on. Nobody in this restaurant would have thought that some or all of our lives would soon change forever.
The picture I have attached above is what remains of our home.
We are asking for your help. I hate asking for anything, but this is such a terrible catastrophe for us. Any little bit will help us, and I am forever grateful for your consideration. Thank you.
In closing, I composed this incomplete poem/lyric I wrote the day after this nightmare becoming a reality:
Cherish, that will perish
There now, can be gone in an instant
Memories remain, some will vanish
Struggling to ascertain, living nightmare constant
Watching the palm trees sway
Tempestuous winds blowing leaves astray
Plume of smoke appears
Confirming my worst fears
Tick tock, the engines flock
Sirens blaring, eyes start staring
Anxiety grows, as the flame drove
Up the mountain ridge, westward ho
Winds shift like capricious people
Embers begin to fly from steeple to steeple
Home to home, unknown all alone
Blackening sky, I can't believe my eyes
...
Chris