The Jones family of Altadena is one of many who lost their home in the Eaton Fire, which has leveled more than 7,000 structures in the San Gabriel Valley east of Los Angeles.
Denise Jones, the matriarch of the family, told KTLA 5’s Carlos Herrera Saturday morning that she and her loved ones had been living at the residence for 55 years.
Now, their beloved home has been reduced to ash.
She said that she was unsuccessful in searching for her mother’s urn because the house was still smoldering when she went back to check it Saturday morning; there was nothing left for her to salvage.
“Came home, house gone,” Denise bluntly stated. “We worked so hard to get it all together, and it’s just gone…I don’t know what’s next.”
Jones’ husband, Adonis, known in the community as “Coach AD” due to his long tenure as a sports coach in the San Gabriel Valley, says he is a “tough-going guy” who loves his community dearly, but this fire has caused him to “pull back.”
“I love the community; that’s just what I do…I’m a tough-going guy but it’s kind of rough right now,” he said. “I have to pull back because I’m so used to [having] the drive to make things better.”
Coach AD and Denise’s daughter, Rochele, called the street where the house once stood “beautiful” and expressed gratitude for being able to call Altadena home. She told KTLA that, despite not being allowed to, she went back to check on the home her parents had worked so hard to build but was devastated to find it “on the ground.”
That said, she still has her eyes on a brighter future.
“We are broken, but we aren’t without joy,” she said. “We do know that the best is yet to come. We’re here and we’re not going anywhere, and we plan to rebuild.”
The stoic Coach AD requested that anyone he helped over the years who can help him now does so, but aid or not, he will fight the tough fight.
“If I ever touched [your heart], touch mine…if you can help, please do,” he said. “I’m not going to quit until we rebuild and get back on our feet … I am going to grind and fight until I get [my house] back.”
According to Denise, the Altadena community is best described as “one big family,” which is why so many area residents are doing their best to remain positive.
“What’s sad is, you’re normally able to look to your neighbors for help, [but] our neighbors are in the same boat, all devastated, all without homes,” she said. “We’re all in this together, and we all need help. We all need the officials to do what they are supposed to do: to help us all.”
On that topic, Denise is apprehensive about the timeliness of the aid she and the rest of her community desperately need.
When asked by KTLA whether she believes she will get help quickly, all she could say was: “I hope so.”
“I do hope that [officials] keep their word,” she said. “I don’t have any other choice but to believe them.”
Overall, the Jones family is thankful they are all physically unharmed and ask the public not only to help them, but as many people affected by all the recent wildfires scorching SoCal as possible.
They also advised people unaffected by the fires to cherish their lives and loved ones, knowing that everything can be turned upside down in an instant.
“We are thankful for those who have the goodness in their hearts to donate not just to my family, but all the families around,” Rochele said. “Don’t take anything for granted because your life can change in the blink of an eye.”
“To my Altadena and Pasadena family: I love you all, and we will get through this,” she added.
Click here for ways to help those affected by the destructive L.A. area wildfires.
