On the evening of Tuesday, January 7, Kyoko Canizales went to bed at 8 p.m., unaware that by the next morning, the family home in Altadena would be reduced to ashes. By 8 a.m., the once-sturdy structure had been consumed by flames, leaving only a scorched chimney and a metal security door as evidence of its existence.
Canizales and her mother, Kimberly Harris, lost everything in the fire that devastated the diverse community nestled at the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains. Their home, which had been passed down through generations, represented not just a lifetime of memories but also the cornerstone of their family’s generational wealth.
In the days following the fire, Canizales and Harris have been navigating the immense grief and trauma caused by the loss. Despite being a clinical therapist, Canizales described the emotional toll as overwhelming. “I saw my mom’s face change [when we drove up to the house after the fire]. I saw her hurt and just the pain,” she shared.
