‘No More Rate Hikes’ Say Eaton Fire Survivors

Six months after the Eaton Fire swept through the San Gabriel foothills, killing 18 people and wiping out thousands of homes in Altadena and northeast Pasadena, survivors gathered at the Good Neighbor cafe in Altadena on Monday morning to demand accountability — not just from the government or fire officials, but from their insurance companies.

Flanked by photographs, handwritten signs, and hundreds of postcards addressed to Governor Gavin Newsom and State Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara, more than 200 people filled the outdoor patio, many wearing T-shirts with the slogan “Don’t Mess With Fire Survivors.” The event, organized by the grassroots Eaton Fire Survivors Network, was not only a commemoration of loss but a fierce call to action against what survivors describe as industry-wide neglect.

“They ghosted us,” said Alejandro Lopez, a resident of upper Lake Avenue whose home narrowly survived the flames. Lopez described how he and his son returned to the smoldering neighborhood with shovels, dirt, and water from their swimming pool, fighting off spot fires by hand for two days. “The house was uninhabitable — smoke and ash damage everywhere. But State Farm said, ‘We’ve got you.’ They sent a great adjuster. And then… nothing.”

Lopez said his claim was abruptly transferred, his communications ignored, and his coverage questioned.

“Suddenly, the work of the first adjuster vanished,” he said. “I had to hire a public adjuster just to get what I was already owed. It’s like being betrayed twice.”

Lopez’s story was echoed by dozens of others who took the microphone or stood silently holding signs as speaker after speaker outlined mounting frustrations, psychological tolls, and the financial devastation that often continues long after the flames are gone.

“Our fight is not over,” said Joy Chen, co-founder of the Eaton Fire Survivors Network. “Today, we remember what was lost — our homes, our memories, our safety — but we also demand justice. These insurers, especially State Farm, are profiting from our pain.”

Chen said her family was among the “lucky ones” — their insurer, USAA, paid quickly and fully for remediation. But even then, she said, the psychological effects were lasting. “We moved nine times with two teenage girls and two cats. One of our daughters experienced dissociation. It’s terrifying trying to shield your children from trauma you don’t know how to stop.”

According to a forthcoming study referenced by Chen, more than 70% of insured fire survivors are still battling delayed, denied, or severely underpaid claims. “These are not just statistics,” she said. “They are seniors living in toxic homes, children waking up afraid, and families maxing out credit cards just to stay afloat.”

State Senator Sasha Renée Pérez, who has worked closely with survivors since January, told the crowd, “Six months ago, you believed your insurers would protect you. Instead, you were met with excuses, delays, and denials. But you didn’t give up — you organized.”

Pérez confirmed that the state has launched a Market Conduct investigation into State Farm’s handling of fire claims, and she called on the governor and Insurance Commissioner Lara to suspend any future rate increases until all Eaton Fire claims are fully resolved.

“California is the largest home insurance market in the country,” Pérez said. “And State Farm is the largest insurer. What happens here affects every American. We cannot talk about resilience without accountability.”

In a show of coordinated action, attendees wrote and signed hundreds of postcards to Newsom and Lara, echoing the same message.

Some speakers shared losses that extended far beyond damaged homes.

“My sister died in that fire,” said Zaire Calvin, who lives in Altadena and has emerged as a key voice for survivors. “I was trying to get my baby, my daughter, and my 85-year-old mother out safely. Now I’m fighting not just grief, but insurance companies that have been, frankly, disrespectful and predatory.”

Calvin said his insurance coverage fell short by more than $1.2 million, and warned that many residents will soon exhaust their Additional Living Expense coverage without anywhere to go. “What happens when we run out? There’s no housing. Are we expected to live in cars? On the streets?”

The trauma, he said, is not only emotional but existential. “This is not just about rebuilding my house. This is about rebuilding our community. If we don’t come back together, we don’t come back at all.”

Calvin is part of a working group exploring a community land trust model and a “Rebuild Altadena” plan that would be led and governed by locals. “We’re educated. We know what we want. We don’t need to be parented. We need the power and resources to do this ourselves.”

Victoria Knapp, chair of the Altadena Town Council, also spoke about the heavy personal toll. “My family lost everything,” she said. “I’ve been trying to rebuild while supporting hundreds of neighbors facing the same devastation.”

She described families being told to wash soot out of children’s clothing and return to homes that still smell like smoke. “We’ve heard parents being told the odor is just ‘like a barbecue,'” she said. “It’s insulting. It’s dangerous.”

She, too, called for state intervention. “Families who worked their whole lives are drowning in debt. This isn’t just an Altadena issue — it could happen after a flood in Tennessee, a hurricane in Florida, or a wildfire in Oregon. Without insurance payouts, only the wealthiest can rebuild.”

Miguel Santana, CEO of the California Community Foundation and co-founder of the Department of Angels recovery fund, reminded the crowd that their fight has garnered national attention. “47,000 donors from around the world have stepped up to support this recovery,” he said. “You are not alone.”

Santana’s cousin lost his home in the fire. “Recovery doesn’t end when the flames are out,” he said. “And we can’t rebuild Altadena without immigrants, caregivers, and small businesses. It’s about more than houses. It’s about preserving this community’s spirit.”

The final speaker of the morning, Sierra Cass of Extreme Weather Survivors, connected the Eaton Fire to a growing national movement. “These disasters are accelerating,” she said. “And insurers are using the crisis to raise rates and deny claims. That’s not sustainable. That’s exploitation.”

Cass, a new mother herself, said her group is helping coordinate a nationwide postcard campaign, urging governors and insurance commissioners to freeze rate hikes until all current survivors are paid in full. “We’re organizing in Tennessee, New York, Colorado, and here in California. This is the fastest-growing survivor population in the country, and we need leadership that reflects that.”

Cass also announced that more than 20,000 Americans had signed a letter in support of the Eaton Fire survivors, urging Newsom to intervene.

As Chen returned to the podium, she was visibly moved. “I didn’t know that,” she said, pausing. “I knew people were with us, but not 20,000. That’s how we rebuild — together.”