What is Ashes and Echoes?
The Eaton Fire was a tragedy unlike anything the San Gabriel Valley had ever witnessed. Overnight, thousands of homes and businesses burned to the ground. Yet it wasn’t only physical structures that were lost – it was the stories, memories, and history behind those places that made Altadena a beloved community for so many. Ashes and Echoes: Voices of the Eaton Fire is an oral history project that captures this community’s narrative by interviewing residents, business owners, and local leaders who faced the calamity. These stories will be preserved in perpetuity through an online portal where the interviews will be publicly accessible and searchable.
Who developed Ashes and Echoes?
Ashes and Echoes was developed by Pasadena-based documentary filmmaker Hrag Yedalian, whose work has been featured in Rolling Stone, The Hollywood Reporter, and San Francisco Chronicle. Hrag previously worked at the USC Shoah Foundation – an organization founded by Steven Spielberg that focuses on capturing and preserving the testimonies of Holocaust and genocide survivors. Alongside Ashes and Echoes, Hrag is currently working on a short documentary titled Beneath the Ashes: The Past Reimagined, which examines the Eaton Fire’s impact on the region’s Black community.
You can learn more about Hrag at www.hragyedalian.com and contact him directly at hrag@ashesandechoes.org.
You can learn more about Hrag at www.hragyedalian.com and contact him directly at hrag@ashesandechoes.org.
What is the relationship between Ashes and Echoes and LA Fire Justice?
Ashes and Echoes is a project sponsored by the team at LA Fire Justice, who believes preserving the history of Altadena and capturing the real-life stories of what happened on January 7, 2025, and since, is critical to the recovery of the communities impacted by the Eaton Fire. You do not need to be a client of LA Fire Justice to participate in Ashes and Echoes.
Who can participate?
Ashes and Echoes is an inclusive, cost‑free project open to all community members interested in sharing their experiences of the Eaton Fire. To participate, victims of the Eaton Fire can complete the form below, which requests basic contact information and includes the following questions:
- Was your home/business destroyed by the Eaton Fire?
- How did the Eaton Fire impact you?
- How long have you been part of the Altadena community?
- What are your hopes for the future of the community?
- Why would you like your story to be presented?
The Ashes and Echoes team will review submissions on a rolling basis and follow up with applicants via email. Because space in the project is limited, preference will be given to those who lost their homes or businesses in the fire.
What is the format of the interview?
The interview will consist of 10–15 questions covering participants’ experiences with the Eaton Fire, their thoughts on Altadena’s future, and their upbringing and history within the community. The following questions will guide the interview, with follow-up questions inserted when necessary:
- Introduce yourself: tell us your name and the number of years you’ve lived in Altadena.
- What does Altadena mean to you?
- What was your experience with the Eaton Fire?
- What was the thing you loved most about your community?
- What is your hope for the future of your community?
- Where does the story begin? How did your family get to Altadena?
- What is your favorite memory of Altadena?
- What will you miss most about Altadena?
- What are your fears about the future?
Where will the interviews be conducted?
Interviews will take place at a studio space in the LA Fire Justice headquarters located at 221 E. Walnut St., Suite 100, Pasadena, CA 91101.
How will the interviews be filmed?
All interviews will be conducted by Ashes and Echoes producer Hrag Yedalian and will be captured in 6K using a three-camera set-up.
How will the interviews be edited?
Every interview will be preserved and presented in its entirety, but the Ashes and Echoes team will identify and highlight noteworthy clips for educational and promotional use.
Where will the interviews be accessible?
Ashes and Echoes interviews will be accessible online and on the Ashes and Echoes YouTube channel (youtube.com/eatonvoices). Additionally, interview segments will be shared on social media through the project’s Instagram and Facebook pages @eatonvoices.
Who do I contact with questions?
Please contact Hrag Yedalian at hrag@ashesandechoes.org with all inquiries.
