It was all hands on deck last January for staff and volunteers at Pasadena Humane when the Eaton Fire broke out, separating many pets from their families during the disaster.
A year later, those individuals who helped the dozens and dozens of animals injured by the fire reflect on the hard work and countless nights it took to save the lost pets affected by the blaze.
“That very first day, it was just chaos,” said Tom Ratanavraha, a volunteer with Pasadena Humane.
Ratanavraha said he saw the Eaton Fire’s flames from his balcony and knew he had to rush to the animal shelter to help.
“Droves of people were just coming in,” he said.
With flames still raging through Atladena, people needed a safe space for their pets.
“I would just watch families break down because their pet was the last thing they had to focus on,” Ratanavraha said. “And then once I told them we’d take care of them, they realized they didn’t know where they were going to go. They had nothing left except the clothes on their backs, and I would just watch families crying in front of me.”
The January 2025 fire consumed thousands of structures in Altadena, displacing numerous families that are still trying to recover from their losses. It also claimed the lives of 19 people.
In the aftermath of the disaster, Pasadena Humane opened its kennels to hundreds of animals, many of whom were suffering from burns and in distress.
Ratanavraha said he recalls a dog named Rocco, who arrived at the shelter exhausted, burned and covered in ash.
“You knew that he was probably running, you know, scared for his life,” Ratanavraha said.
With care, Rocco has since recovered and was even adopted. Other pets who share similar stories are still looking for homes.
“People just could not find a place to live and ultimately, heartbreakingly made the decision to surrender their pets to us,” said Kevin McManus, PR & Communications Director at Pasadena Humane.
The shelter has also opened its doors to pets that need a place to stay while their owners figure out their next steps.
“We’re just doing the best we can to make sure they’re getting out of their kennel, they’re getting exercise, they’re getting love and hoping for the best that their families are able to find a place where they can take their family members back home with them,” McManus said.
All the while, Pasadena Humane has also conducted business as usual in helping and taking in pets that were not affected by the fire.
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