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Help Us Make Our Home Safe Again After the Eaton Canyon Fire
Hello, my name is Henry Dotson, and I live with my wife, Vanessa, in northeast Pasadena, California. On January 7, 2025, the Eaton Canyon Fire swept through our community. We were blessed that our home did not burn down—but the damage from the smoke, soot, and ash was serious and cannot be ignored.
I’m a cancer survivor. I went through treatment for multiple myeloma and am currently in remission, but I live with a compromised immune system. That means breathing in toxic particles like ash, soot, and smoke residue can make me extremely sick. The fire may be out, but the threat to my health is not.
The Cost to Make Our Home Livable Again
After the fire, we had a professional inspection done. The second estimate for proper remediation to clean and restore our home came in at $115,702. This includes the cost to safely remove the smoke, ash, and soot throughout the house—work that is absolutely necessary for me to safely live here.
Unfortunately, our insurance provider - California FAIR Plan, has taken the position that this kind of smoke, soot and ash remediation is not covered. They’ve offered us only $345.77 for what they say is their obligation (after applying our $2500 deductible) to remove the odor—not the dangerous particles that remain in our vents, walls, furniture, and air.
This puts us in an impossible situation. Odor removal without removing the source of the odor is useless. We must remediate the home to make it safe, but we have been fighting with our insurance provider for 4 months for coverage to do so. That’s why we are turning to our friends, neighbors, and kind strangers for help.
How Your Donation Helps
We’re raising funds to:
- Cover the $115,702 needed to professionally clean and restore our home
- Protect my health as a cancer survivor with a vulnerable immune system
- Fill the gap left by insurance so we can continue living in the home we’ve lived in for over 25 years
Any donation, big or small, will help us take one step closer to a safe home and peace of mind.
We also continue supporting our neighbors who lost everything in the fire. We are heavily involved in organizing Dena ReKindlng Network, a coalition of Black and Brown builders from the Altadena area whose mission is to help restore and retain the Black and Brown communities in Altadena.
Please donate if you can, and share this campaign with anyone who may want to help.
With heartfelt thanks,
Henry & Vanessa Dotson