Hello my name is Christopher deGroot. My mother, father, and I lived in Altadena at 836 East Mariposa Street and our home has been completely destroyed by the Eaton Fire on the morning of 8 January 2025. We are safe, but devasted by this immense loss. A lot was lost that day, and I struggle to even begin to describe everything... 
 
We never received or were issued a level 3 mandatory evacuation order or level 2 "Be ready to leave" notice for our immediate zone (ALD CALVERAS) the night prior. Our power went out, and all I had was the Watch Duty updates on my phone. I had stayed up all night monitoring the fire, and watching the property. Conditions outside significantly deteriorated around midnight and with the winds shifting and increasing, the smoke became blinding, obstructing any visual of the mountains or any flames whatsoever. I continued my inspection rounds of the property through the night and early morning, inside and out. I finally decided to wake-up my 78 and 79 year-old parents and evacuate at approximately 4:00 am Tuesday, when I spotted embers flying past our property. Still, at this time, neither a level 2 or 3 evacuation order was issued for our zone in Altadena. As we evacuated, trees and structures south of our location were already on fire. Only at 5:50 a.m. a mandatory evacuation order was issued for our zone, and it was at this time I suspect the building, our home, was already engulfed in flames. By this time, we were at a Pasadena IHOP, with many other evacuees, trying to grapple with what was going on. Nobody in this restaurant would have thought that some or all of our lives would soon change forever. 
 
The picture I have attached above is what remains of our home. 
 
We are asking for your help. I hate asking for anything, but this is such a terrible catastrophe for us. Any little bit will help us, and I am forever grateful for your consideration. Thank you. 
 
In closing, I composed this incomplete poem/lyric I wrote the day after this nightmare becoming a reality: 
 
Cherish, that will perish 

There now, can be gone in an instant 

Memories remain, some will vanish 

Struggling to ascertain, living nightmare constant 
 
Watching the palm trees sway 

Tempestuous winds blowing leaves astray 

Plume of smoke appears 

Confirming my worst fears 
 
Tick tock, the engines flock 

Sirens blaring, eyes start staring 

Anxiety grows, as the flame drove 

Up the mountain ridge, westward ho 
 
Winds shift like capricious people 

Embers begin to fly from steeple to steeple 

Home to home, unknown all alone 

Blackening sky, I can't believe my eyes 

... 

Chris

Ian Rowe

esther kim

David Heiss

Jonathan Brodie

Patricia Fujii Carberry

GoFundMe.org 

Evan Chambers

David James Heiss

Barron Maizland

Mario Moran

Dave Balassi

Kathleen Chio

Carol Strange

Anonymous

Debbie Barackman

Terry Irie

Sandra VerSteeg

Claudia Garzel

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