As the Vice Chair of the Altadena Town Council, Nic Arnzen has been a voice for approximately 5,500 residents in the community. However, in the wake of the recent fires, Arnzen now estimates that only a handful of homes remain standing.
Arnzen paints a grim picture of the aftermath, stating, 'The best way to explain it is if you look around right now at your neighborhood and you think about waving at your neighbor and walking down your street – imagine in a 24-hour period all of that being gone. Where I used to see homes, I’m seeing acres of debris and rubble.'
Having lost his own home to the fires, Arnzen returned to the neighborhood to document the devastation, aiming to provide some solace to anxious residents awaiting news about their properties. 'It’s almost all gone,' he lamented.
Arnzen emphasizes the urgent need for Americans to acknowledge the reality of climate change, urging proactive measures even for those who may not be directly impacted by natural disasters like wildfires and tornadoes. 'It’s embarrassing that this country, as intelligent as it is, is not addressing it,' he expressed.
In the midst of personal loss and community devastation, Arnzen is striving to remain resilient for his family and neighbors. He recounted a poignant conversation with his 19-year-old son, a Marine, who expressed a desire to return home. Arnzen grappled with the heartbreaking reality of having to tell his son that 'There is no home.'
