One Year Later
One year ago today, the Palisades and Eaton fires destroyed an estimated 13,000 to 16,000 homes and structures and killed at least 28 people.
Our very lucky cat Violet was home when the fires started; we were in Arizona, which meant there was nothing for us to do but watch and wait and hope.
As experiences go, I can tell you having your home and entire community destroyed is not something I recommend. It was a hard year for us—one filled with the grinding, endless task of replacing things while also grieving all the things that can never be replaced.
And yet...
Out of the fire was born many new things that are precious—things that could not have come into being any other way. Some of these I'll be sharing in the coming year—including projects I've spent decades working on that suddenly snapped into place.
And some are things that, alas, I fear can't be translated. But that won't stop me from trying.
None of that is to say the path has been easy, or the wounds all healed. Like Violet (saved by a fleeing neighbor), I know I've been luckier than many. For all of you who were there, or who were affected, my thoughts are with you—on this day, and every day after.
— January 7, 2026
Andy Lewicky is the author and creator of SierraDescents
Dan Conger January 7, 2026 at 5:12 pm
All the best to you and your family, Andy. I can't begin to understand what it's been like. My thoughts have been with you.