Nic Arnzen, an out member of the Altadena town council, believes that living through a disaster is a great equalizer—a stark reminder of how trivial time spent on bigotry and anti-LGBTQ+ sentiments is when faced with a shared humanity. In a conversation with The Advocate three days after suffering through a historic disaster, he recounted the night his family lost their California home in the Eaton Fire.
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On January 6, a Tuesday evening, the Arnzen family—Nic, his husband, their 18-year-old daughter, her friend who had aged out of foster care but was considered a son, and their pets—received an alert through Watch Duty, a fire-tracking app. The fire had sparked in Eaton Canyon, less than a mile from their home.
“My heart sank,” Arnzen recalls.
He said that he and his husband tried not to panic so as not to worry their kids. “We’d convinced ourselves the wind would change and that we wouldn’t need to leave,” Arnzen says. “But within three hours, we were running out of the house with our two dogs and only a few belongings.”
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Those belongings included documents, irreplaceable family photos, and two overnight bags.
“We got out with our two vehicles, so we separated the dogs and who I’m calling our son now, along with my husband in one car, and we put my daughter and our bunny and cat in the other with the two boxes,” he says.
In the chaos, they initially left behind their daughter’s pet bunny but risked returning to retrieve it. “We got back in the house with complete darkness and smoke was filling up. It was hard to see in front of you,” he says.
The house was engulfed by flames shortly after. By morning, Arnzens says the family had confirmation that their home and neighborhood were completely destroyed.
Damage in Los Angeles after fire swept through a neighborhoodLokman Vural Elibol/Anadolu via Getty Images
When disaster hits home
For Arnzen, the experience of losing everything has been both personal and politically galvanizing. “It’s like an apocalyptic vision,” he says, describing the surreal devastation that has forever changed his community.
The Eaton Fire, the second-most destructive wildfire in California’s history, burned over 14,000 acres, destroyed more than 9,000 structures, and claimed at least 17 lives as of January 23, according to the Los Angeles Times. Fierce Santa Ana winds drove the rapid spread of several fires, catching even seasoned experts off guard. It also surprised Arnzen.
“We weren’t in panic mode, and maybe that was a mistake,” Arnzen admits. “We thought the wind would shift. We kept convincing ourselves it couldn’t possibly happen.”
But it could and did happen and he says that although his work is in politics, there’s no room for politicization or disinformation in the wake of the fires. “Disasters like this remind us of how equal we are when everything is stripped away,” Arnzen reflects. “The divisions that seem so important in our daily lives suddenly feel trivial. When a fire takes your home, your political affiliations or who you love no longer matter. We’re all human.”
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Arnzen is committed to rebuilding—not only for his family but for the broader Altadena community. The fires displaced some 150,000 people, exposing the vulnerabilities of California’s wildfire-prone areas. The tragedy came mere weeks after Arnzen says a comprehensive long-range planning document, the West San Gabriel Valley Area Plan, was approved for the region, but too late to prevent the disaster. “It’s a 20 to 30-year outlook of how can we make these communities better, stronger, more livable, bike friendly, passenger-friendly, but a huge element of that is also how we make us more fire safe.
“Would it have stopped this fire? No,” Arnzen acknowledges. “But it could have saved more structures. It’s heartbreaking to know we were so close to being better prepared.”
A chimney which remains standing is reflected in the water of a home swimming pool in the aftermath of the Eaton Fire in Altadena, California on January 13, 2025. Homeowners and renters who lost their homes due to the fire are suing Southern California Edison, alleging the electrical utility that provides electricity to some 15 million people in a 50,000 square-mile area of Southern California failed to de-energize its electrical equipment despite the high wind and red flag warnings issues by the National Weather Service.FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images
The long road to recovery
In addition to dealing with his loss, Arnzen has stepped into the role of advocate for his displaced constituents. As a council member in unincorporated Altadena, he works alongside Los Angeles County officials to ensure the town receives the desperately needed resources. He even appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live, advocating for his community when the entertainer sent donations to those hit hard.
But Arnzen worries that public attention—and generosity—will wane as media coverage shifts to other stories. “Right now, people are giving because the pain is fresh,” he says. “But our recovery is going to take years. When the spotlight fades, I hope people will still remember us.”
The Eaton fire will go down as one of the worst fires in California history. Displaced families are navigating a patchwork of services, including disaster recovery centers and emergency shelters, to regain a sense of normalcy. Arnzen encourages donors to use verified channels like the Altadena Rotary Club and the Pasadena Community Foundation, which ensure aid reaches those who need it most. He also emphasizes the importance of supporting local businesses, many of which have lost much of their customer base.
Arnzen’s days have been filled with both grief and gratitude. He recounts a surreal moment during an interview when the word “gremlins” triggered a memory of a box of candies he’d bought at a special Iowa candy shop and planned to send to his son, a U.S. Marine in North Carolina. The candy burned in the fire.
“It’s strange how your mind attaches to the smallest things,” he says. “That box of candy symbolized love and connection, and losing it hit me harder than I expected.”
LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 13: Cal Fire search and rescue team look through for possible human remains in ashes of burned houses after massive wildfire in Altadena of Los Angeles County, California, United States on January 13, 2025.Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu via Getty Images
Despite the devastation, Arnzen’s outlook remains hopeful. He recounts a moment with his daughter at the site of their destroyed home. “I told her, ‘Close your eyes and remember what this place was and what we loved about it. Now think of how we can recreate it—even better.’”
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His resolve is rooted in his identity and belief in community power.
“As a gay man, I’ve faced adversity before,” he says. “This is another challenge, but it’s one we can overcome together.”
Arnzen’s message to his fellow residents is clear: “We’ve lost so much, but we’re determined to gain even more. Our story isn’t over.”
Helpful resources for wildfire recovery
Several resources are available if you or someone you know has been affected by the Los Angeles area wildfires. The Altadena Fire Recovery Information hub at recoveryaltadena.com offers updates and guidance for navigating the aftermath. Evacuation and damage status updates, including detailed maps of affected areas, are available on Los Angeles County’s emergency website. Disaster Recovery Centers have been set up at Pasadena City College’s Community Education Center, where residents can access various support services, including FEMA aid.