Armenians have rallied to support their own as wildfires sweep through Los Angeles, home to one of the largest Armenian immigrant communities in the world.
At least 25 people have died and 12,300 structures have been destroyed, according to city officials, after a series of ferocious fires erupted across Los Angeles, starting on the morning of Tuesday, January 7. Southern California remains under extreme fire threat as dry weather conditions and powerful winds could fuel rapid fire spread.
As of this writing, the Eaton fire — one of the most destructive to ever hit California — is 45% contained after burning more than 14,000 acres in the densely Armenian-populated areas of Altadena and Pasadena. The Palisades fire, which is 19% contained, has scorched about 23,000 acres in the Pacific Palisades and along the coastline toward Malibu.
A significant number of Armenians are among the tens of thousands of Angelenos who have been forced to evacuate or have lost their homes completely to the fire. One list of resources circulated among the community names at least 60 Armenian families whose homes were destroyed in the Eaton fire.
As the fires broke out, the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) Western Region, the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) Western U.S.A. and the Armenian Youth Federation (AYF) Western U.S. worked swiftly to set up shelters.
Armenian community centers in Burbank, La Crescenta, Montebello, North Valley, South Valley and Pasadena were rapidly converted into shelters, providing hot food, clean water, power and masks. The Jivalagian Youth Center in Pasadena is accepting donations for a wide range of needs, including nasal tissue, shampoo, paper towels, toilet paper, diapers and baby wipes. The centers are also conducting donation deliveries.
The Armenian Prelacy of the Western United States also opened its doors, offering St. Mary’s Church in Glendale, St. Sarkis Church in Pasadena, St. Garabed Church in Hollywood and Holy Martyrs Church in Encino as shelters.
“All hands are on deck now with the current wildfire crisis,” Garo Madenlian, ARF Western U.S. Central Committee chair, told the Weekly. “We want people to know that we’re here to help now and, just as importantly, once the dust settles, because it’s going to be a long process to get people back into their homes — to get people resources to help rebuild.”
The ANCA has also leapt into action to ensure that Armenian Americans are informed about the relief efforts at their disposal. After U.S. President Joe Biden issued a disaster declaration and freed up federal assistance funding for California, the ANCA released an informational video about how individuals and businesses can access this aid.
“We want to make sure that whatever resources are available, our community is aware of them,” ANCA National Grassroots Director Gev Iskajyan, who has been on the ground in Los Angeles, told the Weekly.
The ANCA Western Region and AYF Western U.S. have also set up a hotline to provide Armenian language resources, streamlining immediate support while assisting with filing claims for local, state and federal aid.
“We live in these communities. We go to the churches. We know the schools. We have a very intimate understanding of it. We have a responsibility to make sure that we reach all of those people,” Iskajyan said, stressing the importance of communication that is tailored to the needs and language of each community.
Lucy Petrosian, the ANCA Glendale chairperson, has been overseeing the La Crescenta Armenian community center, all while hosting several evacuated families in her own house. Petrosian says she knows at least four people who have lost their homes in Pasadena. One woman who lost power called in a desperate search for a refrigerator to store her children’s insulin.
“It’s just devastating,” Petrosian told the Weekly. “I’m sending condolence and prayers to everyone who lost their homes. I can’t even imagine how these people feel. It’s just too much.”
Among the cultural institutions to fall victim to the fire is Sahag-Mesrob Armenian Christian School. After 45 years of serving the community, the day school in Altadena was completely destroyed by the Eaton fire.
Pastor Hovhannes Halladjian first shared footage of the campus in ruins, blanketed in thick smoke with some flames still flickering, on his social media on January 8. “Sahag-Mesrob School is gone. It is very painful,” he lamented. “Armenians are strong. We will rebuild.”
Sahag-Mesrob is a small, tight-knit school with a couple hundred students, offering a “Christ-centered education rooted in Armenian cultural heritage,” as stated in its mission. Many of the faculty and staff have worked at the school for decades or are alumni themselves. Arlin Titanian, chair of the school’s Board of Directors, has enrolled her two children since preschool.
“It’s home for us,” Titanian told the Weekly. “If something happens to me and [my kids] are at school, I know that our principal will get them and take them home.”
Around 15 families from the school community have lost their homes to the fire, while almost every family, including Titanian’s, has been evacuated.
“Losing all that history and memories — it’s very hard,” Titanian reflected. “We all keep remembering… One of the students told their mom today, ‘Mom, we lost all our trophies.’”
Sahag-Mesrob is committed to rebuilding and has already launched a fundraising campaign to purchase new technology, textbooks, desks, chairs and other essentials. Titanian says the school is now searching for a temporary location for reopening. Meanwhile, messages of solidarity have poured in from neighboring Armenian schools, organizations, churches and businesses, with generous offers of support.
“We are a very small, non-denominational school,” Titanian said. “Seeing the outpouring of support from all the Armenian organizations — knowing that we’re not alone — that gives us hope.”
While the school has rapidly mobilized for recovery efforts, it is also committed to giving back. Throughout the week, Sahag-Mesrob is hosting a community relief event at Armenian Brotherhood Bible Church in Pasadena. Titanian says that the overwhelming amount of donated food, clothing, school supplies, daily essentials and more have filled a large basketball gym.
“I hope the Armenian community will continue like this. We need to learn our lesson that, at the end of the day, we’ve got each other. With God’s grace, we have each other, and that’s how we’ve survived all these years, from genocide to now,” Titanian said.
This article was updated on January 15, 2025 to reflect new developments.
Lillian Avedian
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KEEP UP THE GOOD WORD
How vulnerable we can be in life what we have can be just stripped away from one. Whilst disaspasionate the loss is acute to those afflicted.
May God turn this tragedy to good. May he bring still deeper faith, still deeper love, out of this great loss, this great suffering. Armenians persevere! Over the centuries you, with your faith in the Savior Jesus, have persevered against tremendous odds. You will persevere now, by grace, and God will knit you even more closely together and open a new future for you. Amen!