Eaton Fire devastates Altadena's historic businesses and beloved cultural sites

In January 2025, a catastrophic wildfire known as the Eaton Fire swept through Altadena, a community in California, leading to widespread destruction. Among the most significant losses were the Altadena Hardware, a family-owned business that had been operational for over 90 years, and the famous Bunny Museum, which was recognized for holding the Guinness World Record for the most bunny items in one location. The patriarch of Altadena Hardware, Jim Orlandini, and his sons confronted the flames while trying to protect their homes and their legacy, expressing great sorrow over the loss of the community focal point they had dedicated their lives to building. As they recover from the trauma, they are actively looking for temporary locations to serve their community's needs while planning for a long-term rebuild of their store. Concurrently, the owners of the Bunny Museum, Candace Frazee and Steve Lubanski, have leveraged the international support they received following the fire to begin their own recovery efforts. Their museum represented not only a passionate hobby but also a significant part of their love story, filled with a myriad of bunny-themed collectibles. The destruction of the museum caused deep emotional turmoil, but the determined couple is already seeking to collect more items and envision a future where they can showcase their collection again. Their plans include building a fire-resistant structure to prevent such devastation from happening again in the future. The community of Altadena is deeply affected, with many homes lost to the fire, leaving around 60% of local structures destroyed. This statistic reflects the enormity of the tragedy not just for the directly impacted businesses, but for the fabric of the community. Residents are coming together to rally support for each other, contributing to both Altadena Hardware's and the Bunny Museum's rebuilding efforts. Expressions of solidarity from people around the world show how the local crises have resonated far beyond their immediate geographical area, emphasizing the strength of community bonds in times of crisis. In the face of these hardships, the owners of Altadena Hardware continue to hold onto hope for a future where they can provide resources for their rebuilding neighbors. Although the actual rebuilding may take years, the Orlandini family and the Frazee-Lubanski duo remain committed to Altadena, ensuring that their legacies will endure despite the destruction. They are united by a shared goal: to not just rebuild what was lost, but to create something resilient and meaningful for the generations to come.