Recovery, Resilience, and Healing: Exploring Grief Experiences of Black Families Impacted by the Eaton Fire in the Altadena and Pasadena Area

Natural disasters such as wildfires leave lasting emotional, psychological, and social impacts. However, the experiences of historically marginalized populations particularly Black families are often overlooked in disaster research. Systemic inequities exacerbate trauma and create barriers to equitable recovery. The 2025 Eaton Fire, which devastated parts of Altadena and Pasadena in California, disproportionately affected Black residents, intensifying pre-existing vulnerabilities and disrupting long-standing community ties. Objective: This study explores the grief, recovery, and resilience experiences of Black families impacted by the Eaton Fire. Method: A rapid research qualitative study design was used in addition to snowball and convenience sampling to recruit 37 Black or African American participants directly affected by the Eaton Fire. Participants (35 women, 2 men) completed open-ended surveys via Qualtrics. Majority (n = 29) had lived in the community for over 21 years, indicating deep roots. A thematic analysis, using iterative coding to identify emergent themes within systemic and sociocultural contexts was used. Results: Six themes emerged: (1) layered grief due to loss, displacement, and disrupted daily life, shaped by historical inequities; (2) intensified trauma from housing instability and community fragmentation; (3) spiritual and cultural practices (e.g., prayer, ritual, ancestral connection) as core coping tools; (4) reliance on mutual aid and collective care in the absence of institutional support; (5) barriers to culturally responsive services and difficulty navigating systems; and (6) community-generated recommendations emphasizing sustained, culturally affirming support rooted in racial equity and healing. Conclusion: Findings emphasize the need for disaster recovery efforts that center racial justice, cultural responsiveness, and community leadership. The results reflect both the grief and strength expressed by participants, shaped by systemic neglect yet sustained through cultural identity and collective care. Social workers and disaster responders must adopt trauma-informed, antiracist frameworks and co-create interventions with impacted communities. Long-term investment in equitable mental health care, housing access, and culturally grounded recovery is essential to promote healing and justice in historically excluded communities.