Leaders in the Face of the Eaton Fire

Deb Halberstadt and her husband, Jon Hainer, have been longtime residents of Altadena, a community they have loved and called home for decades. A seasoned news photographer, still photographer, and videographer, Deb built a career working for major outlets such as AP and NBC. Over the years, she developed strong relationships with law enforcement and first responders, recognizing the mutual respect between the media and emergency agencies.

“Volunteering for the Los Angeles Sheriffs was an easy decision,” she shared. “All the time I have been a news photographer and videographer, the agencies had helped me all along. Anybody, police, fire, anywhere in the country – even though we are the news, we always help each other. So when I had a little more time, I decided to volunteer with the Sheriff’s Department. It’s been 17 years.”

Her involvement in emergency response deepened when she began attending CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) meetings.

“I started to attend a couple of CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) meetings, and before I knew it, the Altadena Sheriff’s Station said, ‘You can run it,’” she recalled with a smile.

She quickly became a leader in preparedness efforts, taking on Altadena Map Your Neighborhood, working with the Red Cross, and helping train the community in emergency response. She found joy in teaching people the basics of preparedness—helping them understand the importance of go-bags, evacuation planning, and situational awareness.

She never expected that her own preparedness training would be tested so personally.

It was around 6:30 PM (the fire is believed to have started at 6:15) when Deb and Jon first saw the fire in the distance.

“We looked out the window, and we could see it,” she said. “We knew we had to get ready to go. We got the dogs together, got the cars packed, and I turned to Jon and said, ‘It still has a ways to go. I’m going to check in at the Sheriff’s Station and see if they need anything.’ So I threw my uniform and my boots in the car.”

As a Sheriff’s volunteer, Deb knew the station had its own cell tower, meaning communication would be more reliable there. What she didn’t expect was how many people had no idea what was coming. The Sheriff’s were out banging on doors, there was no power. 

“I started calling and texting people. First, I’d call. If they didn’t answer, I’d text. I kept telling people, ‘Look outside. Go outside. See the fire. Get ready. And don’t go east!’ It was all adrenaline. It was about reaching people and telling them to tell their neighbors, and just leave. They would say, ‘What fire?’ I said, ‘We have a very big fire that started in Eaton Canyon, there are terrible winds, you should leave your homes – and don’t go East!’”

Some were in denial. One of the calls she made was to her friend, Alfred, a fellow photographer.

“When I called, he was asleep,” Deb recalled. “I said, ‘Look outside your window, go outside. You need to evacuate.’ He didn’t believe me at first. A few days after the fire, I ran into him, and he told me, ‘Deb, I’m so glad you called. We had no idea. We lost our home, but we got out.’” 

About 1:00 AM, Altadena Sheriff’s Captain Jabari Williams walked in from the EOC in Farnsworth Park. He went up to Deb, took her by the shoulders and said, “The situation is unstable, It’s time for you to leave! Go get Jon and the dogs and get out. Evacuate!” She had spent the night helping others evacuate. Now, it was her turn.

In the days and weeks that followed, Altadena faced overwhelming loss. Over 9,000 structures burned including about 6,300 houses; families were driven out of all kinds of housing. 17 people lost their lives. Deb described the destruction simply:

“The fire was over 2,000 degrees. There is nothing left. Pennies melted together. Silver dollars turned to dust. Everything melted.”

But amidst the devastation, the community rose.

People knocked on doors, ensuring their elderly and disabled neighbors had escaped. Grocery Outlet turned its parking lot into a relief center, with organizations like Altadena Rotary Club, the Red Cross, Samantha’s Purse, Salvation Army, and other organizations stepping in to help. Churches opened their doors, offering shelter and support.

Altadena Rotary resumed its Thursday lunches, creating space for people to come together. Social media became a lifeline, helping neighbors check in on each other. Musicians held benefit concerts to support artists who lost their instruments.

And through it all, Deb kept going.

For Deb, helping others has been part of her healing. “This isn’t about me,” she said. “It’s about all of us. We’re going through this together.”

Still, the weight of loss is real.

“My support is Jon,” she shared. “He’s the one who was on the computer, canceling accounts, handling insurance, figuring out what comes next. We’re lucky to be staying with friends who have been a huge support system for us.”

Even in the hardest moments, she finds strength in routine—taking walks, caring for her dogs, and maintaining a sense of normalcy, even if it means simply turning on the television to watch a movie. 

When asked what she has learned through this experience, Deb doesn’t hesitate.

1. Know your neighbors. “You don’t have to like them, but in a disaster, you may need to depend on them.”
2. “I learned how to be a victim. How to care for the people you are close to. Take care of your health.”  
3. You have to be prepared. She plainly stated, “Do it or die. Have a go-bag. Have your papers ready. And don’t forget your cars—many people left theirs behind.”
4. Be aware of your surroundings. “Situational awareness is critical. Know your escape routes. Don’t get routinized about going to the store and coming home, going to the pharmacy and coming home, going to the Doctor and coming home, don’t do it the same way, know ALL of the different ways back and forth to your house.”

The road to recovery will be long and difficult, but Deb hopes that Altadena can rebuild with the same diversity, culture, and sense of belonging that have always defined it.

“I hope the people who lived in Altadena return with that same spirit. That we keep the sense of community we’ve always had. But I don’t know… I don’t know if it’s all been broken.”

Her voice trails off for a moment. The weight of loss is real—but so is the strength of this community.

The Eaton Fire took homes, and lives. But it did not take away Altadena’s heart.