Surviving the Flames: A 79-Year-Old's Battle with Wildfire Devastation

California Wildfires Highlight Vulnerabilities for Older Homeowners and Community Housing Resilience

The devastating January 2025 wildfires in Altadena, California, burned tens of thousands of acres and destroyed entire neighborhoods, leaving a substantial portion of residents grappling with loss and uncertainty. Among them is Karen Bagnard, a 79-year-old professional visual artist whose Altadena home of over 50 years was reduced to a smoldering pile of debris. “I hope to live long enough to see it rebuilt,” she remarked during a visit to assess the property’s remains.

This personal tragedy underscores the mounting risk older individuals face during natural disasters and the growing challenges of climate resilience planning in housing and community safety nets.

The financial toll of the California wildfires has been staggering, with insured losses projected to reach up to $50 billion, as reported by JP Morgan. However, for uninsured or underinsured homeowners—an issue increasingly driven by rising home insurance costs—the picture is even grimmer. Many older adults, like Bagnard, who have paid off their homes over decades, often forgo comprehensive homeowners insurance to reduce monthly expenses, putting them at significant risk during disasters.

These wildfires also bring to light the medium-term disaster period following a catastrophe, when donations and volunteer support dwindle, leaving victims to navigate long-term challenges with limited assistance. “It’s crucial to remain engaged during this phase,” notes Joan Casey, associate professor at the University of Washington's School of Public Health, as this is when financial strain, air quality health risks, and mental health disasters can compound.

Bagnard's story reflects the arduous and deeply personal rebuilding process. After evacuating the night before the fire reached her residence, she returned weeks later to find that most of her possessions—including her artwork and heirloom property—had been obliterated. “Amid the ashes, I’m reminded of what remains: concrete steps I painted and a Danish plate with a mermaid, my art muse,” she shared. These mementos now inform the challenging decisions she and her family must make about the property they will eventually inherit.

For older individuals, the question of how—or whether—to rebuild is often colored by health, mobility, and financial considerations. The processes of navigating Small Business Administration loans, nonprofit organization grants, and even crowdfunding platforms like the GoFundMe account started by Bagnard’s daughter become central to recovery.

Fortunately, community organizations have stepped in to offer immediate support. Pasadena Village, a local community organization where Bagnard was an active participant prior to the fire, has been instrumental in providing temporary housing for displaced residents. They are also replacing equipment lost in the fire and offering resources such as air purifiers to mitigate lingering air quality health risks.

Bagnard credits these collective efforts for helping keep older individuals resilient despite significant financial and emotional challenges. Katie Brandon, executive director of Pasadena Village, noted, “Our older residents have banded together, showing extraordinary resilience, even encouraging others to stay socially connected throughout this recovery period.”

Older adults often face unique challenges during evacuations tied to natural disasters. Factors like limited mobility, frailty, and the absence of a community safety net can exacerbate evacuation stress. Some may even be unable to leave their homes—a sobering reality that has been observed in many such disasters. Joyce Robertson, CEO of Foundation for Senior Services, highlighted that the support systems for older adults must improve: “In two decades, the fatality rate of older adults in disasters hasn’t improved. Without significant changes in climate resilience planning, we’ll continue to see disproportionate impacts.”

Organizations like Journey House, a foster care services provider, have extended generous offers to displaced residents like Bagnard’s grandson, himself a former foster youth, helping him recover from the total loss of his belongings. The local nonprofit Better Angels has also provided vital grant money to support the family’s recovery.

Yet, such efforts alone may not address the long-term mental health toll disasters can have on older victims. Scientific studies indicate that natural disasters might accelerate cognitive decline but also note the potential for older individuals, particularly those like Bagnard with prior resilience-building experiences, to recover better over time.

For Bagnard, a former pen-and-ink artist transitioning to alternative artistic methods due to vision loss, the devastation has reinforced the fragility of possessions—but not her passion or determination. Her professional artistic journey, including her recent work interpreting her vision loss through layered papers and haikus, remains a cornerstone of her identity amid the rebuilding process.

Community support, financial resources, and her personal resilience are paving the way forward. “Knowing you’re going blind is like a freefall into darkness, but you learn to bring your own light,” Bagnard said. Her hope for rebuilding extends beyond her own recovery to securing a future for her two daughters and grandson, who will eventually inherit the property.

As California continues to battle the effects of natural disasters, stories like Bagnard’s reflect the urgent need for inclusive climate resilience planning that incorporates older adults’ needs, stronger community support frameworks, and equitable insurance solutions. These measures are essential to alleviating the evacuation stress, health risks, and recovery disparities many now face.

For further detail on Karen Bagnard’s story and the broader implications of these California wildfires, read the original reporting on CNBC.