In the wake of the devastating Eaton and Palisades fires that destroyed much of the Pacific Palisades, Altadena and parts of Pasadena and Malibu, many are wondering what will happen to these communities that had long established roots and histories.

To understand the fear of what may be lost as communities begin the long recovery and rebuilding process, we asked residents and officials this question: What is something about your community you fear will never be the same again?

Here are there answers:

Micheline McFarland, 69, of Altadena, co-pastor and founder with her husband Pastor Anthony McFarland of LIFT International. Lost both their church and home of 32 years.

“The traditional homes, the community loving and being there for each other. I liked that we didn’t have a lot of City Halls and restrictions and regulations. I’m concerned about that. And I’m worried so many will not rebuild and some of our seniors won’t see the rebuild. So many of them tell me they don’t know if they could do this again.

I’m mourning the death of a community still, our local relationships. Like Fox’s. I would get their Goddess omelette (with artichoke, asparagus, Gruyere cheese, parsley pesto) and they had great egg scrambles, and the hospitality, and the love. Everybody had love.”

Martin A. Gordon, 72, CEO of Pasadena Community Coalition, lost his Altadena home in the fire and says a firefighter told him his house was gone 10 minutes after he evacuated.

“Am I going to be able to bring all my people back, my community back? That will be hard to do if people get swayed away by money.”

Felicia Lee, 50, Altadena, a longtime PUSD employee who works as a registrar at McKinley School. She lost her Altadena home in the Eaton fire – a 1961-built house that the family cherished as a three-generation sanctuary with a small farm of cats and dogs.

“ I grew up in that neighborhood, there on Pine Street, and my fear is that not everyone will return. We built great relationships with everyone. I mean, we were really a small knit community who looked out for one another, and my fear is that that same community that we have will not return. And while I understand various reasons will prevent people from not rebuilding or coming back, it will leave a big hole in my heart knowing that I go back and they’re not there.”

Rick Law, 69, Altadena, retired commander at Pasadena PD, lost home of almost 18 years in the Eaton fire

“I don’t like to use the word ‘never.’ I can only pray that the Altadena community, with its homogeneous make up can rebound from this disaster and duplicate the Altadena Community as it was prior to the Jan. 6 fire storm. If this incident does not form a closer bond with those of us who reside in Altadena, nothing will.”

Navada Austin, 43, of Altadena, hotel concierge in West Hollywood. Lived in Altadena 17 years, born in Jamaica, raised in New York.

“The residents because who knows how many of us will go back? I know so many who have been in Altadena for generations, living in houses that have been passed down and can they afford to rebuild? I think a new type of racism will happen.”

Jolene Austin, 40, of Altadena, home health worker, unemployed since the fires, mother to three daughters.

“Altadena. The community. I want to go back, but at the same time everything we know is gone: the grocery stores, the parks, our schools. When we go back, will I have stability?”

Naomi Hirahara, 62, Pasadena resident, born and raised in Altadena, social historian and mystery writer. She volunteered at the convention center the day after the fires. Her childhood home burned down.

“I’m afraid the most about the historic African American community that made their home at the foot of the purple San Gabriel Mountains.”

Andrew Halff, Pacific Palisades resident.

“After we left our house that day, we drove around the Palisades and witnessed the devastation first hand. It was shocking. After seeing that, I believe the question is not ‘what will never be same,’ but rather, what, if anything will be the same? The town, especially the village, alphabet streets, bluffs, and Huntington Palisades have been utterly destroyed; reminiscent of the bombed-out cities and towns of World War II. It will take years, even decades to fully rebuild, and when that happens few, if any, of the same people will move back. I’m sure it will be nice and beautiful again, but the Palisades as we knew it, the people, the houses, the stores, the restaurants, that I grew up with are gone.”

Colin Weatherby, 40, South Pasadena, filmmaker

“I do not see an economically viable way for most middle income homeowners to rebuild and I fear that the rebuild will likely require most property be sold to corporate developers.”

Amanda McPhillips, 45, Pasadena, CA, Mother of two. Evacuated during fires and oldest son’s school burned down.

“The biggest impact for our family was our school and school community. Not only is it a worry of where, when and how in person learning will come back both short term and long term, but also how our children will navigate having their friends scattered while all is figured out. Not having the daily routine of our beloved school has been the most unsettling and unmooring part of the fires for our family.”

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