In the days following the Eaton and Palisades fires of January 2025, several regional public gardens served as placid places of refuge, and peace, for those who had been impacted by the devastation.

The Huntington was one of those serene spots for locals looking to find solace, reopening to aid the community soon after staff members removed the downed branches and detritus from the fierce windstorm of Jan. 7.

The San Marino landmark also housed displaced treasures and artifacts that had been removed from various locations in the face of the fires, and a few koi fish, too, in partnership with Pasadena Humane.

On Jan. 6, 2026, The Huntington reflected on the one-year anniversary of the Eaton Fire in Altadena, the spontaneous and community-supporting efforts it took on in the face of the heartrending event, and “Five Lessons” that staff members have learned through the process.

Those lessons include “Fragile Things Can Endure,” “Memory Can Take Shape Again,” “Recovery Can Take Root — In Gardens and Ponds,” “Literature Can Guide Recovery,” and “Art Can Offer Sanctuary.”

“One year ago, the Eaton Fire forever changed our community,” said Karen R. Lawrence, president of The Huntington.

“The Huntington has always been a place of gathering and refuge — for people and collections.”

“In the year since, that role has taken on a deeper meaning. As we look back and ahead, we see the powerful role institutions like The Huntington can play in preserving what is risk, honoring what has been lost, and standing alongside our community in moments of crisis.”

Located around five miles south of the Eaton Fire, The Huntington quickly opened its doors to serve as a temporary safe place for important items like Torah scrolls from the Pasadena Jewish Temple and Center.

The Huntington also helped residents who were eager to begin the rebuilding process access architectural resources in the months after the fires, with the Foss Designing & Building Company Collection, a sizable repository of images, blueprints, and information, serving as an essential resource.

And 11 koi fish, all rescued from the Eaton Fire, found a new home in the Lily Ponds of The Huntington’s historic Japanese Garden.

Read more about The Huntington’s reflections one year later, and how staff members, visitors, and those in need of immediate aid found “Sanctuary Amid the Ashes,” at this page.