The fire took his sister and his lifelong home. He’s been fighting to get back ever since
Zaire Calvin grew up in Altadena. For nearly a year since the Eaton fire destroyed his town, he has become a voice for his community.
His mom bought his childhood home in the 1970s when Altadena was one of the few places Black families could own properties. Years ago, he bought the house next door. Both homes are gone now.
Shortly after his childhood home burned down in west Altadena, Zaire Calvin learned his mom’s insurance carrier had dropped her months before. He handled her bills but said he hadn’t received any email or notice from Allstate before the January wildfire.
For weeks, he tried to get answers, waiting on returned calls, asking for proof of the warning, requesting to speak with managers to make sense of what happened. He never got any resolution.