Documentary Follows Altadena Family Who Lost Generational Home In LA Wildfires

Source: Ivan Luna / other

In January, Sadè Sellers watched from her home in Burbank, heartbroken, as the devastation of the Eaton Fire unfolded just miles away in Altadena. As the deadly Southern California wildfire engulfed homes and businesses in this close-knit, beloved community, the filmmaker knew she had a role to play in supporting her neighbors.

The moment came when friend and collaborator, Pepito Cadena, introduced her to Emani Lloyd, a high school friend of his whose family lost their home in the fires. Sellers was presented with the opportunity to document their story through film—but she had her doubts at first. “I hesitated. I was like, I don’t want to put a camera in people’s faces when they’re going through the worst thing that’s ever happened to them,” she told NewsOne.

MORE: The Black History Of Altadena And Pasadena

In the end, they all understood the importance of bringing the family’s story to light. Emani’s grandparents were part of the historic migration of Black families that purchased homes in Altadena in the 1960s and 70s—a time when Black homeownership in this community soared from 4 to 27 percent.

Emani, who lived in the house with her mother, aunt, and grandmother—who will celebrate her 81st birthday this year—shared a piece of family history in a video posted to Sellers’ TikTok. “My grandparents bought this home in 1975 for $35,000,” Emani said in the video. “My grandmother worked two jobs and my grandfather was in the Navy to provide this house for generations to come—and now it’s gone.”

The Eaton Fire did untold damage to Altadena—a peaceful suburb in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains—claiming 17 lives and more than 9,000 structures. Theirs was among the thousands of homes that were destroyed in the Eaton Fire. They escaped with just the clothes on their backs.

The family remains joyful and united

Since filming began on January 19, they’ve been pacing the production process as needed. “We’re taking it one shoot at a time,” said Sellers. “We’re letting Emani lead us on what she’s comfortable with. If she doesn’t feel like shooting that day, we don’t shoot that day.”

The filmmaker is working with a dedicated crew, people she’s worked with for the last 20 years. “They are my best friends.” Cadena, who went to high school with Emani, is producing the documentary with fiancé Ivan Luna. Sellers is directing and occasionally behind the camera along with director of photography Damari Butler.

Source: Ivan Luna / other

Right now the Lloyds are staying in hotels as they navigate the process of finding an apartment. Production paused for a week so the family could focus on their search. “That’s already very stressful, apartment hunting in LA,” said Sellers. “When you’ve owned a home for so long and you haven’t had to pay rent or a mortgage, that’s a whole new experience.”

Emani, a preschool teacher, continues to work at her school in Altadena, which was spared by the fires. She’s not the only one there who lost her home—from the principal to the students, everyone has been affected.

Despite their circumstances, the family remains joyful and united. “When we’re shooting, they’re laughing, they’re smiling, they’re joking,” said Sellers. “It’s really inspiring to see that no matter what, they’re a family. They’ve got each other’s backs.”

It’s about visibility

This project is not only about preserving history—it’s about visibility, Sellers emphasized. During and after the January wildfires, the Burbank filmmaker couldn’t help but notice a stark contrast in how the media was covering the Palisades versus the Eaton fires.

The Palisades Fire, which impacted affluent, predominantly white communities, drew major media attention, fueled by reports of high-profile celebrities impacted by the blaze. “Altadena was not getting nearly as much news coverage as Pacific Palisades was—and still even today,” said Sellers. “At the end of the day, it always comes down to race in this country. It has to do with race, it has to do with money, and it has to do with positioning.”

Documenting one year after the Eaton Fire

Sellers, an activist and proud LA resident, aims to highlight the community’s strength and deep-rooted history in the film. “I hope it brings awareness to Black legacy and the resilience of the community as a whole,” she said. “The brilliance of being Black is that we always got each other when it really comes down to it.”

There isn’t a firm timeline for the production as they move forward one shoot at a time—but the goal is to capture “what one year looks like” in the Eaton Fire’s aftermath. Over the next year, Sellers and her film crew will follow the Lloyds as they navigate life after the fires—birthdays, holidays, and the journey of rebuilding from the ashes.

“They’re very much like, ‘We want to rebuild our home,’” said Sellers. “People are coming at them to buy their land, and they’ve had to wave off many people offering pennies for their property.” In refusing to sell, the Lloyds are among a coalition of Altadenans who are determined to rebuild and stay in the community.

It’s not over

While filming, Sellers has been posting updates from behind the scenes on TikTok—using her platform to share the family’s GoFundMe page, where people can donate money to support them through this journey.

With time, as the headlines fade, Sellers and her crew will remain—keeping this story alive for the Lloyds and all of Altadena. Like many of their neighbors, this family is a part of history. This documentary ensures that their legacy lives on. “It’s not over,” she said. “Once the news cycle ends, it moves on to something else. But it’s not over for the family.”

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