Our Beloved Altadena
Altadena is more than where we live—it’s our home. Tucked into the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains, it's a peaceful, wooded community that draws people who value nature, quiet, and connection. For those of us lucky enough to call this place home, the towering oaks, winding streets, and deep sense of neighborliness are part of who we are.
The fires that swept through Altadena on January 7th and 8th changed everything.
While we were fortunate—our home was spared—many of our neighbors lost everything. In the days and weeks that followed, we did what many others did: we showed up. Not because we were heroes, but because we were here. Because being present, helping where we could, and doing the quiet, necessary work was our way of coping with the chaos around us.
And when the smoke cleared—literally and figuratively—it became clear that we had another way to serve: through our work.
At Urban Lumber Los Angeles, we’re committed to offering pro bono consulting and significantly discounted drying services to our fellow Altadenans. If you have a tree on your property and don’t know what to do, we can help. In many cases, we can connect you with qualified professionals to assess the tree's health—sometimes, it can be saved. But if it can't, we’ll work with you to see if part of it can be salvaged and used in your future rebuild, or donated to Angel City Lumber’s Altadena Tree Bank.
The Tree Bank is a simple but powerful idea: trees that must come down are milled, dried, and made available back to the Altadena community at far below market cost. It's a way to preserve the character of our neighborhood, keep local material local, and help rebuild with meaning and intention.
We grieve with our friends, family, and neighbors. But we also believe in what's ahead.
Whether tree-related or not—if there’s a way we can help, we will. Our prayers are with everyone affected. Our hope, and our confidence, is in a future where Altadena comes back stronger, more united, and more resilient than ever.
