It’s Resuming Study Sessions, Meditation and Tai Chi Classes on the Long Road to Recovery
How to Help
BCA Southern California Wildfire Relief Fund: BCA.kindful.com
GoFundMe fundraisers for Pasadena Sangha members: https://www.pasadenabuddhisttemple.org/eaton-fire-info.html
Two months after wildfires ripped through Southern California — destroying 16,000 dwellings, killing at least 29 people and displacing 150,000 residents — the Pasadena Buddhist Temple is taking its first baby steps on the long road to recovery.
Like the Buddhist image of the lotus emerging from mud, the temple — which survived the Eaton Fire that began Jan. 7 and forged a path of destruction throughout Altadena and Pasadena — is slowly showing some signs of life and activity.
For every visible reminder of what the Los Angeles wildfires did — like the noticeable charred wood around the edge of the walkway near the Hondo and the air purifiers inside — there are other reminders of a slow recovery.
Since Jan. 19, Sunday services have been offered both in-person and on Zoom video by the Pasadena Buddhist Temple (PBT) — and the temple held its Ho-onko service on Jan. 19. Tuesday morning and evening study classes have resumed as well as Tuesday evening meditation and Tai Chi classes on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons.
And, food supplies, clothing, blankets and survival kits line the tables in the temple’s social hall.
“We were lucky,” said Rev. Gregory Gibbs, PBT Resident Minister said during a recent interview at the temple. “I, of course, feel very lucky that there is just smoke and chemical damage and most of that can and will be remediated.”
PBT has begun the process of having damage evaluated for remediation and repair.
“Unfortunately, our temple is in need of remediation and repair,” the weekly PBT newsletter stated. “The scope and cost of all the work on the temple buildings and parsonage are far greater than expected. Due to the damage, we have lost rental income and have had to cancel our spring fundraiser.
“We have found that we must consider a new campaign and funding that will cover what is not covered by insurance or FEMA. Be on the lookout for the launch of this new fundraiser on our website and social meeting.”
The PBT reported that it has received more than $41,000 in pledges as of Feb. 23 for its GiveButter.com Eaton Fire Sangha Support Fund.
The temple has closed the fund, but donations can continue to be made by clicking on the donation tab on the temple’s website or with checks mailed to the temple. Please indicate that donations are earmarked for the Eaton Sangha Support Fund.
“We will continue to provide support, protection and encouragement to our Sangha and those in our neighborhood,” the PBT weekly newsletter stated.
During the Ho-onko service at the PBT, Rev. Gibbs recounted the impact that the Eaton Fire has had on the temple and Sangha members.
“We’ve lost no temple members to the fires and the floods and winds and all the terrors that are striking us,” he said. “About 15 of our members have lost their homes or their businesses and their wedding photos, every memento, every trace of the life they knew. Horrible, horrible thing. It really is. This is a terrible thing that’s happened. We’re all somewhat traumatized. If you didn’t know, you are. We’re all walking around in a bit of a daze.”
Rev. Gibbs provided more details of the heroic efforts of neighbor Elliot Sloane and his brother-in-law, Michael Murray. Sloane and his wife, Jessica, are next-door neighbors of the temple and their backyard fence is the temple’s west fence. A 6-foot-high brick wall also separates the temple from the house.
On Jan. 8, Elliot Sloane and Michael Murray were on the roof of their home, dousing water on the roof, when they noticed embers across the way on the temple roof. They scaled the brick wall and got on top of the temple roof and extinguished the embers before Sangha members arrived at the temple to help them, according to Rev. Gibbs.
“On that first day, Elliot and Michael noticed that there was smoke rising from the temple grounds,” the PBT said in a Facebook post dated Jan. 21. “So they ran to hop the fence, grabbed hoses and started wetting the hot spots that started from the fire on Montana (Street). When Lori and Alan Hatakeyama came by that day to open the parking lot gates, they found them on the roof of the Hondo, wetting down the roof.”
In gratitude and in appreciation, the Pasadena temple staff later visited Elliot and Jessica Sloane to thank them in person with gifts from the temple and Sangha members.
The Pasadena Buddhist Temple was the temple most affected by the wildfires in the BCA’s Southern District, but the West Los Angeles Buddhist Temple and Senshin Buddhist Temple also reported an undetermined number of Sangha members who lost their homes.
Other Southern District temples, including the Los Angeles Hompa Hongwanji Buddhist Temple, Gardena Buddhist Church, Venice Hongwanji Buddhist Temple and the San Fernando Valley Hongwanji Buddhist Temple reported Sangha members were affected by the fires and are assisting family and temple members.
Meanwhile, PBT is facing a long road back to any sense of normalcy. Although the fires are now contained, rebuilding and recovering for the vast Los Angeles region will be long, difficult and costly. The total damage and economic loss is estimated to be between $250 billion and $275 billion, according to AccuWeather.
The first phase of the wildfires debris removal, involving the removal of toxic items from destroyed properties, is on track to be completed by the end of February, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said.
Phase 2 of the debris removal process, which has already begun, allows the Army Corps of Engineers to begin clearing debris from residential properties destroyed in the fires as soon as those properties are cleared of hazardous materials by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in Phase 1.
If the wildfires that devastated Lahaina on Maui in Aug. 8, 2023, are any indication, the process of rebuilding will be slow and rife with challenges. As of Jan. 2, 2025, the County of Maui reported that 207 building permits had been issued and four homes had been completed.
Currently, the PBT gymnasium “Sakai Hall” is closed due to air quality and smoke damage caused by the fires. The Bruins youth basketball organization has suspended its use of the facility. And the Tai Chi classes have moved outdoors.
“Two people who lost their homes are attending Tai Chi,” Rev. Gibbs said. “It is part of their recovery.”
The double doors to the basement below the Hondo are open each day to circulate air and remove the smell of lingering smoke. Air purifiers in the Hondo, basement and classrooms are turned on each Sunday during service.
Nestled in a densely populated residential neighborhood, PBT is located approximately 50 yards south of the intersection of Glen Avenue and Montana Street.
On Montana Street, a chain-length fence and a green tarp wrap around the property where a house once stood. All one can see from the street is charred remains of a chimney.
“That home is just 75 yards away from the temple,” Rev. Gibbs pointed from the tea garden, looking north from the temple. “For decades, it was once owned by one of our very loyal members, George Sugimoto.”
Traveling north on Glen Avenue and east on Montana Street, charred remnants of homes are all that remain in the neighborhood. Only the chimneys remain standing in several properties.
A majority of the homes in the neighborhood escaped major damage.
Nearly 9.400 structures, including homes, businesses, schools and houses of worship were destroyed by the Eaton Fire.
“It is very startling to see the aftermath of the devastation. It is shocking how much is gone,” Kathy Kumagai, former PBT President, said.
“We are grateful to all the temples who have been sending us donations, water, food and household goods. We have had many displaced friends stop by to gather items they need,” Co-Presidents Jeannie Toshima and Lori Hatakayama reported to the Southern District Council at its Feb. 7 meeting.
Meanwhile, at the West Los Angeles Buddhist Temple (WLABT), the statue of Amida Buddha, Three Pure Land sutra scrolls and Eitaikyo book that were moved from the Onaijin to a safer location because of the nearby Palisades Fire were returned to the temple on Jan. 29, according to WLABT Resident Minister Rev. Koho Takata.
Rev. Takata reported that the West Los Angeles temple is still unsure of how many members were actually affected by the fire.
“We are still trying to contact our Sangha, but no reply from some of them,” he said. “We had seven families living in Pacific Palisades and one in Malibu.”
Rev. Ryuta Furumoto, Resident Minister at the Senshin Buddhist Temple, reported that two Sangha members lost their homes.
Relief Efforts Update
Many temples, along with the BCA, set up drives and fundraisers to assist with the wildfire relief efforts.
Rev. Hibiki Murakami, Resident Minister at the Los Angeles Hompa Hongwanji Buddhist Temple (LAHHBT or Nishi), reported that the Nishi Jr. YBA and Dharma School set up a program to receive gift cards for fire victims and sent them to the Pasadena temple.
The Nishi Boy Scouts set up a collection drive over a two-week period receiving non-perishable foods, water, personal hygiene products, gently used clothes, baby supplies, blankets and appliances.
“Orange County Buddhist Church, Nishi and Gardena have donated a good number of in-kind supplies,” Rev. Gibbs said. “A huge van load of supplies has been received. We would also like to thank the Buddhist Temple of San Diego for its donation of more gift cards and the Las Vegas Sangha for their contributions. The gift cards will be distributed to the families in need.”
The BCA Social Welfare Committee has established a Southern California Wildfire Relief Fund to assist Southern District temple members and the community affected by the fires.
PBT has received donations of emergency supplies from the American Red Cross and food contributions from Red Shell Company.
On Feb. 14, Yama Sushi in San Gabriel prepared meals, while Valentine’s cards from the Nishi Dharma School Jr. YBA and sweets from the Pasadena Dharma School were distributed.
On Feb. 17, Azay Restaurant, located in the downtown Los Angeles Little Tokyo district, provided meals and were delivered by PBT volunteers.
With the help from local best-selling mystery writer Naomi Hirahara, 25 bunches of roses were donated by Southern California Flower Market and distributed. The Kizuna organization in Little Tokyo provided craft kits and the Southern District Jr. YBL cabinet donated supplies received from recent activities.
Rev. Gibbs noted that the meal distribution bento program with Azay Restaurant and several other establishments, along with volunteers from PBT, Japanese Cultural Institute of Pasadena, Pasadena Nikkei Seniors and First Presbyterian Church of Altadena will be reduced from three days to one day a week.
“Unless more restaurants get involved, it is difficult for them to continue the high volume of production and take care of their businesses at the same time,” Rev. Gibbs said.
He also added that the number of people showing up for the bentos has declined for a variety of reasons, including the fact that an increasing number of affected residents have found housing.
“It has been very fortunate that all the JA communities in the Pasadena and Altadena areas have united to support one another beyond their religious belief,” Kyoko Gibbs said. “Of course, all the other temples’ Sanghas have shown empathy and compassion, which has ensured the members of PBT that they are not alone.
“The Sangha aspect of the temple feels stronger as each of us has been trying to move forward as a community,” she said. “I have realized that it is both ways of helping one another — not just the fire victims gaining strength, but the volunteers also feel hopeful by helping out.”
PBT remains the primary location in the community where fire victims in need can pick up food and relief supplies.
In his Ho-onko service message, Rev. Gibbs spoke about the interconnectedness that embraces all.
“There are many people within our Buddhist community and beyond it who care about you, who genuinely care about you and who continue to offer their support,” he said. “Rely upon your family and your friends, rely upon all your communities.”
In closing, he said: “We count on one another. We count upon the realm of enlightenment. We count upon the Buddha. We will persevere.”
Wheel of Dharma Editor Jon Kawamoto contributed to this article.
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