Lydia Sawyer fought back tears as she saw her home burnt to the ground for the first time Tuesday after the Eaton Fire.

ALTADENA, Calif. (KABC) – A family in the Los Angeles area shared a first look at their home when returning to see it destroyed in the Eaton Fire.

Lydia Sawyer fought back tears as she saw her home burnt to the ground for the first time Tuesday.

Sawyer, her husband Tom, and her 87-year-old uncle Richard Castañeda shared the home with three grandchildren they are taking care of.

“I’m just heartbroken. This was my grandchildren’s home, everybody’s home basically. Big family, a lot of memories,” Lydia Sawyer said. “They keep asking when are they going to come home … and it’s gone.”

Casdañeda, who works as a gardener, said he bought the home on Olive Avenue nearly 40 years ago. He said he can’t believe it’s all gone.

The family’s home is part of the estimated 7,000 structures burned in Altadena.

As they continue to try and make sense of losing their home, the family said their insurance company has informed them it would not be covered because they were late on their last payment.

Loved ones have started a GoFundMe to help the family rebuild.

Copyright 2025 KABC via CNN Newsource. All rights reserved.

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