New Documentary Follows Altadena Residents Rebuilding After the Eaton Fire

A new documentary is looking at what comes after a disaster, once the news crews have gone home. "Altadena: One Fire After Another" examines the aftermath of the 2025 Eaton Fire in Los Angeles and is the product of a collaboration between climate journalist Bill McKibben and executive producer David Gelber, a former "60 Minutes" producer.

The film follows residents of Altadena as they work to rebuild their homes, hold their community together and move through a long recovery. It picks up the story more than a year after the fire, rather than concentrating on the night the blaze erupted, which drew much of the early coverage.

Gelber said in a statement that the fire was only the start of the story. "We wanted to understand what happens after the television cameras leave, when families are left to rebuild not only their homes but also their lives and sense of community," he said. He added that while Altadena's experience is deeply personal, it also offers a window into questions that communities across the country increasingly face.

The documentary combines interviews with Altadena residents, who share their personal stories, with conversations with professionals in the fields of climate, economics and public policy.

McKibben said in his own statement that disasters are usually treated as breaking news, while what follows gets far less attention. He described the film as being about the months and years after a catastrophe, "when the real consequences begin to unfold."

He also spelled out the message he hopes viewers take away. "This is not a random tragedy in any way; rather, it's caused by a particular set of players doing a particular thing," McKibben said.

Jonathan Scheinberg produced and directed the film, and Vanessa Gould produced and edited it. The team's collective credits include "60 Minutes," "Years of Living Dangerously," ABC News, CBS News, HBO, CNN, The New York Times and National Geographic.

"Altadena: One Fire After Another" is currently in post-production. The filmmakers are weighing distribution opportunities, and no release plans have been announced.