A “wind event” was coming, scheduled to peak during the night of January 7th with near-hurricane force gusts, and Edgar McGregor knew it had the potential to be dangerous.
Very dangerous.
So McGregor, a part-time Los Angeles County Recreational Services Leader, leader of the Altadena Weather and Climate group on Facebook, publisher of the WeatherMcGregor service on Patreon and perhaps more widely known as the young guy who videoed his 1,997 daily trash pick-ups in the local foothills, started advising social media followers to be prepared.
Two days in advance of the Eaton Fire, the 24-year-old advised Pasadena-area residents “the fire danger is going to be sky-high,” to get their go-bag ready, and pack the car with everything needed for evacuation in case a wildfire should erupt during the upcoming “damaging, potentially rigorous Santa Ana windstorm.”
A climatology graduate of San Jose State University, McGregor monitored the developing storm front as it began lining up perfectly with the Eaton Canyon terrain, which runs largely in a north / south orientation and tends to magnify the annual winter Santa Ana winds at ground level.
McGregor knew that a similar windstorm in 2011 resulted in hundreds of downed trees, smashed cars and structure damage throughout Altadena, Pasadena and the surrounding area. And that a previous wind event and wildfire in 1993 destroyed the Eaton Canyon Nature Center and turned the canyon into a gray-tinged moonscape.
But he also knew a wildfire in 2025 could be worse than either of those events. That’s because atypical rains during 2023 followed by abnormally dry conditions created fuel, lots of it, to feed any canyon fire.
At around 6:15 pm on January 7th, amid a 70 mph Santa Ana howler coming from the north, the Eaton Fire started beneath electrical transmission lines that cross the canyon’s steep terrain near Midwick Drive in Altadena.
Understanding the urgency, McGregor logged into his social media account and broadcast the only alert 2,500 members of the Altadena Weather and Climate community received for nearly an hour about the impending disaster, recording the equivalent of an all-caps warning to finish packing critical items, load them into a vehicle, and then “Get out!”
Within minutes of McGregor’s warning, hundreds of vehicles streamed down Altadena Drive away from the fire and toward safety.
So many vehicles headed south that first responders from Pasadena barely had clearance to scream past on their way north toward the fire. Alternative southbound routes on side streets like Martelo Avenue and Craig Avenue quickly filled-up with escaping residents, tree limbs and flying palm fronds.
Within minutes of McGregor’s warning, hundreds of vehicles streamed down Altadena Drive away from the fire and toward safety.
By then the fire was visible throughout much of Pasadena, and the winds were increasing in intensity to near hurricane-force.
The Eaton Fire had become exactly what McGregor had predicted, a cataclysm. There was nothing he could do to prevent it, but his warning had been focused, actionable and timely.
Amid the stories of survival, incredible loss and heroism during the firestorm, McGregor’s contribution to saving lives was documented in hundreds of social media messages.
Here are is a selection of those messages:
“Edgar McGregor is an actual American hero. I am so grateful to him for sharing his vast knowledge. My pets and I would have burned along with my home had I not heeded his warnings.” – Tori Silverman
“So many people knew about the coming storm because of Edgar. 100s of lives saved easily.” – Mike Flower
“Because of his posts, I had enough time to pack and evacuate. Thank you Edgar McGregor! You saved us!” – Chiemi Kaneko
“Edgar absolutely saved me and my family. If not for him, I would not have set up lodging the morning of the winds. It was ‘just wind’ so we took important paperwork and nothing else. But we are safe, and for that I will always be grateful to Edgar.” – Jennifer Seifert
“I texted a friend after seeing Edgar’s post who didn’t know about the fire or evac. She was able to get her family out before losing her home.” – Elsa Tatom
“My wife, a friend of hers, and our three cats all got out early and well prepared because of Edgar. We’re very grateful.” – Robert Oventile (Local News Pasadena Poet Laureate and contributor to MyEatonCanyon.com)
Several local residents commented that McGregor should be recognized by the city, county, state and federal governments for his life-saving advice.
We agree.
I have never met him in person but, I agree and believe that because I follow him, he saved two of my friends’ lives. I ended up in an evacuation zone, but I am in a neighborhood that nobody ever thought the fire would get to. The wind was wild so I stayed up all night. I started smelling smoke in the early hours of the morning and called the police to ask if I should go evacuate my two 79-year-old friends. The police told me that I should call and wake them and go get them. I think this was around 3:15 in the morning. I called them and they wanted me to wait 30 minutes, I told them no and I left immediately. My two friends lost everything. If I hadn’t followed Edgar’s advice, I would not have arranged with my friends to keep their phone on and that if I call that means they need to evacuate. I don’t know if he would admit it, but he really did save lives
I’ve had the pleasure of meeting this amazing young man several times on my Eaton hikes. Whenever I here some grumpy old boomer blathering on with stereotypes about how the younger generation are all lazy, spoiled brats that just play video games all day (ugh!) , I stop them and tell them all about Edgar MacGregor, who is an example of the very best of his generation, and someone I hold in the highest esteem!
Thank You, Edgar, for your service to the community of Altadena, and Eaton Canyon. Much appreciated.
From Portland, OR. I lived in Altadena for 25 years. My E. Crescent Drive house, which I adored (even after I had to sell it), where I lived with my husband Richard McKelvey, and in which our daughter grew up, was burned to the ground on Jan 7th. The pain of loss is still searing. Ever since leaving Altadena, I have followed Edgar McGregor as he patrolled and cleaned up beautiful Eaton Canyon. Thank you, Edgar, for using your intelligence and knowledge to save hundreds of Altadena lives.