UPDATE: Salvaged chimneys from homes destroyed in the devastating January wildfires are set to become a poignant memorial in Malibu, spearheaded by conceptual artist Evan Curtis Charles Hall. High above Pacific Coast Highway, the project, titled Project Chimney, aims to honor the profound losses suffered by families like that of Kraig Hill, whose childhood home is now just a memory.
The memorial is a response to the community’s urgent need for healing and remembrance. Hill’s childhood home, which stood for over 55 years, was lost to the flames, leaving behind only fragments, including a solitary brick fireplace and its chimney. “This house was a part of me — and vice versa,” Hill stated. His sentiments reflect the emotional weight carried by many locals who experienced the fire’s devastation.
As the project develops, Hall has carefully salvaged chimneys from six homes—five in Pacific Palisades and one from Hill’s residence—constructed between 1920 and 2020. Each chimney represents a narrative of resilience, with Hall enlisting volunteer brick masons and engineers to relocate these heavy structures. The chimneys are currently in temporary storage while funds are raised for their permanent installation in the memorial.
January’s wildfires wreaked havoc across the region, igniting a movement among artists and community members to address the trauma caused by the disaster. Hall emphasizes that these salvaged chimneys are not merely architectural remnants but symbols of survival, memory, and hope. “For homeowners, it will represent a piece of their home and it will cause memories to surface of family conversations and gatherings around the holidays,” he explained.
Residents are invited to reflect on their experiences and the broader implications of climate change as they visit the memorial site. Designed to serve as a pilgrimage spot, the chimneys will evoke memories of the past while acknowledging the ever-changing landscape of Southern California. Hall’s vision is for this memorial to become a space where both victims and observers can confront the realities of living in a fire-prone region.
The emotional undercurrents of the project resonate deeply with Hill, who recalls the intimate moments spent around the fireplace that once heated his family home. “I can tell you where every screw and nail and stud is,” he said, highlighting the personal connection he has to the space now marked by loss. The fireplace, once a source of warmth, will now serve as a centerpiece of remembrance.
As new homes rise from the ashes, Hall’s project aims to bridge the past and present, allowing the community to engage with their history. “You can see all of the regrowth and the rebirth that’s taking place, so we know that time is moving and we have to go forward,” Hall stated, capturing the spirit of resilience that defines Malibu.
With fundraising efforts ongoing, the timeline for the memorial’s completion remains uncertain. However, the urgency of this project cannot be overstated; it represents an essential step towards healing for a community grappling with grief and loss. As momentum builds, the hope is that this memorial will not only honor those who have lost their homes but also inspire future generations to appreciate the strength and vulnerability of the landscapes they inhabit.
Stay tuned for further updates as Project Chimney nears its completion, promising to offer solace to a community forever changed by the fires.