ALTADENA, Calif. (AP) — Missi Dowd-Figueroa brought life back to the fire-ravaged plot where her home once stood -- one sunflower at a time.
The registered nurse and mother of three lost her 1898 farm-style house in the Eaton Fire, one of two deadly wildfires that tore through the Los Angeles area last January, obliterating entire neighborhoods and displacing tens of thousands of people.
A year later, many are still grappling with grief and sorrow. Few have been able to rebuild so far, and the rest face no shortage of challenges.
“The Altadena I know and love is gone,” Dowd-Figueroa said, referring to the suburb devastated by the fire. “Everything burned down — my dentist, my pharmacy — all of it’s gone. But there’s still something about Altadena that feels like Altadena now, even though there are no homes.”
She's among those who decided to stay. Her process of healing started with tiny seeds that gave her hope and eventually turned her barren property into a flourishing garden.
Dowd-Figueroa and her family had lived in the four-bedroom, three-bath house for 10 years. It was the longest she’d ever lived in one place, and the sense of loss left her stricken by waves of sadness.
For months, she would drive to the empty lot and cry. Her grief and shock deepened when she realized that, in addition to her late grandmother’s artwork that was in her home, her father’s ashes were gone forever.
“I spent several days digging through the ashes just looking for his little urn, and I never found it,” said Dowd-Figueroa, 44.
Gone, too, were every family photo except those saved on her iPad.
“That was like a second grief, too. I was like, ‘Well, great.’ Now, if my dad knew, he’d be so disappointed because he was such a family lineage type of person,” she said. "I have nothing from my father. You know, I’ll never touch anything that he touched ever again."
Then one day, after cleanup crews had removed the last of the debris from the 2,000-square-foot lot, she brought along some flower seeds. They were mostly sunflowers, but also included zinnias and cosmos, among others, and planted them in the soil.
“I was already going there every day crying, so I was like, ‘Why am I just sitting here?’ I might as well do something that keeps me busy, and I enjoy, because the house I’m in now, I can’t have a garden,” she said.
Sunflowers can take up cadmium and other heavy metals that can be left behind in the soil, though experts debate their effectiveness after a wildfire. Dowd-Figueroa hoped they would help remove toxins on her property once she ripped them out by the roots and tossed them after they died, being careful not to leave behind seeds.
For several months, while Dowd-Figueroa and her husband took steps toward eventually building a new home, the garden flourished, blanketing a large swath of the lot with a colorful display of approximately 500 flowers — bright orange and red ones, as well as yellow ones with giant heads.
“It was really healing just to come back and tend the space where I lived for the longest time in my life,” she said.
Butterflies began to appear, along with a variety of insects and small animals.
“I felt like I was helping nature come back a little bit,” she said.
Construction began on Dowd-Figueroa’s new home in late September, thanks in part to around $100,000 in donations via a fundraising site. By then, the sunflowers, most of which bloom once and then die, were nearly all gone.
That's OK. With construction proceeding and estimated to be completed as soon as mid-June, the slowly emerging shape of her new home is now lifting Dowd-Figueroa’s spirits.
“Prior to this, I was just so depressed, like literally sobbed every day,” she said. “It just feels like now there’s a place that exists. It will happen. We can do this.”
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Associated Press reporter Dorany Pineda contributed from Los Angeles.
Lupe Figueroa, 5, looks out the window of what will be her room at her family's rebuilding site in Altadena, Calif., Friday, Dec. 19, 2025, months after the Eaton Fire. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Missi Dowd-Figueroa, whose home was destroyed in the Eaton Fire, poses for a portrait at her rebuilding site in Altadena, Calif., Friday, Dec. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
A photo of sunflowers Missi Dowd-Figueroa once grew on her property is projected onto her palms as she poses for a portrait at her rebuilding site in Altadena, Calif., Friday, Dec. 19, 2025, after the Eaton Fire destroyed her home. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan 4, 2026--
Belkin, a leading consumer electronics brand for over 40 years, today announced a bold new lineup of accessories designed to power, protect, and enhance the way people work, play, and connect. The new collection, debuting at CES 2026, includes advanced power banks, Qi2 25W wireless chargers, a wireless HDMI dongle for seamless content sharing, and a next gen charging case for the Nintendo Switch 2.
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260104976028/en/
Gaming
Charging Case Pro for Nintendo Switch 2 (Model ENA003)
Engineered for the ultimate on-the-go gaming experience, the Pro case delivers power, protection, and portability in one premium package. A removable 10,000 mAh power bank delivers up to 30W fast charging and features an LCD screen to display remaining battery life. The Pro version builds on the standard model’s safe in‑case charging with a sleeker, integrated power bank design that adds even more convenience. Gamers can now recharge the power bank externally without opening the case, check battery levels at a glance, and enjoy uninterrupted play with the hinged power bank design that doubles as a tabletop stand. Additional features include a dedicated flap for organized game card storage, a hidden compartment for smart trackers such as AirTag and Tile, and rugged materials and heavy-duty zippers for long-term durability. Compact, stylish, and performance-driven, the Pro case delivers upgraded convenience and charging flexibility for players who demand more from their gear.
Price: $99.99 USD
Availability: Available now on belkin.com (select markets)
Power Banks
UltraCharge Pro Power Bank 10K w/ Magnetic Ring (Model BPD014)
Power up faster with a 10K power bank* featuring Qi2 25W wireless and 30W USB-C fast charging. Compact, TSA carry-on compliant, and pocket-ready, it keeps devices charged wherever the day goes. A built-in kickstand, digital display, and magnetic ring make it easy to stream, monitor charge status, and attach accessories on the go.
More features:
Price: $99.99 USD
Availability: February 2026 (select markets)
BoostCharge Slim Magnetic Power Bank with Stand (Models BPD011 and BPD016)
Slim and travel-ready, this power bank delivers up to 15W of wireless charging in an ultra-slim, pocket-friendly design. Each model delivers long lasting power – upwards of 25 hours** of extra battery life. A built-in kickstand makes hands-free viewing easy, while pass-through charging keeps devices powered without interruption.
More Features:
Price: $59.99-$84.99 USD
Availability: Q2 2026 (select markets)
UltraCharge Pro Laptop Power Bank 27K (Model BPB040)
A high-capacity, high-speed power solution built for power users, creators, and travelers, this power bank delivers enough output to fast-charge laptops, tablets, gaming consoles, and phones from a single portable source. With up to 240W total power and a 27,000 mAh battery*, it supports rapid charging for devices like a MacBook Pro 14, Nintendo Switch 2, and iPhone 17 – whether powering one device at max speed or multiple at once. A built-in 140W USB-C cable streamlines charging without extra cords, while a smart display shows battery percentage.
More features:
Price: $149.99 USD
Availability: March 2026 (select markets)
Wireless Chargers
UltraCharge Pro 2-in-1 Convertible Charger (Model WIZ043)
Designed for on-the-go use, this Qi2 25W Convertible 2-in-1 Wireless Charger delivers fast, efficient power for an iPhone and Apple Watch simultaneously. A foldable, compact, travel-friendly design with precise magnetic alignment and thermal management makes charging easy and stable wherever the day leads. With a 45W USB-C power supply and 5 ft./1.5 m cable included, it’s built to keep devices powered at full speed on the road or at home.
More Features:
Price: $99.99 USD
Availability: March 2026 (select markets)
UltraCharge Modular Charging Dock (Model WIZ052)
Designed for maximum speed and versatility, this Qi2 25W modular charging dock delivers fast, efficient power to a phone, earbuds, and smartwatch simultaneously. The compact design makes it easy to pack and travel with, while magnetic alignment ensures devices snap into the optimal charging position every time. With a bring-your-own-puck (BYOP) smartwatch holder and universal Qi2 compatibility, this charger combines high performance with thoughtful, convenient design.
More Features:
Price: $64.99 USD
Availability: Q1 2026 (select markets)
Hubs and Adapters
ConnectAir Wireless HDMI Display Adapter (Model AVC024)
Effortlessly cast and present from any USB-C device with the ConnectAir Wireless HDMI Display Adapter. This compact, plug-and-play adapter wirelessly mirrors or extends screens in 1080p at 60Hz, with no Wi-Fi, apps, or drivers required. Ideal for travel, classrooms, or conference rooms, it offers a 131 ft./40 m range, ultra-low latency, and a secure peer-to-peer connection for seamless, reliable sharing.
More Features:
Price: $149.99 USD
Availability: Q1 2026 (select markets)
Connect 8-Port Dual Display USB-C Hub (Model INC027)
Designed for modern hybrid work setups, the Belkin USB-C 8-in-1 MST Multiport Hub expands a single USB-C port into a full productivity workstation with support for dual 4K displays at 60Hz. The hub connects up to eight devices at once, including monitors, storage, Ethernet, and peripherals while delivering up to 100W power passthrough to keep a laptop charged during use. A built-in monitor privacy button instantly turns connected screens off with a single press, offering an added layer of on-demand security for shared or public environments. Compact and travel-ready, the hub combines performance, port density, and portability in a durable design.
More features:
Price: $99.99 USD
Availability: Q2 2026 (select markets)
Media Kit
Imagery and full press release are available to download HERE.
Disclaimers
*This product includes an internal battery offered in 5,000 mAh, 10,000 mAh, or 27,000 mAh capacities. Amount of discharge to user’s device is less and may vary depending on various conditions.
**Data based on internal lab testing. Actual results will vary depending on varying factors, including device age, model and usage environment, for individual users.
About Belkin
Belkin is a California-based accessories leader delivering award-winning power, protection, productivity, connectivity, and audio products over the last 40 years. Designed and engineered in Southern California and sold in more than 100 countries around the world, Belkin has maintained its steadfast focus on research and development, community, education, sustainability and most importantly, the people it serves. From our humble beginnings in a Southern California garage in 1983, Belkin has become a diverse, global technology company. We remain forever inspired by the planet we live on, and the connection between people and technology.
Belkin unveils new products at CES 2026
