Martial arts gym owner shares her vision for the future, one year after the Eaton Fire

Jan. 7, 2026, marks the one-year anniversary of the Eaton Fire. Shelene Hearring, owner of Two Dragons Martial Arts in Altadena, California, was one of the business owners who lost everything.

The fire destroyed the building where her martial arts studio used to be. She lost all the equipment and uniforms that had been in the studio, but most importantly, she lost the space where she had held classes for the last 17 years. “Marketplace” covered her story in the spring of 2025.

In late December, “Marketplace” host Kai Ryssdal went back to Altadena to speak with Hearring about her plans for the future.

With assistance from the Greenline Housing Foundation, Hearring hopes to soon own the lot where her business used to be.

To hear the rest of her story, click the audio player above.