"Sorry…is gone": Tearful Bunny museum co-owner speaks out as iconic Altadena landmark burns to the ground

The Bunny Museum in Altadena, California, was burned to the ground by the Eaton Fire. The "world's only museum about everything bunny" housed nearly 50,000 bunny-related artifacts and had been a beloved landmark for nearly three decades.

Steve Lubanski, co-owner of the Bunny Museum with his wife Candace Frazee, couldn't help but grieve. He spoke in an emotional interview with KCAL News, stating:

“All of the old town, the iconic Altadena Old Town... sorry... is gone... It took my wife and I almost 40 years to put it together”

Although Lubanski, according to the report, spent the night trying to douse the flames, in an effort to save the building, when a neighboring structure caught fire, the flames spread too quickly for them to save their treasured collection.

Taking to their social media handle, they wrote:

“The museum was the last building to burn around us as Steve so valiantly hosed the building down all night long, but when the building next door went down, it spread to the museum.”

The loss of the Bunny Museum brought out an uproar of sympathy from community members who are eager to support Lubanski and Frazee in their recovery work. They will reportedly create a GoFundMe campaign and rebuild the museum at a different location.

On the bright side, the pets were saved by Lubanski and Frazee, even though the museum itself was destroyed.

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Bunny Museum in Altadena

Founded in 1998, the Bunny Museum was a labor of love for Lubanski and Frazee. Starting out as a tradition of gifting each other bunny-themed items, it grew to be an immense display of ceramic rabbits, stuffed toys, freeze-dried specimens, and all things bunny.

The Guinness World Record for the largest collection of bunny memorabilia has been held by this museum since 1999.

The collection includes 40,550 items, according to Guinness World Record (GWR), as of January 2023.

“When we first started collecting, we joked that we lived in a bunny museum,” Candice told GWR in 2023.

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Fire details and impact

The Eaton Fire was ignited on January 7, 2025, and quickly got out of control. This wildfire threatens the Altadena and Pasadena portions of Los Angeles County. Burning more than 10,600 acres as of January 9, the conflagration also left much devastation with the burning of many buildings and fatalities.

The fire has reportedly killed at least five people and left many injured, as per BCS News. Many stayed behind in their homes to protect them and are reported to have risked their lives, implying a majority of the victims have severe injuries due to failure to escape in time.

More than 100 structures have been reported destroyed. These include residential houses and other local businesses. Notable sites that have sustained major damage include the Altadena Community Church and multiple medical facilities.

Evacuations were ordered by authorities to ensure the safety of residents in the areas of Altadena and part of Pasadena because the fire endangered their lives. It has also affected Kinneloa Mesa and parts of Sierra Madre.

Additionally, federal assistance has been authorized to support firefighting efforts through FEMA's Fire Management Assistance Grant program.

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Conditions contributing to the fire

Extreme weather is the fuel factor behind the fire's rapid spreading, including its high winds attributed to a Santa Ana wind event, low humidities, and drying vegetation.

They have created an ideal environment for a wildfire, raising concerns from various officials that even spot fires will be possible in addition to their erratic flame behaviors.