At The Evacuation Line: Talking With LA Residents Affected By the Eaton Fire

The Palisades and Eaton fires hit a new milestone on Tuesday, marking it at one week since the fires started. As of Tuesday evening, the Palisades Fire has burned 23,700 acres, resulted in 8 deaths, caused over 105,000 residents to be evacuated, and destroyed 5,300 structures. The Eaton Fire has large numbers as well, burning over 14,100 acres, causing 16 deaths, and 100,000 to evacuate, and destroying 7,000 structures. The Palisades fire is also currently at about 17% containment, with Eaton at about 35% containment.

The Globe talked with several Eaton Fire victims in Pasadena and Altadena on Tuesday at the evacuation line at Woodbury Road, as well as several emergency workers. While many had similar experiences, they all seemed to have different answers on one poignant question: who to blame.

For Roger Drake and his family, the devastation was total. “We never thought this would have happened,” he explained. “Well, we knew wildfires would happen, but we always thought they would be a lot smaller. We were proven wrong. We just thought we would have a few days of bad winds, but the next thing you know there were evacuation orders and police officers driving by telling everyone to get out. It felt like a movie.

“We were lucky. Kim’s [his wife] parents have a big house in Glendale, and we managed to stay there. We’ll be there for awhile. Not all of us were that fortunate. Our neighbors are living out of their SUV right now in a church parking lot.

“I got to see what is left of our house a few days ago before they really tightened up the roads here. I’m flat out devastated. Kim has been on the phone with the insurance company seemingly non-stop. That’s just home. We lost a car too. We got out with our lives and the basics like IDs, social security cards, birth certificates and things like that. But we aren’t sure what we’re going to do now. But we’re alive, we’re together, and we have a roof over our heads. That’s what matters right now.”

Another resident, Brittany Garcia, had a similar story. “My husband is a Penn State fan, so we were getting our house ready for a party in a few days for a football game. At first he was a bit angry at this tree branch that fell and blocked the driveway. But then the fire came. We got out of there but, you know, it was all gone.

“It’s hard to even describe the loss. I still don’t believe it happened even though I was there with it barely being a frame. Not much was left. My husband recognized some metal outdoor chairs we had. Oh, and I don’t know how, but that big tree branch that blocked our driveway? It was still there with only a few singed leaves. Out of everything to survive the fire, one of the most flammable things somehow avoided it. Even a firefighter who checked up on us couldn’t explain it.

“Right now, it’s been a mix of couch surfing and calling every available rental possible. I’m sorry if I don’t seem more distraught, I still can’t believe it. I know I’ll cry eventually. It’s all still a bad dream though.”

A third survivor, Louis, simply told the Globe “Anderson Cooper was trespassing on my neighbors property when reporting and I wanted to slug him in the face. They were just filming the devastation and not even caring about us off to the side.

“We lost everything. I don’t know what stage of grief I’m in, but I’m moving forward the best I can. But having someone film your street burning down like that, while obviously not caring about you. I don’t know. Maybe I’m projecting anger at him and him filming all that. But I really want to punch him still.”

Blame for the fire

When it came to asking who was to blame, everyone told the Globe something different.

Roger Drake: “You know. It was dry, it was windy. Everything just seemed like the right condition for it to happen. If it turns out to be arson though, the person who does it needs life in prison minimum. This fire destroyed thousands of homes, and has killed many people so far. Life. Minimum. Or if it was a faulty wire or something, the electric company or whoever needs to pay dearly. I’m not sure who exactly to blame, but if it is found that someone was, then yeah, maximum punishment no questions asked. Good luck finding a sympathetic juror in LA County after this.”

Kim Drake: “The wind and it being so dry for sure. But I think whoever did the water system too. A lot of hydrants were running out. Whoever was in charge of that.”

Brittany Garcia: “For this fire, it depends on how it started. The Santa Anas spread it, but something had to spark it. Whatever sparked it is to blame. As for the Palisades Fire, that L.A. Mayor [Karen Bass] made a lot of idiotic decisions. She’s at least partly to blame for it there. Here in Pasadena and Altadena, our Mayors and other city people were coordinating and doing what they could. I mean, it helps when their houses are in the fire zones too. But they aren’t to blame up here unlike L.A.”

“Jose” – Police Officer: “Officially I can’t say anything beyond natural causes that accelerated it. Unofficially, Newsom not doing enough on insurance is screwing a lot of people over right now. I voted for him too. But they didn’t do enough and you have a lot of people screwed now unable to rebuild. Police here, Fire here. We’re doing all we can. County too. We have been for days.

“Also, we’re blocking streets now for safety, but to deter looters. Looters didn’t start or spread the fire, but they are making lives worse. We should be out there assisting people more, but instead watching streets thanks to those vultures. We’re all itching to catch them too.”

“Thomas” – Firefighter: “I’ll say it if I can be anonymous. Anyone who ever voted to not pay for fire increases. This is where that money goes to. Oh, or anyone who has ever wanted to slash our budgets. [Bass] can go [expletive]. We don’t want more money to be greedy. We’re doing it to save lives. So Newsom? I don’t blame him. I don’t like him, but I don’t blame him. It’s anyone who ever  wanted to take away from the fire department.”

Louis: “Insurance companies. They’re pulling out leaving us all without insurance. And after this fire, even less will be willing to give policies. For the fire, I guess I’ll blame anyone or anything that started it or spread it. But for the aftermath? Insurance companies are to blame for the misery. Just allow us to have policies and then pay out when something happens. I know it’s a lot more complicated than that, but it shouldn’t be either.”

With the fire still burning and residents not able to get back, rebuilding is on the horizon. And it will take years. But as Roger pointed out, there is a good deal of hope too.

“Just how the community has come together is amazing,” added Drake. “People have been offering food, diapers, and things like that. Money has been pouring in. Help has been coming in from around the country and the world. I mean, California has helped with wildfires out in Colorado, we really helped Texans when they had that deep freeze, and those North Carolinians too with all those floods. California always gives a lot. Well, we’re getting that in turn now.

“We’ll be fine in the long run I think. But people care. A lot. That’s what is going to save us.”