On January 7th, around 8:00 p.m., I noticed a large fire coming from the Aldi’s in Altadena. I immediately went back to the house because I could feel how close the fire already was. Shortly after that, evacuation orders began coming through, and we evacuated that night.
The next day, January 8th, something told me to get up and go back to check on the house. When I returned to Pasadena, it was so dark outside that it felt like nighttime in the middle of the day. I instantly became emotional. Even now, talking about it brings those feelings back.
When I arrived, the house wasn’t on fire yet, but the fires were coming down fast. I live near New York and Lake, and everything felt completely out of control. I was panicking. I didn’t know what to do. I started calling everyone—especially the homeowner, who was staying at her daughter’s house—trying to warn them that the house was in danger.
By the time they arrived, the house next door was already on fire. I have videos of everything. I kept calling the fire department over and over, praying nonstop—for the house to be saved. Eventually, the fire department did come, and they were able to put the fire out. It was an incredibly dramatic and terrifying experience.
After that, we were under mandatory evacuation for about a month. During that time, I stayed in an Airbnb, then FEMA placed me in a hotel for another month. After that, I was able to secure another Airbnb for one month through 2-1-1. I’m truly grateful for all the resources and support that were available during that time.
That’s when I found Friends In Deed. They have been housing me in a hotel and supporting me throughout this entire process. Being connected to Friends In Deed has truly been a blessing. They are incredibly good at what they do, and I’m so thankful to be part of this organization and community.
One of the biggest blessings of all is that I have now been approved for housing. After everything I’ve been through, that means the world to me. It’s been a long journey, but I’m finally starting to feel stable again.
I genuinely appreciate all of you. Thank you so much—especially Christina. Your support has meant more than I can say.