Like many of you, I've spent the past two weeks watching the devastating coverage of the fires in Southern California. The loss of lives, properties, animals, and vegetation is heart-wrenching. Despite now living in northern New Mexico, California will always be my home. I was born in Southern California, in Pasadena, and my entire family lived in the San Gabriel Valley. The Eaton Fire, named after the area it started in, has ravaged parts of Altadena, Pasadena, and Sierra Madre-places I know like the back of my hand.
My husband and I bought our first home, a condo in Pasadena, one month after we were married. We rented it out after I was promoted and transferred to San Francisco a gazillion years ago, and we sold the place in 2015. I had an office in Altadena for many years, so I know (or knew?) that area so well-it is part of my history. The photos of the fire’s aftermath are simply devastating. According to the LA Times:
“The Palisades fire, which began in the Pacific Palisades on Jan. 7, is a tragedy of equal measure. As of this morning (Jan. 17), the So Cal fires have claimed at least 27 lives and destroyed about 5,000 structures. The fire has engulfed more than 23,000 acres and is only at 31% containment, leaving a trail of devastation in its wake.
The Eaton Fire north of Pasadena also began on Jan. 7 and has destroyed or damaged around 7,000 structures. It's burned over 14,000 acres and is at 65% containment. There is a chance of the deadly Santa Ana winds returning next week, which could further hamper fire containment efforts.”
Fortunately, my family is safe. My sisters and Dad live in Orange County, which is south of the fires. I have checked in with many of my friends who still live in the area, and they are also safe. Southern Californians are banding together to help each other. Rescue agencies are overwhelmed with donations. (a good thing) and need help sorting and organizing. Every organization I contacted asking how I could help said they mostly needed money. So, I am donating where I can. I am very impressed with the Pasadena Humane Society and its commitment to helping animals affected by the fires. Their website states:
"Pasadena Humane has taken in over 700 animals from the Eaton Fire Emergency. We are desperately in need of monetary donations to help us purchase medical supplies and other resources as we start to see a significant increase in the number of burned and injured animals coming to our shelter. (dp-Note, this total is 300 more animals served than when the video below was filmed!)
These animals are suffering from smoke inhalation, singed paws, burns, dehydration, and more. We have been treating each animal based on their needs, providing fluids, oxygen, pain medications, and wound care as quickly as we can."
Chef Jose Andres' World Central Kitchen (WCK) is also one of my favorite nonprofit organizations, and they are on the ground helping in Southern California. According to Jennifer Garner and the WCK website:
"The first thing you have to do is feed the people who are caring for the communities," she said as she joined WCK Founder Chef José Andrés to assist with meal distribution in her hometown of the Palisades. Like many locals, she's stepping up to support neighbors in need.
For more information about WCK and to donate to help them feed California, please click here.
LA is in the middle of fighting these fires. It is not the time to assign blame. Let's just do everything we can to help and support the firefighters, residents, and animals. We can discuss what comes next later. Remember, our collective support makes a difference in times like these.
These fires have brought back so many memories. I can't shake feelings of dread. I grew up in the foothills of the San Gabriel Valley. We had major fires break out in the area numerous times during my childhood. My family was ordered to evacuate a few times. I still remember feeling so scared as each of us packed a suitcase of clothes and essentials, grabbed all the photo albums, and piled everything into the back of our station wagon; my two sisters and I were in the middle seat; my parents were in the front. My mom always insisted we take this large piece of art, painted by a friend of my paternal grandmother, as part of the "must-haves." I don't know why; it wasn't worth anything, and, honestly, no one but my mom really liked it. But there it sat, lying on top of the suitcases and photo albums. We always cried as we drove away, thinking we might never see our house again.
Watering down the roofs was one way to help protect the houses from the fires. I vividly remember all the men in the neighborhood standing atop their homes with a hose spraying their roofs. One day, when I was in grammar school, a fire broke out in the middle of the afternoon on a school day. I was maybe in fifth grade? They closed school for the day and sent everyone home. Walking to my house, I could see the fire in the distance. I arrived home and decided, as my Dad was still at work, that I was the one who needed to water down the roof. My mom and sisters were packing up the house, and there was no one else. As I sit here writing the post, the memory of climbing the ladder and standing on top of the house, trying to save my home, brings tears to my eyes. A neighborhood Dad came over to ensure I was okay, but he had to return to his house. (Thank you, Mr. Stanfield, RIP) I cannot describe my feeling of relief when I saw my Dad drive up the street. He immediately climbed up to be with me. We stood there watching the flames come closer and just hugged each other. We were so fortunate that the fire was put out before it came to our street.
I woke up the other morning, and the phrase "trauma stacking" popped into my mind. I didn't know if I made it up or if it was a thing. (It is a thing.). Think of a set of plates, each representing the same type of trauma. Each time you experience that trauma, it is like stacking another plate on top of the pile. That is the analogy I am using for my reaction to these fires. They are bringing back memories of being young, scared, and feeling helpless. And we were lucky as we never had fire damage from any of the incidents. The older we get, the more tragedies we will experience. I have lived through fires, floods, earthquakes, 9-11, and more. I wonder how these trauma-stacking episodes affect us and our health, both mental and physical, as we age. What do you think?
My heart is breaking for Southern California. If you live in one of the areas affected by fire, are you okay? How can we help?
Thank you for reading!
Much love!
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So devastating! My sister-in-law is an accountant at Terrenea Resort. She called and said they have taken in 100 families. Kids having a ball; swimming, activities, great food, yet parents on the phone with insurance companies in tears. Enjoyed your blog! As soon as I started reading it, I wondered if you had remembered how we hosed our roof, and the Ashes!! Love ya!
I am sure the restricted window of our electronic screens fail to capture all that is happening on the ground. Terror for many.