Devastating wildfires are tearing through Los Angeles County for the second time in as many years, forcing hundreds of thousands of people to flee their homes and leave behind beloved communities. As fires burn in the Pacific Palisades, Altadena, Pasadena and Sylmar, the damage is severe — and tragically, the Eaton Fire has killed at least five people and is still raging through Altadena and Pasadena.
Many people don’t have time to think about where they’re going, they’re just getting out. Some are driving to nearby cities, while others, like Tony Espinoza, are heading to Las Vegas. Here’s his story:
Escaping the fire’s grip
This week, as fires raged across the region, Tony Espinoza and 13 members of his family were forced to flee their Pasadena home. “We had to evacuate quickly,” he said. They grabbed vital documents, some clothing and a few essentials and headed to Las Vegas on Wednesday.
They’ve done everything they could to make their home safe, including running HEPA filters. But the air was unbearable. “We couldn’t breathe,” Espinoza said. “Nothing was helping. We had to get out.” Despite the precautions, flames were getting closer and closer. They wanted to escape the smoke and find a safe place to wait out the flames. Las Vegas is home to relatives, and that’s where they headed.
Fire destruction worsens overnight
These fires are unpredictable and can pick up steam quickly. Espinoza said the fires seemed to die down some overnight, but when they woke up Wednesday morning, they realized the full extent of the damage.
“We packed for three days because we have jobs to get to. We have rent. We have bills to pay.”
Many people fleeing the fires are worried about all the things that wildfires disrupt, from medical appointments to work and everything in between.
Families torn in two directions
While many people are fleeing the fire zone, others are traveling into the danger area. That’s the case for the Moreno family from Las Vegas. Veronica Moreno told us about her son and daughter-in-law, who are stranded in their Pasadena home with their infant. Trees are down across the road and they can’t leave.
“They’re packed and ready to go,” Christina, Veronica’s daughter, said. “If they have to, they’ll walk.”
Family is driving them forward, and they’re doing whatever it takes to help their loved ones.
A community’s shared hope
Despite the devastation, there is hope. Espinoza is grateful for his situation and the resources he has. “We have a place to go. We have family. We can escape if we need to. But there are people stuck in their homes.”
That’s one of the most difficult parts of these fires: the emotional toll. So many people are struggling to cope with the trauma of watching their homes and neighborhoods burn.
What’s next?
Firefighters from all over the country are battling the flames and there is hope that relief is near. In the meantime, people are doing what they can to escape the flames. For the Espinozas and the Morenos, and for so many others, safety is all anyone can think about right now. And holding it together for each other is the only thing that makes sense.
