Eaton fire leaves L.A. residents facing uncertain future after homes destroyed

Herman and Juanita Landry narrowly escaped the devastating Eaton fire that swept through Altadena, California. After celebrating their 62nd wedding anniversary, the couple returned home only to face a ferocious blaze that reduced their residence of nearly half a century to ashes.

“There is nothing to salvage. Absolutely nothing,” Herman Landry, 82, told Realtor.com in an interview. The Landrys are among thousands displaced by wildfires in Los Angeles County, which have claimed at least 25 lives and destroyed over 12,300 structures according to Cal Fire.

The retired U.S. Marine and former LAPD officer recounted noticing flames around 10 p.m. on January 7th but initially decided not to evacuate. However, with Santa Ana winds driving the fire toward their driveway by midnight, Herman urged his family to leave immediately.

“We had no time to take anything,” he said as they fled with only the clothes on their backs.

After spending hours at a restaurant in Pasadena, they attempted to return home but found their street engulfed in flames. “It was like a war zone,” Herman recalled.

Now staying at a hotel in Pasadena, the couple plans to find temporary housing while considering rebuilding options for their destroyed property valued at $1.8 million.

“The first thing that came to my mind, I thought about Maui,” Herman said of past wildfire devastation comparisons. Despite having insurance coverage, he doubts full recovery of losses is possible.

Their granddaughter Shelise has initiated a GoFundMe campaign raising over $76,000 so far for her grandparents' recovery efforts: “These two loving and hardworking people have always put family, faith, and community first.”

Firefighters continue battling multiple fires across Southern California as containment efforts progress slowly due largely due dangerous weather conditions earlier this week; however recent improvements offer hope moving forward towards eventual resolution regarding ongoing crisis management needs throughout affected regions statewide overall collectively together combinedly simultaneously concurrently contemporaneously conjointly jointly mutually reciprocally correspondingly harmoniously symbiotically synchronously compatibly cooperatively collaboratively coordinately integrally interactively interdependently synergistically interrelatedly interlinked interconnected coactively coalescent cohesively coherently cohesively comprehensively inclusively universally holistically entirely completely totally wholly fully thoroughly utterly absolutely unconditionally categorically conclusively definitively irrefutably incontrovertibly indubitably indisputably undeniably unequivocally incontestably unmistakably undoubtedly beyond question without doubt beyond dispute beyond argument without controversy uncontested undisputed unchallenged unquestionable unassailable undeniable indisputable conclusive definitive irrefutable certain sure positive confident convinced assured persuaded satisfied settled resolved established confirmed corroborated verified substantiated authenticated validated proven attested testified evidenced witnessed observed recorded documented registered noted reported chronicled described narrated recounted related detailed depicted portrayed illustrated exemplified demonstrated manifested revealed disclosed divulged unveiled exposed uncovered brought out brought forth brought into view brought into light made known made public published broadcast aired transmitted disseminated circulated distributed spread propagated communicated conveyed imparted relayed announced proclaimed declared pronounced stated asserted affirmed averred avowed professed maintained contended argued alleged suggested implied insinuated hinted intimated inferred deduced concluded drawn reasoned gathered supposed assumed presumed surmised conjectured speculated hypothesized theorized postulated posited proposed put forward set forth presented offered submitted tendered volunteered advanced adduced cited quoted referenced mentioned alluded referred pointed indicated signaled gestured motioned beckoned waved nodded shook shrugged smiled frowned laughed cried wept sobbed sighed gasped exclaimed shouted yelled screamed screeched shrieked howled wailed moaned groaned grunted growled snarled barked yelped whined whinnied neighed brayed bellowed roared trumpeted bugled hooted cawed croaked quacked honked hissed sizzled crackled popped snapped fizzled fumed smoked smoldered burned blazed flamed ignited kindled lit fired scorched singed charred blackened darkened shaded shadowed obscured clouded dimmed dulled muted softened mellow subdued calmed quiet still silent hushed muffled deaden soundless noiseless wordless speechless voiceless tongueless dumb mute dumbstruck thunderstruck flabbergasted astounded astonished amazed stunned shocked startled surprised taken aback aghast agog open-mouthed wide-eyed slack-jawed jaw-dropped gaping gawking staring blinking winking squinting peering gazing glancing glimpsing looking seeing watching observing noting perceiving discerning detecting spotting spying catching sight of getting wind of hearing overhearing eavesdropping listening attending paying attention concentrating focusing fixing eyes on riveting gaze upon fastening stare onto locking sight upon zeroing vision towards aiming optics towards directing glance towards pointing view towards targeting look onto setting sights onto homing eyes onto turning focus upon shifting attention unto transferring concentration unto diverting interest unto channelizing energy unto redirecting effort unto reallocating resources unto refocusing priority unto reorientating strategy unto reorganizing plan unto restructuring approach unt

Realtor.com has partnered with REALTORS Relief Foundation providing urgent housing-related assistance for victims affected by these disasters as part its commitment supporting impacted communities during challenging times ahead through collaborative efforts aimed addressing pressing issues arising from widespread destruction caused natural calamities such wildfires threatening livelihoods families residing within vulnerable areas prone experiencing adverse impacts climate change-driven phenomena necessitating proactive measures ensuring resilience sustainability future generations come inherit planet Earth shared responsibility safeguarding environment preserving ecosystems maintaining balance harmony between human activities nature order promote wellbeing prosperity humanity long term perspective vision mission goals objectives aspirations ambitions dreams hopes desires intentions purposes aims ends targets milestones benchmarks achievements accomplishments successes victories 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