Bob & Sylvia's Altadena Home Reduced to Ashes in Eaton Fire

In the early hours of January 8, Bob and Sylvia's home burned to the ground in the Eaton Fire in Altadena. It wasn't just a house; it was a home, full of memories saved in space and time. While Bob, Sylvia, and Molly will survive and go on, they could use your help while they contemplate what is next.

Bob and Sylvia were home in Altadena on the evening of January 7 when the warning came in about a fire that had broken out in Eaton Canyon about a mile from our house. The news had been warning about increased fire risk for days, and the Palisades fire had been burning since that morning, but this was close to home. Watching TV, they knew that it was likely time to grab their toothbrushes and a few extra changes of clothes and get ready to evacuate, not dissimilarly from every other "fire season." It wasn't until an angel appeared in the form of a homeless woman, asking for gas to fill her car, that it became clear just how close the fire was getting to the house.

As Bob went down the hill to the gas station on Altadena Dr., he looked down the street and saw a wall of flame. He called Sylvia and told her to get ready to get out of the house. Then, with only a few precious minutes, they gathered a few armfuls of things and drove away for the last time.

We are heartbroken. The lifetime of tangible memories has now turned to ash. We are so thankful that Molly, Nick, and the baby were safely back in Canada. And so very grateful that Bob and Sylvia made it out physically unharmed. But it is hard to know where to go next. Not only is our home gone, but our community has also burned.

We will be okay. It will take time. We are resilient and grateful for the extraordinary communities that we are so blessed to be part of.

If you would like to financially help, we would gratefully accept your offer. If you are not in a position to do so, please know that your good wishes and love are more than enough.

With all our love,

Sylvia & Bob (and Molly)

Wall Street Journal article in which Sylvia and Bob are featured